Compete

More 2025 Tournaments will continue to be added up until showtime!

 

Amateur Air Hockey Tournament

Amateur Air Hockey Tournament

Amateur Air Hockey Tournament

Amateur Air Hockey Tournament

Compete against others in the amateur air hockey tournament! Don’t worry, the best in the world will be helping to run the tournament, not play in it!

Sign up at the Air Hockey area prior to the scheduled times. The tournament format depends on the number of players interested but has been single elimination in the past.

Games are played on the arcade-size table, first to 7 points.

Blitz Chess Tournament

Blitz Chess Tournament

Blitz Chess Tournament

Blitz Chess Tournament

Blitz Chess Tournament presented by Milwaukee Chess! Five rounds. 5 minute time control with a 5 second increment. Free entry!
Clock Chaos

Clock Chaos

Clock Chaos

Clock Chaos

Clock Chaos is the signature warm up event for the Midwest Gaming Classic! For the second year in a row, it’s back to it’s original format! Clock Chaos has been created to provide pros and new players alike an awesome pinball tournament to participate in for a few hours on Friday night. Sign up for a slot and then appear at your selected time. You’ll be tasked with playing a single game on a number of pinball machines and then, at 11pm when all players are done, players scores will be compared and the top 12 qualifiers will return to replay ONE game. The number of games involved in Clock Chaos will not be revealed until the start of the tournament to ensure all tournament equipment is ready for the tournament, however at least one EM, one solid state pre DMD and one DMD era machine will be present in a line up of at least five machines! Sign up time to be announced soon!
Crazy Taxi (Dreamcast)

Crazy Taxi (Dreamcast)

Crazy Taxi (Dreamcast)

Crazy Taxi (Dreamcast)

Hey! Hey! Hey! It’s time to make some CRAAAAAAZY money! Are ya ready? YAH YAH YAH YAH YAH! Well, you won’t be making any real money, but cash is king in the world of crazy taxi. You’ll have 3 minutes to earn as much as you can in the game to become king of the cabbies! HERE WE GO….
Donkey Kong Country Competition Cart (SNES)

Donkey Kong Country Competition Cart (SNES)

Donkey Kong Country Competition Cart (SNES)

Donkey Kong Country Competition Cart (SNES)

You’ve got 5 minutes to collect as many bananas as you can from this super fun cartridge! The top four in qualifying will face off on in the finals to determine who is TOP BANANA!

Juniors Air Hockey

Juniors Air Hockey

Juniors Air Hockey

Juniors Air Hockey

For those who are younger who want a chance to play in a totally fun air hockey tournament, this is for you! Stop to sign up before it starts and secure a spot, and then get the chance to go head-to-head with kids in attendance for the show!

Magic: cEDH - Diamond Commander Classic

Magic: cEDH – Diamond Commander Classic

Magic: cEDH - Diamond Commander Classic

Magic: cEDH – Diamond Commander Classic

The Mana Vault (the cool Milwaukee game shop, not the artifact) is bringing Magic: the Gathering tournaments to the Midwest Gaming Classic! Saturday’s tournament will be cEDH format with the top four players going home with a MOX DIAMOND each, with first place getting a FOIL MOX DIAMOND! Registration can be found by clicking here, and rules can be found by clicking here
Magic: Legacy - Fight for Gaea

Magic: Legacy – Fight for Gaea

Magic: Legacy - Fight for Gaea

Magic: Legacy – Fight for Gaea

The Mana Vault (the cool Milwaukee game shop, not the artifact) is bringing Magic: the Gathering tournaments to the Midwest Gaming Classic! Sunday’s tournament will be Legacy format with the top prize being a GAEA’S CRADLE card!!! Additional prizes will be given to the top 8 players. Registration can be found by clicking here clicking here, and rules can be found by clicking here.
Mario Kart 8 Tournament (Switch)

Mario Kart 8 Tournament (Switch)

Mario Kart 8 Tournament (Switch)

Mario Kart 8 Tournament (Switch)

Drift into The Midwest Gaming Classic with a game that might ruin a friendship: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe! This tournament is a 150CC, NO COM, 4 races competition where tracks are curated for each round and progressively get harder. Can you survive all the way to the Final Four?
Mario Kart DS Tournament

Mario Kart DS Tournament

Mario Kart DS Tournament

Mario Kart DS Tournament

Snaking won’t help you in this Mario Kart DS Balloon Battle tournament! Tournament format (multiple rounds or round robin ) will be determined on-site depending on how many players participate. DS units will be on hand if you don’t have one handy. But if you do have a DS with Mario Kart DS, please bring it so we can accommodate as many players as possible!
Mega Game Championship

