Unmatched gaming spectacle: The largest Gamescom in history
This year's Gamescom 2025, held in Cologne, Germany, was undoubtedly the largest and most impressive yet. With over 357,000 visitors from around the world, this fair returned in grand style, surpassing even pre-pandemic records. The impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on physical gatherings seems to have been completely overcome. Not only did Gamescom reaffirm its role as the central gaming event in Europe, but it also emphasized how the community, development teams, and media are eager for direct contact, exchange of ideas, and experiences.
The fair was not only a space for technology demonstration but also a true celebration of gaming culture, the cosplay community, the indie scene, and both professional and amateur gamers. Authentic passion for video games was felt at every turn, whether it was from large publishers or small creative teams. Visitors could explore hall after hall, encountering the latest trailers, exclusive gameplay demos, themed installations, and meet-ups with developers. This blend of commercial and cultural elements gave the event an almost festival-like dimension.
Our experiences from this year's Gamescom confirm the impression that this was one of the best fairs in the recent history of the event. Annual visitors can still claim that the best years were 2014-2018, which we can agree with, but we are also talking about a different era of gaming. Definitely before the reset brought by COVID. The organization was at a high level. In the business section, national stands organized presentations of local studios, and it was also possible to try some traditional dishes and drinks.
However, the exceptionally large number of visitors meant that the lines for trying out games were significantly longer than in previous years, which sometimes made it difficult to participate in presentations and hands-on sessions in a timely manner. The booths of large publishers attracted attention with their set design, while smaller teams shone with innovative ideas and enthusiasm. Overall, the event felt like a demonstration of the strength and relevance of the industry.
As visitors and professionals from the industry, we are convinced that Gamescom 2025 marked a turning point in the post-pandemic recovery of gaming conferences. The atmosphere felt in Cologne was far from tired or repetitive – on the contrary, each day of the fair brought new excitement, announcements, and discussions. This return to a shared experience between developers and the audience proves that physical fairs have an irreplaceable value in the modern digital age.
Who Exhibited: Leading Studios, New Names, and Independent Creatives
Among the most prominent exhibitors were certainly industry giants such as Blizzard, Wargaming, Ubisoft, Krafton, Microsoft, Bandai Namco, THQ Nordic, SEGA, Focus Entertainment, and Epic Games. Their booths dominated the main pavilions of the fair, and crowds in front of each of them were a daily occurrence. Lines to try out the latest titles sometimes lasted up to 6 hours, and for some popular ones, up to 3 and a half, which speaks volumes about the level of interest and excitement from the audience.
It was particularly interesting to see Nintendo, which finally returned to the fair after years of absence. It is also important to mention Capcom and Konami.
In addition to the big names, numerous smaller independent studios attracted special attention. It is significant to mention the presence of international delegations from Italy, Poland, South Korea, and Canada, which supported indie teams through national booths. Among them, the Italian pavilion stood out with studios like Sedleo and Broken Arms Games, which showcased projects of high visual and narrative caliber. Such diversity of studios further enriched the content of the fair.
In conversations with developers, we gained insight into different approaches to game development. While AAA publishers demonstrated technical performance and graphical innovations, indie developers stood out with original concepts and bold narratives. Many of them used Gamescom as an opportunity to connect with publishers, media, and potential partners, giving the fair a business dimension that goes beyond just presenting finished products.
It is commendable that many exhibitors made an effort to ensure their presentation was interactive and inclusive. From VR experiences to hands-on demo zones, almost every visitor could play at least one game they had never seen before. This shows that the gaming industry is not a closed circle, but a dynamic scene that increasingly recognizes the importance of two-way communication with the audience.
Announced Games: A Look into the Future of the Industry
Gamescom 2025 brought a series of exceptionally diverse and exciting announcements that will undoubtedly shape the upcoming year in the video game industry. The spotlight was on Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, which was premiered through a playable co-op campaign and a new PvE mode called Endgame. This marks a return to the darker, conspiratorial waters that made the Black Ops sub-series famous, featuring a striking presentation and a cast of surprisingly high production value.
One of the surprises of the fair was Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, which combines the open world of Gotham with detective mechanics and a style inspired by the Arkham series. The game generated strong interest among fans of all generations, and the design approach emphasizing exploration freedom and the humorous tone characteristic of the LEGO franchise proved to be a hit.
