BGC Retreat 2025

BGC RETREAT 2025

Event Dates:

• Dec 13-14 (Sat-Sun): Main Programme
• Dec 12 (Fri): Optional Extension Day (only if we get min pax 15+)

Location: Klana Beach Resort, Teluk Kemang (website)

Event Mode:

• BGC Retreat Quasi (Relaxed) - Sat/Sun (for gamers)
• BoardgameKids Relaxed Mode - Sat/Sun (for young children 6-12 yo and parents)
• Quasi (free-n-easy) Mode - Fri (for everyone)

Retreat Fees:

• BGC Retreat - from RM480 per pax (Sat/Sun), or RM700 per pax (Fri-Sun) *bundle offer*
• Child (age 6-12) - from RM200 per pax (Sat/Sun), or RM300 per pax (Fri-Sun), max 2 children sharing rooms with parents

Note: The Optional Extension on Friday depends on us getting at least 15+ participants in order for us to get access to an event hall.

WHAT

A weekend of non-stop FUN! The BGC Retreat is our signature offsite event over one weekend dedicated for like-minded boardgamers like yourself, to gather and enjoy each other’s company over two (or three) days of (semi) intense all-day boardgaming! And in great company!

A dedicated event hall so that you can game in comfort! We’d booked a spacious, fully equipped event hall with proper tables and chairs, so that you can play non-stop all day long.

Maximum playing hours per day (from 9am till late 11pm). The hall is open from 9 am till 11 pm daily (until 5 pm on Sun). With meals being included (and prepared), you can focus on what matters: playing! 🙂

A massive BGC Game Library awaits you. We will be bringing a curated selection from our BGC Game Library of over 4,000 titles including the latest from Essen SPIEL. You are also welcomed to bring your own games to the Retreat. With such a complement of game titles, there'll be no shortage of games to try out!
All meals included (except dinner). To keep hungry gamers from chewing on the cardboards, we’ll provide breakfasts, lunches, and coffee/tea breaks. That’s a total 7 meals for the two-day event, and 11 meals if you opt for the three-days experience. Dinners are at your own expense, though. We typically self organize into a few groups for dinner.

WHO

Who is this Retreat suitable for? Our Retreat Persona is someone with a deep passion for boardgames – not Monopoly or Risks but Euro/Ameri-style games like Terra Mystica, Concordia, Brass, Ark Nova among others. You are more than a social or casual gamers i.e. while you may love to play Splendor, it’s games like Terraforming Mars and Castles of Burgundy that scratch your itch. While you do not necessarily have to love Barrage or Dominant Species, it would be helpful as our Retreat is built for folks who enjoy 8+ hours of almost non-stop gaming across two or three days. (Yes, you do get time to take food & bio breaks).

If you feel our Retreat Persona matches you (and have not made you click the Back button yet) and you are excited about trying out the latest Essen Spiel and Kickstarter games with a bunch of friendly, occasionally semi-competitive but always fun gamers, then don't wait - sign-up here now!

WHEN

Our Retreat is usually scheduled 4-6 weeks after Essen SPIEL so that the latest Essen games can be shipped back in time for the event. For this year, the BGC Retreat will be held on the weekend of 13-14 December (Sat-Sun), with the option to extend another day on 12 December (Fri).

Do note that 12 December is a working day (ahem) - so if you are joining us for the full 3-day experience, you'll need to plan a day off from work.

We experimented with adding an optional 3rd day back in 2022 and it was very well received. Since then, we’ve maintained the 3-day event for 2023-2024, and we are excited to offer it again this year - for those who can’t get enough of boardgaming over one weekend.

WHERE

The Retreat has always been hosted at some place close by – we wanted it offsite but no further than a 1.5 hrs drive – to minimize travel time and maximize playing time! Over the years, we’ve done this at Genting (2010), Port Dickson (2011 & 2014), Bukit Tinggi (2013), Kuala Selangor (2015), Broga (2016 & 2017), Sepang (2018) and Teluk Kemang (since 2019).

And this year, we are heading back to Teluk Kemang, a place where we can take you to Space and back.

HOW MUCH?

MAIN PROGRAMME (2-day weekend). Fee per person is RM480 which covers all meals (except dinners), twin-sharing accommodation, our exclusive BGC Retreat t-shirt, and a special commemorative finisher “token” direct from Essen SPIEL! Getting yourself to/from the venue would be at your own cost and we recommend car-pool if possible.

OPTIONAL DAY (Fri). Upgrade to the full 3-day experience for just RM700 (usual RM760). Perfect for those who want even more time to game, connect, and unwind.

What about the Kids (and Spouse)?

Oh yes, I almost forgot the Kids and Spouse! Don’t worry, we got you covered. Our Family Games zone offers lighter titles and relaxed vibe. Meals included, fun guaranteed!