Mega Game Championship

Mega Game Championship

Mega Game Championship

The MEGA GAME CHAMPIONSHIP is coming to the Wisconsin Baird Center April 5! Complete three diverse game challenges in Space Invaders (2600), Legend of Zelda (NES) and NBA Jam (SNES) as a timer counts up to see how long it takes! The top four gamers return for a finals where they have to go head to head for the fastest times on single game challenges. Here’s exactly how it’s going to work: Each player needs to start a timer by pressing a button, pick up a controller, and beat each of these challenges (done one at a time):
  • Space Invaders (2600) – Player must score at least 150 points
  • Legend of Zelda (NES) – Player must defeat at least one screen of baddies
  • NBA Jam (SNES) – Player must score at least 5 points
At the conclusion of all three challenges, the player must put the controllers down and press the green button to stop their timer. The three times recorded are combined to give the player their overall score. Top six players based on their time when qualifying closes will move onto the finals on the Tournaments stage! These players will then participate in three timed or head-to-head challenges with the same games to determine who is the MEGA GAME CHAMPION!
MGC Cosplay Championship

MGC Cosplay Championship

MGC Cosplay Championship

MGC Cosplay Championship

Come see one of the most fun Cosplay contests around on Saturday night at the MGC Main Stage! Cosplayers of all levels are encouraged to join. Whether you’ve been crafting your costume for months, or you ordered it from Amazon last week, the MGC Cosplay Contest is a celebration of the characters we love. All costumes are welcome!

We award 9 prizes total, a Best of Show Award, plus 8 open categories decided by the judges. All participants need to register as contestants during the day. Click more information below for full Cosplay Contest Rules.

Want to be a contestant? This year, we’re pre-judging the entrants to help ensure the smooth operation of our tournament! Stop by Cosplay HQ next to the American Pinball Main Stage. Judging is Saturday from 12pm-2pm and 4pm-6pm. Then return at 6:45pm near the Main Stage to be ready for the finals!

Pre-judging Categories (10 points each)

Craftsmanship/ Quality – Level of complexity and skill required to construct, diversity of materials used, how much of it is custom made

Accuracy/ Novelty – The degree to which the costume is true to the source material, or to which a unique portrayal is given

Time/ Effort – Amount of time dedicated

On Stage – Presence, demeanor, crowd hype, performance (if applicable)

Midwest Cubing Classic

Midwest Cubing Classic

Midwest Cubing Classic

Midwest Cubing Classic

Put your speed cubing skills to the test in this competition that is officially sanctioned by the World Cubing Association! Because this competition is sanctioned by the WCA, you will need to get up to speed on the rules and regulations which can be found here. There are two official events (3×3 and 2×2) so be sure to pack your cubes on Sunday if you want to participate. No advance registration is required and first-time competitors are welcome. For specific information and updates watch the competition page.
Midwest Pinball Championship

Midwest Pinball Championship

Midwest Pinball Championship

Midwest Pinball Championship

Our yearly pinball tournament returns! 96 players face off in two separate qualifying sessions, with the top 12 from each session heading into finals to determine who is the Midwest Gaming Classic Pinball Champion!
 
Pre-registration opens on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 12:00 PM (NOON) on the MGC website. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email from MGC and another email from Rachel shortly after with additional information. 

Click the Register Here button to sign up for the event. This is the only registration button for both qualifying events.

  • Open division tournament limited to 96 players. 48 players per qualifying session.
  • The qualifying sessions will be held on Saturday at 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM.
  • A player can only play in one qualifying sessions, not both.
  • Players will be sorted into sessions via IFPA rank & notified two weeks prior to the event
  • If you have a special need to play a specific session (i.e working the event, children, etc.) please reach out to Rachel directly at [email protected].

PLEASE PURCHASE YOUR MGC TICKET ONLINE PRIOR TO THE EVENT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE IN THE 9:00 AM GROUP.

Click the Register Here button to sign up for the event. This is the only registration button for both qualifying events.”

NWC Remix (NES Remix Wii U)

NWC Remix (NES Remix Wii U)

NWC Remix (NES Remix Wii U)

NWC Remix (NES Remix Wii U)

The warp whistle won’t help you here, Fred! Get the highest score you can in this challenge reminiscent of the original Nintendo World Championships. You will have six minutes to:
  • Get 50 coins in Super Mario Bros.
  • Get 25 coins in Super Mario Bros. 3
  • Get the highest score you can in Dr. Mario before the time runs out
Highest score from this savage competition wins and becomes the MGC Remix Champion!
One Piece TCG Tournament

One Piece TCG Tournament

One Piece TCG Tournament

One Piece TCG Tournament

Warpstorm Games returns to the Midwest Gaming Classic to host this 64 player tournament! Details to follow.
Pokemon TCG: Brew City Old-School Sat Showdown

Pokemon TCG: Brew City Old-School Sat Showdown

Pokemon TCG: Brew City Old-School Sat Showdown

Pokemon TCG: Brew City Old-School Sat Showdown

Do you want to be the very best? Like no one ever was? Is catching them your real test? Is training them your cause? If you answered yes to all of the above (and even if you didn’t!), you’ll want to test your mettle at the Pokemon TCG tournaments hosted by The Mana Vault at the Midwest Gaming Classic! Saturday’s event will be Base-Fossil. Registration details and full rules can be found by clicking the below links: Saturday Base-Fossil MGC Pokemon Showdown
Pokemon TCG: Brew City Old-School Sun Showdown

Pokemon TCG: Brew City Old-School Sun Showdown

Pokemon TCG: Brew City Old-School Sun Showdown

Pokemon TCG: Brew City Old-School Sun Showdown

Do you want to be the very best? Like no one ever was? Is catching them your real test? Is training them your cause? If you answered yes to all of the above (and even if you didn’t!), you’ll want to test your mettle at the Pokemon TCG tournaments hosted by The Mana Vault at the Midwest Gaming Classic! Sunday’s event will be Base-Neo. Registration details and full rules can be found by clicking the below links: Sunday Base-Neo MGC Pokemon Showdown
Rapid Chess Tournament

Rapid Chess Tournament

Rapid Chess Tournament

Rapid Chess Tournament

Rapid Chess Tournament presented by Milwaukee Chess! Rapid chess? What? Glad you asked! Details below: Time control: Ten minutes per player. Five rounds. Free entry!
Rush 2049: Stunt Mode (Dreamcast)

Rush 2049: Stunt Mode (Dreamcast)

Rush 2049: Stunt Mode (Dreamcast)

Rush 2049: Stunt Mode (Dreamcast)

In the FAR FUTURE of 2049, do as many stunts as you can in 5 minutes! The top four qualifying scores will face off in a single 5-minute stunt mode online, with the top score being declared the winner!

Sonic 2: Ring Challenge! (Genesis)

Sonic 2: Ring Challenge! (Genesis)

Sonic 2: Ring Challenge! (Genesis)

Sonic 2: Ring Challenge! (Genesis)

GOTTA GO FAST BUT ALSO MAKE SURE YOU FINISH THE STAGE WITH EXACTLY THE AMOUNT OF RINGS WE TELL YOU TO GRAB!

…is maybe a less successful take on the Blue Blur’s famous catch phrase but is an accurate description of this competition. We tell you how many rings you need to finish the stage with and then you set loose on Emerald Hill Zone running as fast as you can to complete the stage with the required number of rings.

The fastest four runners move to the finals, where the number of rings will be changed and you’ll have a single run to try to win! 

Sonic Adventure 2 (Gamecube)

Sonic Adventure 2 (Gamecube)

Sonic Adventure 2 (Gamecube)

Sonic Adventure 2 (Gamecube)

Rolling around at the speed of sound got places to go gotta follow my rainbow!

Follow YOUR rainbow as you race to get the best time blasting your way through City Escape! The top three scores will face off on the stage to determine who is the fastest thing alive!

Speed Cubing Intro Event

Speed Cubing Intro Event

Speed Cubing Intro Event

Speed Cubing Intro Event

Did you know the world record for solving a puzzle cube currently stands at 3.134 seconds? Did you know you could learn the secrets of puzzle solving techniques at the Midwest Gaming Classic? Well you do now! Speed cubing experts will be on hand to teach you their secrets and introduce you to a whole new world of play you probably never thought possible! Relieve some stress, impress your friends, or become a world class speed cuber and compete in tournaments and take a crack at that world record! Open to everybody and all ages! If you’re up for some competition but aren’t quite ready to step to Sunday’s Midwest Cubing Classic, you can make 5 attempts to solve the supplied 3×3 cube. You will be scored by the average of your solves excluding your fastest and slowest. This is not an officially sanctioned event, if you’re a “pro” please save your cubing skills for Sunday
Star Fox Competition Cart (SNES)

Star Fox Competition Cart (SNES)

Star Fox Competition Cart (SNES)

Star Fox Competition Cart (SNES)

It’s about time you showed up, Fox! Fly through this competition cart and blast your way to the top of the leader board! If you’re one of the top 4, you’ll have to do it once more in the finals, with the winner taking home the prize! Never give up. Trust your instincts. And always remember to DO A BARREL ROLL!