The continuation of the well-known action game Black Myth also attracted significant attention, titled Black Myth: Zhong Kui. This is a new mythological adventure featuring a different protagonist, this time based on a Chinese demon-slayer character. Although still in the early stages of development, the presented trailer and artistic direction have excited the audience.
Strategy enthusiasts were pleased with the announcement of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV, which brings the well-known series back in full RTS capacity. The new iteration promises a deep strategic component, detailed unit control, and the ability to manage key factions within the Warhammer universe, along with modern graphics and online support.
EA Sports also participated in the fair, and it was possible to try out FC26. We remind you that FIFA ended its collaboration with EA and that the game was renamed to FC, thus continuing its path as a football simulation without the big name of the football association. How wise that decision was for FIFA - we are not sure.
For horror enthusiasts, two heavy categories were presented: Resident Evil: Requiem, which brings a survival atmosphere in a paranormal environment, and Silent Hill f, which returns to the 1960s and explores psycho-horror in a Japanese rural context. Both were announced with atmospheric teasers, and the audience reacted with undisguised enthusiasm.
Among indie hits, Hollow Knight: Silksong drew the most attention, finally confirming its release and playable demo. The game offers a new main heroine, a more sophisticated combat system, and a more vertical world design, while retaining the atmosphere and quality of the original.
Finally, it's worth mentioning the announcements of games like Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Ninja Gaiden 4, The Outer Worlds 2, Europa Universalis V, and Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion – all titles announced with release date announcements or new development directions, emphasizing the return of classics and sequels to popular IPs.
Highlighted games that left the strongest impression
World of Tanks: HEAT surprised even those who are not fans of military games. Wargaming presented a title that combines recognizable tank combat with hero shooter mechanics, featuring a noticeably faster pace and a modernized visual style. The playable demo allowed for trying out various "hero tanks," each with special abilities, opening up space for tactical depth and team cooperation.
Inzoi is getting a new expansion. This is the latest project from Krafton, which has proven to be a serious competitor to The Sims in the field of simulation games. Set in a contemporary Korean environment, the game explores everyday life from the perspective of characters whose needs, emotions, and social interactions take place in highly detailed settings. The demo was particularly well attended, and visitor interest did not disappoint.
1348: Ex Voto, an independent production by the Italian studio Sedleo, left an exceptionally strong impression thanks to its authentic depiction of Italy affected by the plague and civil wars. The game combines an action RPG format with a narrative approach based on historical sources, along with a combat system inspired by historical European martial arts (HEMA). Given the limited budget, the achieved level of quality was more than impressive.
Project D from the Korean team DADADA Studios exceeded expectations. The combination of science fiction, spirituality, and narrative depth made this title one of the most intriguing in the pre-alpha phase. Although still in development, the mechanical components, visual presentation, and musical design showed great potential.
Phantom Blade 0 stood out with its visual stylization, fast combat system, and intriguing world that combines Eastern mysticism with modern action design. The trailer and demo presentation showcased enviable fluidity of movement and a high level of technical execution.
Aerosoft, known for simulation games, this time attracted attention with an expanded range of projects that include next-generation traffic and urban simulations. Their titles may not create a spectacle, but the depth of the systems and the fidelity of the simulation have won over serious gamers and a niche audience.
Warcraft has returned to the spotlight with new expansions and content showcased at Gamescom. Blizzard's presentation was lavish, and the audience's interest demonstrated that the franchise still has a strong fan base, despite challenges in recent years.
Particular interest was sparked by the announcement of the game James Bond: First Light, a new chapter in the famous spy franchise. Although few details are known so far, the first teaser and concept materials have generated excitement, and we will write about this game soon in a separate article.
Gamescom Awards: Who took home the accolades?
This year's Gamescom Awards 2025 were predictably festive, but also filled with excitement due to the large number of exceptional candidates. However, the victory went to Resident Evil, convincingly defeating other candidates in almost all categories. This allows us to confidently say that it is a safe winner. Which is not surprising, as the game truly looks phenomenal, tense, and leaves a special impression.
In the audience, the most sympathy was garnered by World of Tanks: HEAT, which won the award for best multiplayer game. This recognition is not only for the presentation at the fair but also for the shift that the game brings to the military shooter genre. Visitors regularly lined up to try the demo, confirming strong interest.
The indie categories brought many surprises. Europa rightfully won the award for best independent title, while Dune: Awakening received recognition for the most innovative gameplay. The award for best presentation space design was won by Ubisoft for their Anno 117: Pax Romana booth, whose scenography pushed the boundaries of classic fair exhibition.
