While the summer days burn bright and hot, video game fans gather at the DoubleTree Hilton in San Jose for MAGWest (Music and Gaming West). The West Coast sister convention to MAGFest, MAGWest celebrated its seventh year with the appropriate theme of Final Fantasy VII.
The convention, which ran from August 8-10, is a weekend-long celebration of video games, music, and, of course, video game music. So let’s take a look at the games, the music, the events, and the cosplays of MAGWest 2025.
Gaming
First and foremost, did MAGWest have the games as promised?
Of course it did.
An entire hall was dedicated to arcade games, complete with everything from fighting games to rhythm games, pinball machines, slot machines, racing games, and more. The convention also hosted several indie game developers who could show off their latest works to attendees, get feedback, and find potential customers.
Naturally, there were also video game tournaments throughout the weekend, for those who wished to compete.
In the halls outside, rows of tables featured retro games, lovingly preserved for players to enjoy even now. Further down, in another room, the LAN gaming room let players enjoy co-op or PvP computer games, including classics like Unreal Tournament.
Tabletop gamers weren’t left out either, as there was a tabletop gaming room with a library of board games. Players could stop by to enjoy game demos, play RPGs like Starfinder or Dungeons & Dragons, or borrow a board game to play with friends. Right outside that room, a paint-and-take table let players sit down to paint a mini or contribute to a massive tarrasque painted by congoers.
Music
Gaming is only half the acronym for MAGWest, and it had plenty of music as well. The convention invited multiple performers and groups, including Mega Ran, Super Soul Bros, Aivi & Surasshu, and more. They all had performances throughout the weekend on the various stages or out in front of the pool.
Yes, the hotel had a pool, so attendees could enjoy fun in the sun while listening to live music.
Congoers were also welcome to join in the performances, with open jam sessions and jampods. Attendees walking the halls could even catch impromptu performances from other congoers who decided to sit down and break out their instruments.
Shopping
MAGWest’s marketplace was on the smaller side, but small doesn’t mean bad. The con had a good variety of vendors, whose wares included games, artwork, pins, hats, decals, and more.
The convention also had a merch booth, where attendees could buy MAGWest-themed goodies, including hats, t-shirts, bags, water bottles, and beach balls. So even without a large Dealer’s Hall, there was still shopping to be done.
Guests
Normally, MAGWest’s guest schedule was primarily composed of music guests, plus the cosplay guests they invited to judge the contest. This year, however, they stuck with the Final Fantasy VII theme by inviting several voice actors from the games for panels and signings. This included Briana White (voice of Aerith), John Eric Bentley (voice of Barret), William Christopher Stephens (voice of Rude), Arnie Pantoja (voice of Reno), and Austin Lee Matthews (voice of Roche).
The guests had booths set up at the convention, allowing them to meet fans throughout the weekend, and judging by the lines, the fans were more than happy to take them up on the offer.
Panels
Naturally, MAGWest also had plenty of panels for attendees to enjoy. Some were hosted by fans, others by guests. These covered a wide range of topics, including topics like “Arcade Games as Public Art,” “A History of Controllers,” and “Inclusive Design in Game Tutorials.”
Some of the panels were also game shows, like the always-popular “Taboo! Game Show: Gaming Edition” or the aptly-named “Pokémon Contest.”
Of course, any convention with the “Cosplay Wrestling Federation” is worth mentioning (full disclosure: this writer is a member of the CWF, and so might be slightly biased). This show drew a packed room and loud crowd, as cosplayers competed in a battle of wrestling promos to see who would win the crowd’s favor. In the end, The Shipper faced off against the Corporate Puppet, but every entry drew huge reactions from the crowd.
Cosplay
Of course, the CWF performers were far from the only cosplayers there. MAGWest drew in a good amount of fans in costume, and while many were dressed as their favorite video game characters, there were anime and comic book cosplayers as well.
Without question, the most popular series of the con was Final Fantasy VII, due in no small part to the voice actors there. Other games were also represented, with cosplayers from Pokémon, other Final Fantasy games, indie games, and more. The convention also held a few cosplay gatherings throughout the weekend, although not to the same scale as more anime-focused conventions.
Cosplayers feeling confident in their craftsmanship could also enter the cosplay contest, judged by cosplay guests Lovisa and Onecuppacoffee. During the prejudging, the judges took their time with each contestant to learn about the key details and craftsmanship. Then, during the contest, cosplayers had a chance to strut their stuff before the audience, earning prizes for categories like Judges’ choice, Fan Favorite, and Best Performer.
Overall
MAGWest has continued to grow and draw larger crowds each year, and for good reason. The con is a fun, relaxing weekend of music and games, giving attendees plenty to see and enjoy. Between the concerts, the games, the miniature painting, and more, it’s hard to be bored at MAGWest.