Beside the 3rd Day Extension, we are also opening up the Retreat to welcome family members who may (or may not) be avid board gamers. Our daughter, Rachel, now 10.5 yo, is all excited to host/play in a Retreat of her own (after joining us for the past Retreats since 2015).

Here are the deets for Family Participation:

• Each Retreat participant may bring up to 2 children (ages 6-12) and one accompanying adult (eg. spouse). Children above the age of 12 will be considered as adult participants.
• Every child must be accompanied by at least one adult (parent/guardian).
• The children's package includes the BGC Retreat t-shirt and covers all meals (same as the participants), access to the event hall, and use of the Family Games section.
• It does not include promotional items, door gifts, or prizes.
• For spouse, the package will be the same as the Retreat participant.
• The board games available in the Family Games section are provided as-is and regrettably, we would not be able to provide rule-teach as our facilitators may be busy with the Retreat participating tables.
• The Hotel Room can accommodate 2 adults and up to 2 children.

AGENDA (all timings are tentative and will be finalized closer to event day)

DAY 1 (FRI) - this agenda is only for 3-Day participants only

8:45 am – Arrival of gamers
9:00 am – Retreat Briefing
9:15 am – Retreat Day One starts!
10:30 am – Coffee/tea is served
12:30 pm – LUNCH BREAK (1 hr)
3:30 pm – Coffee/tea is served
6:00 pm – Retreat Day One ends
7:00 pm – DINNER BREAK (not included in Retreat package)
8:00 pm – After-8 Gaming (till late)
10:30 pm – Night Sky Observatory (optional and subject to availability)
8:00 am (Sat) - Breakfast

DAY 2 (SAT)

9:00 am - Retreat Briefing
9:15 am - Retreat Day Two starts!
10:30 am - Coffee/tea is served
12:30 pm – LUNCH BREAK (1 hr)
3:30 pm – Coffee/tea is served
6:00 pm – Retreat Day Two ends
7:00 pm – DINNER BREAK (not included in Retreat package)
8:00 pm - After-8 Gaming (till late)

DAY 3 (SUN)

8:00 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Retreat Day Three starts!
10:30 am - Coffee/tea is served
12:30 pm – LUNCH BREAK (1 hr)
3:30 pm – Coffee/tea is served
5:00 pm – Retreat Day Three ends!
5:15 pm – Closing & Prizes/Lucky Draws
5:30 pm – SAYONARA!!

A Recap: What do you get?

• 2.0 or 3.0 days of immersive board gaming (Fri: 9am-11pm, Sat: 9am-11pm, Sun: 9am-5pm)
• Accommodation on twin-sharing basis (option to upgrade to Single-Room)
• Full meals including 4-6 coffee/tea breaks, 2-3 lunches, and 1-2 breakfast (dinners excluded)
• One exclusive BGC Retreat 2025 t-shirt
• One special commemorative finisher token (direct from Essen SPIEL 2025) *limited to first 24 sign-ups*
• Opportunity to play the latest Essen SPIEL & Kickstarter games, some older titles, and even OOP games
• Access the extensive BGC Game Library of over 4,000 games - or bring your own!
• Forge friendships, trade woods, or joust with new and friendly gamers!
• Opportunity to win prizes in our LUCKY DRAW!

What’s not included in the package?

• Your travel to / from the venue. If you need help with transport, pls check our car-pooling options
• Fine Dining (tsk tsk). Dinner is not included on any of the days, so you are free to take a break and go out for a nice dinner before resuming the evening gaming. Or sleep. Or do some stargazing.
• Mosquito repellant. Pls bring your own especially if you are a mosquito magnet)

Exclusive not-for-sale BGC Retreat t-shirt for all participants

BONUS – Generous Discount on Game Purchase (for BGC Retreat Participant only)

Finally, to thank you for your support, all paying BGC Retreat participants (except children) will receive a 30% discount on one game from our BGC Webstore! Browse our current catalog for the list of games we currently have in stock. Just note that T&C apply.

• Valid for 3 months after the event
• Discount applies on Webstore Price (so that's effectively 40% off MSRP)
• Excludes: Essen SPIEL titles, Kickstarters, NoDiscount items, Preorders, and Backorders
• Eligible for those who complete the Retreat in full. No deserters!! :)

The RECAP VIDEO

Check out this fantastic video recap from a past year Retreat, created by one of our very own participants. It offers a great glimpse of the fantabulous experience awaiting you when you decide to join us for a weekend of games and camaderie.

p/s Huge thanks to Cindy Lim for making such a wonderful video!

GOT QUESTIONS?

If this is your first participation to our Retreat, do check out the Frequently Asked Questions for our BGC Retreat events.