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Nebraska Indie Game Expo Returns to UNO

Play, Create, Celebrate: Discover Local Games and Designers at UNO's Indie Game Expo – May 1

  • published: 2026/03/19
  • contact: Kaylee Pena Guerrero - College of Information Science & Technology
  • email: kpenaguerrero@unomaha.edu
picture of a wide range of board game components

A wide range of board game components (Credits: Adobe Stock Image)

📢 What is happening?

Maverick Meadow, University of Nebraska Omaha's (UNO) student-run indie game studio in partnership with the College of Information Science & Technology and the Criss Library Creative Production Lab, is hosting the second annual Nebraska Indie Game Expo on May 1, 2026, at UNO's Peter Kiewit Institute (PKI), room 158, at 5 p.m. Students, staff, faculty, and general public community members age 19+ are invited to the in-person showcase event on Friday, May 1 to celebrate Nebraska-made games.

📝 Award Submissions and Deadlines

Students, hobbyists, and professionals are invited to submit locally-created games for two award categories:

  • Upcoming Masterpiece — for tabletop or digital games currently in progress. Playable demos are encouraged but not required. Incomplete games must be submitted by Friday, April 24 to confirm a spot to showcase progress to attendees.
  • Awards Showcase — for complete games eligible for award consideration and invitation to the showcase event. Submissions must be received by Friday, April 3.

Key dates:

  • Friday, April 3 — Awards Showcase submission deadline
  • Friday, April 24 — Upcoming Masterpiece submission deadline
  • Friday, May 1 — Public Expo and Award Announcement

💡 Why it matters

  • The public expo provides an enriched community platform for gamers to explore a wide selection of up-and-coming, Nebraska-made games. It's a great moment to discover more about local game design and its community. Developers will gain valuable feedback from playtesting with real players and recognition for their hard work.

💬 What people are saying

  • "I enjoy getting to see the developers, who are geographically isolated from major international venues, have a chance to share their work," said Ada-Rhodes Wish, Ph.D., assistant professor, School of Interdisciplinary Informatics, UNO College of Information Science & Technology. "I hope they come away with the understanding that people in Nebraska have a community that is always looking to include more people."

🔗 How to get connected

For more information, visit the UNO event website or send questions to: