Okay, everyone can breathe now. It’s a wrap. With the 2023 edition of rAge – South Africa’s long-running Really Awesome Gaming Expo – taking place this past weekend, 8 – 10 December in Johannesburg, the local event calendar is complete for the year. That is, barring some Christmas craft markets and smaller social gatherings.

I’ll be honest, in the lead up to rAge 2023, I had my reservations. Would the show enjoy the same energy and popularity as last year, when rAge made a triumphant return after a three-year pandemic-forced absence? It seemed like a lot would be missing in 2023, from major exhibitors to familiar faces on the con scene. People seemed to either already be on holiday or busy with other commitments. That’s not even touching on the fact that budgets have become very tight for companies and individuals alike. You’re in a privileged position if you can be part of every event on the pop culture circuit.

I’m pleased to report, though, that rAge 2023 was everything attendees could hope for – just as enjoyable, if not better, than last year’s expo. In the event’s sophomore year with a December school holidays date, and a new venue in the form of Gallagher Convention Centre, lessons have been learned, and learnings implemented for improvements of the con experience.

There was a new pleasing logic to the floor layout, although working with two halls and a downstairs (and outside) food court, things are already much easier to navigate than the windowless Dome i.e. rAge’s old home. This year, Artists Alley moved to an expanded space in Hall 2, which also housed the event main stage, and, fenced off to the side, the all-weekend NAG BYOC LAN. Meanwhile Hall 3 was home to the powerhouse exhibitors, whether gaming, tech, or otherwise positioned on the geek lifestyle spectrum. Notably, several brands stepped up with photo opportunities for attendees to capture their show experience.

All this said, rAge 2023 didn’t ghetto any attractions. For example, the gaming competition and esports stages were spread across the expo. You’d find Valorant in one hall, and the Mamelodi Sundowns FIFA23 Championship in the other. The same approach applied to other drawcards, like the VR multiplayer arena, new skate ramp, multiple pop-up tattoo studios, and ever-popular tabletop gaming section. Across the board there seemed to be more stands and special areas than last year – though nothing felt crammed in.

Overall, rAge 2023 came across as a mix of old and new, and, looking back a few days later, there’s a strong sense the organisers got the balance right. All without diluting what people associate with the 21-year-old expo.

On the nostalgia front, this year at rAge you could purchase a special commemorative edition of NAG (New Age Gaming) Magazine in print format, complete with included demo disc.

As for the new, every year rAge provides a stage for local game developers to showcase their work. Last year, Yellow Lab Games showed off their roguelite brawler Metavoidal, which has since appeared on the international stage at the likes of gamescom. This year, the South African title that stood out for us was Poached: Hunt The Hunter, an FPS from one-man-studio Ingozi Games. Rich in South African flavour, and featuring some very decent AI, Poached: Hunt the Hunter sees you assume the role of a game ranger who fights back against poachers decimating local wildlife. The game is in Early Access through Steam, and is estimated to release in complete form by 2026.

Finally, you can’t talk about rAge without mentioning the cosplay. Once THEE place to cosplay, and still the ideal, confidence-boosting place for newcomers to the pastime, in 2023 rAge offered cosplayers two opportunities to strut their stuff on the main stage. Saturday’s show schedule included the first-come-first-serve casual cosplay contest, while Sunday’s highlight was the more serious competition, facilitated as usual by GES. Congratulations to all the winners, including the big three:

I may have had my worries before the show, but rAge 2023 put those concerns to rest. And judging by the crowds on Saturday especially, rAge is as popular as ever.

To get a sense of the atmosphere and energy, check out the gallery below.