The 2026 Midwest Gaming Classic dominated the Baird Center this past weekend, and it was another glorious, geeky, Dankey Kang-sized blowout for the books. Pinball! Retro games! Tabletop games! Tournaments! Music! Cosplay! Wrestling! Vendors! Someone dressed as Beetlejuice while playing the new Beetlejuice pinball table from Spooky Pinball! More!

This year’s MGC also had the distinction of being the convention’s 25th anniversary. My, how this event has grown! And while we don’t have photos of MGC’s earliest years—back when it was little more than a celebration of the Atari Jaguar, of all things—we do have photos of MGC 2015—back when it was held at the Brookfield Sheraton, of all places. Check out photos of MGC present and past below! (Oh, and save the date for MGC 2027, already booked for April 23-25 at the Baird Center.)