Genius Northwest events are intense, weekend-long gaming competitions that combine the best elements of tabletop gaming and reality television to create a dramatic and engrossing experience unlike any other. Each competition is a mixture of large format main matches and tense, one-on-one deathmatch rounds that will test their contestant’s instinct, cunning, and their ability to form – or undermine – strong alliances.
While the competitive tournament is the focus of our events, we want to make sure that all of our contestants have a great time, regardless of if they’re eliminated on the first round or go all the way to the finale. To that end, our events are also filled with bonus games and other activities to entertain players who are eliminated from the competition early.
The next Genius Northwest event is planned for Indigenous People’s Day weekend, October 11-13, 2025. The application form to register as a prospective contestant should open in the spring. Sign up for our mailing list to be notified as soon as applications open!
Applications for Genius Northwest are currently closed. Please sign up for our mailing list to be notified when applications open for our next event.
Matthew Moore, Game Designer
Lily Dodge, Author
Alexis Rice, ORG (Online Reality Game) Champion
Naomi Calhoun, Pop Culture Jeopardy! Contestant
Aaron Cooper, Programmer
The next Genius Northwest event is planned for Indigenous People’s Day weekend, October 11-13 2025.
Applications should open in April 2025.
Applying for Genius Northwest events is free. However, we do ask that all accepted players pay a fee to help cover the costs of running each event. This fee helps us pay for the event venue and provide the players and dealers with food throughout the weekend.
We are happy to offer discounted admission for players for whom this fee would otherwise prevent them from attending.
In addition to three days of games and other competition activities, players will receive lodging, food, and drink for all three days of the tournament.
Tournament activities generally start around 10 AM and last until 9 PM each evening. We generally try to end early on the last day to give players time to travel home that night.
Players often stay up to socialize and relax after official activities conclude each evening. Players are also generally allowed to stay at the venue the nights before and after the tournament to aid with travel.
Further details regarding timing will be shared with accepted players closer to the event.
While we would love to offer a spot to every player who applies, Genius Northwest events are intimate by design and can support a very limited number of participants. In order to give as many players as possible a chance to experience one of our events, we keep applications open for a limited time, and then select the final participants from the players who have applied for the event.
We will notify selected participants that there is a spot available for them as soon as possible after applications close. Players who are not initially selected will be placed on a waitlist and will be offered spots if one of the selected players declines to participate.
If you are not selected for one Genius Northwest event, we highly encourage you to sign up for the next one!
Please do! We are always working to expand our player base. Please note that because we have limited slots available in each event, we cannot guarantee that both you and your friend will be selected for the same event.
Yes, we are currently requiring that all players and hosts be vaccinated against COVID-19 for all of our events.
Additionally, we are currently requiring all players and hosts submit proof of a negative COVID test taken prior to arrival at their event venue.