KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 — Malaysia’s growing tabletop gaming scene reflects a rising community that uses role-playing games (RPGs), board games, and tabletop experiences for creativity, storytelling, strategy, and social connection.
That momentum was on display at All Aboard, regarded as Malaysia’s largest tabletop gaming convention, which returned to Paradigm Mall on July 18 and 19 for its second edition.
Organised by lifestyle media company The Magic Rain, the free-entry convention brought together tabletop enthusiasts through a diverse lineup of activities, including board game sessions, tournaments, game design talks, live Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, community panels, and exhibitor booths featuring local and international games, as well as related merchandise.
Two years in the making
The Magic Rain business director, Nathalie Tay, told Malay Mail that the event returned after its successful inaugural edition at Jaya Shopping Centre in 2024.
She said the team spent the past year focusing on community building through a series of smaller tabletop events before reviving All Aboard.
“We knew that when we wanted to do this event, we wanted to bring it back properly,” she said.
According to Tay, All Aboard is unique because it is the only convention in Malaysia that brings together the country’s major active tabletop gaming brands under one roof.
“There isn’t any tabletop convention that brings together all of the active brands around Malaysia in one place,” she said.
Tay said All Aboard was created from The Magic Rain team’s shared passion for tabletop and digital gaming, to build a convention that reflected their interests while helping to grow Malaysia’s tabletop gaming community.
Where games meet culture
One of the biggest attractions at this year’s convention was the exhibition floor, which featured more than 20 exhibitors.
It also shone a spotlight on Malaysian game designers, including Buddhima Tham and Leong Qing Ye from R&D, who showcased their locally developed titles Durian Runtuh and The Malaysian Holiday Card Game.
Leong described the latter as “a light family game,” adding that many visitors stopped by to experience it, and some even went home with a copy.
Other locally created titles featured at the convention included Ambrosia: Dice Spam Dungeon, Kala Mandala, and HR: The Toxic Workplace Game, highlighting the creativity emerging from Malaysia’s tabletop gaming community.
Beyond board games, visitors were also introduced to miniature gaming through local tabletop hobby store Plastics & Tactics, where they could explore Warhammer products, watch demonstrations, and try miniature painting.
Volunteer Alex Tay said the booth aimed to introduce more people to the hobby and encourage newcomers to give it a try.
“The booth’s purpose is to introduce people to the hobby and spread awareness about it,” he said.
He added that many first-time visitors showed curiosity during the two-day convention, with some participating in miniature painting and demo games for the first time.
“Personally, Warhammer has helped me a lot both emotionally and socially.
“I’ve made many friends through the hobby, which I find amazing,” he shared.
A community built around connection
The two-day convention welcomed more than 700 visitors, including families, teenagers, and children, all brought together by a shared interest in tabletop gaming.
Among them was 3D animator Eyismal Ieazlean, who attended All Aboard for the first time yesterday to explore workshops and discover new games.
“I actually love tabletop games,” he told Malay Mail.
He recalled My Father’s Work as the first intense board game he played with friends and said tabletop games offered a good alternative to digital gaming.
“I don’t have a top-tier gaming PC, so board games are a good alternative,” he said.
Another visitor, Foo Hendry, said he recently returned to his interest in board games and spent both days at the convention exploring different titles, including Flip 7, while searching for rare games.
“I’ve always liked board games,” he said.
For Hendry, All Aboard offered something for both experienced players and those curious about entering the hobby.
“All Aboard is a fun place for both existing fans and people who are interested in learning about the hobby.
“It’s a good place to come,” he added.
All Aboard to the next
Since its first edition in 2024, All Aboard has grown into a meeting point for Malaysia’s expanding tabletop gaming community, giving enthusiasts a space to discover new games, meet fellow players, and celebrate a shared passion.
Following this year’s convention, Tay said The Magic Rain hopes to continue making All Aboard an annual event.
She added that accessibility would remain one of the convention’s biggest strengths, with many free activities available for visitors regardless of whether they choose to spend money.
“We definitely want to keep growing it in terms of scale, but what’s important for us is that part of it remains the same,” she concluded.