Super Mario Bros (NES) Level 1-1 Speed Run

Super Mario Bros (NES) Level 1-1 Speed Run

Super Mario Bros (NES) Level 1-1 Speed Run

Super Mario Bros (NES) Level 1-1 Speed Run

Race through level 1-1 of Super Mario Bros. and reach the flag pole as fire Mario. If you don’t finish as fire Mario, then your time does not count! Ties will be broken by coins and score. The fastest four players will take to the finals, with the fastest player (by in-game timer) being declared the winner! In case of a tie, the winner is determined by coins collected and then score. And if no clear winner emerges from all of this, a two-man sack race will be held on consecutive Sundays until a champion can be crowned. We’re relatively certain it won’t come to sack races. Either way, on-site judges have final say.

Super Monkey Ball Target Challenge (GameCube)

Super Monkey Ball Target Challenge (GameCube)

Super Monkey Ball Target Challenge (GameCube)

Super Monkey Ball Target Challenge (GameCube)

Go bananas and get the ball rolling to get as many points as you can in this Gamecube classic, and you’ll get the prize!

The winner is the the baller who can rack up the most points in a single run by collecting bananas and hitting the target for the most points.

Super Smash Bros Amiibo Tournament

Super Smash Bros Amiibo Tournament

Super Smash Bros Amiibo Tournament

Super Smash Bros Amiibo Tournament

Choose your fighter! Amiibo! Show us your moves and cheer your amiibo on as it battles other amiibo competitors in the 8th annual MIDWEST AMIIBO CHAMPIONSHIP! Start training now and bring your best amiibo to this single elimination tournament! Ready? GO!!!!

Amiibo figures must be formatted for SUPER SMASH BROS ULTIMATE. Figures from Smash Wii U won’t work.

Rules:
  • Single elimination
  • Rounds will be 3 minutes with 2 stock
  • Click here to see match settings
  • One entry per player
  • All amiibo released by Nintendo are allowed
  • Only officially licensed Nintendo Amiibo will be admitted (No NFC Cards, Power Discs, or any other unofficial technology)
  • Sign up begins 30 minutes prior to the start time

 

Tempest 2000 (Jaguar) Tournament

Tempest 2000 (Jaguar) Tournament

Tempest 2000 (Jaguar) Tournament

Tempest 2000 (Jaguar) Tournament

Grab your claw and take to the web as you set out to score at least 10,000 points in Tempest 2000 as quickly as possible! Participants will start at the level select screen with the first web on the screen, and will then start their timer and work as quickly as they can to accumulate at least 10,000 points. Switch levels or play the first one, shoot and Super Zap until you reach the target score, and then you can stop your timer. The person who can do it the fastest, wins!
Timed Frogger (2600)

Timed Frogger (2600)

Timed Frogger (2600)

Timed Frogger (2600)

Leap for your life in this timed tournament of hopping hilarity! How quickly can you get 3 frogs to the goal in this Atari 2600 classic? Gotta hop fast!
Timed Pac-Man (2600)

Timed Pac-Man (2600)

Timed Pac-Man (2600)

Timed Pac-Man (2600)

I got a Pac-Man fever, and the only prescription is more Pac-Man! How fast can you clear a screen of Pac-Man for the Atari 2600? Compete against others in this tournament where the only score that matters is time.
Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Warpstorm Games returns to the Midwest Gaming Classic to host this 64 player tournament! Details and registration to come.
Warhammer Spearhead

Warhammer Spearhead

Warhammer Spearhead

Warhammer Spearhead

Warpstorm Games returns to the Midwest Gaming Classic to present this 32 player Warhammer Spearhead tournament! Details, including registration info, to follow.
Wii Sports Home Run Derby (Wii)

Wii Sports Home Run Derby (Wii)

Wii Sports Home Run Derby (Wii)

Wii Sports Home Run Derby (Wii)

Batter up! How often can you get the words Home Run to appear, and how far can those shots go? That’s what we’ll be finding out with our Home Run Derby contest from Wii Sports! Winner scores the most home runs out of ten. In the likely case of a tie, total feet of all home runs will serve as the tiebreaker!