GeekDad

Convention season is upon us and nothing turns my creative juices more than figuring out what to wear. Since conventions are a multi-day event and involve more walking than Frodo and Sam on their way to Mordor, comfort is key. BoxLunch recently released a new line of character-themed jerseys that fit the bill and some double as character-bounding attire. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

This slideshow requires JavaScript. I spent all four days at MegaCon in Orlando, Florida, this year doing panels, the vendor floor, Artist Alley, and checking out amazing cosplay. The event was bigger than ever this year, with more celebrities than I could keep up with, fandom-specific areas (Lorcana game, anyone?), and something for all ages on the main floor.

I think Marcus the Worm is trying to steal my girlfriend. I mean, I knew my partner was a big fan of his bizarre VRChat adventures when I invited him to move to the island, I just didn’t consider him to be a threat… y’know… romantically. Wait, let me back up. Last week, I was given an early crack at Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, the upcoming Switch release that also happens to be the sequel to one of my family’s favorite wacky life-sim titles.

We may be well into 2026, but we are finally gearing up on our 2025 Game of the Year award. Here are this year’s finalists, selected from our GeekDad Approved titles from throughout 2025. Our 10 Favorite Games of 2025 Our finalists for Game of the Year (in alphabetical order) are Alibis, Emerald Skulls, Galactic Cruise, Hot Streak, Ito, Kinfire Council, Light Speed: Arena, Lightning Train, Please Don’t Burn My Village and Spooktacular. Each description below includes a link to our original review.

The Epomaker RT82 (retail price $85.99) caught my eye with the retro TV in the upper right of the keyboard. As a child of the ’90s, it immediately reminded me of the computers I learned on growing up. I was eager to understand what its purpose was and how it could add to the use of the keyboard.

Ever since the halcyon days of the Nintendo 3DS, a purely theoretical Pokémon version of beloved life sim Animal Crossing has been one of my family’s go-to topics on long car rides and during vacation downtime. What if your next-door neighbor was an Eevee? What if you had to run errands for a down-on-his-luck Bulbasaur? What kind of house would you design for a Clefairy? Fast-forward a decade plus, and our far-fetched mental exercise has become reality. Sort of.

For RPG fans around the world, Munchkin has been a Tabletop game favorite when we aren’t rolling a d20. To celebrate their 25th anniversary, Steve Jackson Games is releasing a Second Edition of its hit game, including new mechanics, updated art (yes, it’s illustrated by John Kovalic!), and updates to various parts of the game to bring the core game in line with modern standards. To get this game, however, you must back it on Backerkit or visit GenCon 2026 (or wait for it to reach retailers).

Soundwave is the latest Transformer to be brought to life by Robosen, joining the ranks with Megatron, Optimus Prime, Grimlock, and Bumblebee. Standing at just over 14 inches in robot form, Soundwave commands your attention, ready to deliver intel—or kick your tail—depending on his mood. Frank Welker returned to the studio to bring him to life with over 200 lines of dialogue and over 48 voice commands.

Hammer & Nails is a premium barber shop and grooming experience for men with locations across the United States. This isn’t just a shave and a haircut; this is a main character upgrade. With comfy leather chairs, a big screen TV, and noise-cancelling headphones at every station, this is the ultimate in relaxation.

Except maybe dungeon crawlers, few genres seem to attract game designers like trains. Now, Paul Dennen, designer of GeekDad Game of the Year Dune Imperium and GeekDad Game of the Year finalist Clank is bringing his spin to train building games with Lightning Train. What Is Lightning Train? Lightning Train is a game for 1-4 players, ages 10 and up, and takes about 120 minutes to play. It’s currently available at your friendly neighborhood game store or other fine retailer.