Now that E3 is open to the public, game publishers have been stepping up their booth game. The elaborate, immersive booths occupying the show floor this year should keep you entertained even when you’re not getting first-look demos at the biggest games coming in 2018.
Here are our top booth recommendations to check out first.
Nintendo
Nintendo in recent years has focused their booth presence on just one title, which has allowed them to create a fully blown-out immersive experience. Last year, their focus was Super Mario Odyssey, and they created an impressive replica of New Donk City, complete with giant Bullet Bills and Mario’s hat airship. They also had some sweet swag in the form of a Capy hat, which turned the E3 show floor into a sea of Marios by Thursday afternoon.
This year, their focus is on Super Smash Bros. for Switch, and one can only imagine what Nintendo is planning to pull off with some many characters from their games and other publishers too. In order to avoid the massive lines from last year, Nintendo is introducing a ticketing system to play Super Smash Bros., so be sure to reserve a ticket here if you haven’t done so already.
GameStop/Funko
Featured sponsored booth. GameStop and Funko are making a big splash on the E3 show floor this year by offering a bevy of Funko Pop! collectible figures and shirts — many of them available only at E3 itself. Exclusives include a glow-in-the-dark Legendary Chalice from Cuphead, a Super Shadow from Sonic the Hedgehog, and a Fallout t-shirt. Other items debuting at the E3 booth, like an active camo Master Chief, will also be available at local GameStops. Check out the full list of gaming goodies available at the booth here.
Bethesda
Bethesda typically stands out at E3 for the high-quality, full-size replicas they create of items and enemies from your favorite games. These are generally located away from the game demos themselves, so it’s usually pretty easy to navigate the area without having to weave through throngs of people waiting in line for demos. And with a new Fallout game and a sequel to the Mad Max-inspired Rage already announced, visiting Bethesda’s booth this year is guaranteed to be an eye-popping experience.
PlayStation
Although the PlayStation booth at E3 is never the flashiest — maybe there’s a big mural or two, or a life-size replica of a character from an upcoming game — it tends to stand out for one simple reason: The sheer quantity of games available to play. Even better, the lines are often short to nonexistent, especially if you’re interested in Sony’s robust indie offerings. This year, you can be sure to play anticipated titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man, The Last of Us Part II, and Dreams, along with whatever third-party titles they’re partnering on. So if playing games if your goal at this year’s E3, make sure the PlayStation booth is at the top of your list.
Capcom
You can always count on Capcom’s booth to be fun. Back during E3 2016, they constructed a dilapidated house to house the Resident Evil 7 VR demos — just like the one you actually explore in the game. Last year, a massive dragon from Monster Hunter World stood guard at the booth’s entrance. This year, they’ve got a number of new Mega Man games, along with the rumored debut of a Resident Evil 2 remake, so you can be sure they’ll be pulling out all the stops yet again to lure gamers in.
E3 2018 runs June 12-14 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Preorder the biggest games of E3 2018 at GameStop now for exclusive offers.