What’s It Like To Attend Gamescom 2025?

I’ve by no means been to Gamescom earlier than. I’ve heard all of the rumours, although. Gamescom is clearly an occasion I’ve been conscious of for a really very long time and it seems to have been rising in stature as of late – even Nintendo determined to return this 12 months after skipping the present in 2024.

In case you’ve been to the present earlier than, then this piece isn’t for you. Attending for the primary time, I assumed I’d share my very own expertise for individuals who might need to take into account attending in future.

The present takes place at Koelnmesse – no laughing within the again, I do know the title appears like what occurs the day after a very spicy curry – which is within the German metropolis of Köln (aka Cologne).

The expected climate for the week was comparatively heat 24-28°C (~75-83°F), and solely staying for 2 nights meant I might pack frivolously. I stuffed my trusty Gundam backpack with some garments, toiletries and my work gear (laptop computer, powerbank, and many others.), and I used to be good to go.

Let’s-a-go!

Flying from the UK, my journey began early Tuesday morning with a 1-hour drive to Birmingham Airport, boarding a Lufthansa 1.5-hour flight to Munich after which sub 1-hour connecting flight arriving in Cologne mid-afternoon. The return journey was very completely different, however extra on that later.

The airport isn’t that removed from the town centre, so taking the practice might be essentially the most cost-effective route. Nonetheless, time wasn’t actually on my facet as I nonetheless wanted to check-in to my resort within the metropolis after which work out find out how to get to the venue earlier than Opening Night time Dwell, there was an easier reply: Uber.

I’d seen taxi rides quoted at upwards of €100, so the €35 being quoted by Uber appeared logical (and I used to be sharing the trip with Sammy from Push Sq.).

The place to remain?

20 minutes or so later we have been dropped off at our respective accommodations and all checked-in. I stayed at 3-star Resort Windsor – I couldn’t resist the title, having not too long ago visited our personal Windsor — which is barely on the sting of the town however nonetheless solely a 10-15 min stroll.

We did guide lodging barely late (perhaps 1-2 months earlier than), and sadly, the costs are clearly hiked up across the time of Gamescom. We’re speaking about €200-250 an evening for even 3-star accommodations. Recommendation: don’t depart it late, guide early!

Location-wise, although, I used to be comparatively glad. Town is break up in half by the Rhine River, with the exhibition centre on the right-hand facet of the water. Your intuition is perhaps to get a resort on the identical facet, however I wouldn’t. The vast majority of the town eating places, squares, bars and many others. are on the left facet.

Getting Round Cologne

The 2 fundamental landmarks can be Koelnmesse itself and Kölner Dom, Cologne’s completely gorgeous and unmissable (in each sense of the phrase) Cathedral, which is on the other facet of the river to the occasion. These good method factors imply you shouldn’t get misplaced.

Conveniently, the central practice station is correct subsequent to that past huge Cathedral, which has a devoted sign-posted line (or “observe” in native communicate). This was platform 10 while I used to be there. The Koelnmesse is the subsequent cease throughout the river, so you may nearly soar on any practice (verify the subsequent cease on the boards).

I’m not going to lie, initially, I discovered the trains fairly troublesome to navigate. There are such a lot of completely different naming conventions in comparison with the UK. Every route has its personal title and there’s a mixture of ICE (InnerCity Specific) trains which go inter-city and extra native trains too.

The excellent news is that each one of this transportation is free. Alongside along with your Gamescom admission ticket you’re issued a journey ticket that means that you can take these native trains. The ticket itself says you will need to carry photograph identification, however my ticket was by no means checked.

Alternatively, it’s simple to stroll throughout the bridge, which takes round 10 minutes facet to facet.

Opening Night time Dwell!

In addition to by no means attending Gamescom, I’ve additionally by no means been to one in every of these stay showcases. My position has all the time been to help our editorial groups throughout these reveals, or just be certain that our web sites don’t fall over. They must survive with out me this time.

The stage and lighting have been actually spectacular in particular person. Much less spectacular was the truth that seating was all at flooring degree, so except you’re in the direction of the entrance, your view isn’t wherever close to pretty much as good as it will be at a venue with tiered seats.

I don’t perceive the idea of “pre-shows” from a shopper perspective, I can solely think about it’s a business standpoint to do with pricing. The pre-show had some actually cool video games that deserved to be in the primary present, and the presenting was goofy and bordering on low cost.

At this level, you’ve seemingly seen the two-hour present (or no less than the highlights). Attending it in particular person was just about precisely what I anticipated it to be, just like watching at house however with the gang ‘woops’ and ‘cheers’ in full Dolby Atmos high quality and the bass rumble from the trailers slapping you around the face again and again. Possibly I’m previous however I feel it was a bit too loud.

I am glad I received to expertise it, however I’m in no hurry to do it once more. Full disclosure, I also needs to add that Gamescom have been variety sufficient to ask Felix, Sammy and myself to the “VIP” ONL aftershow celebration the place all of us consumed no less than 1-2 free burgers every.

Is It Actually That Huge?

My ticket was supplied as a QR code, so including this to my Apple Pockets made it tremendous simple to enter the exhibition centre in the beginning of Wednesday – Day 1. No having to gather your badge or wristband wherever or any of that nonsense. Good things.

Now then, the rumours are true: Gamescom is totally monumental. Every time I’ve attended exhibitions within the UK they normally take up 1 or 2 (perhaps 3) halls on the NEC or the ExCeL.

Gamescom takes over the complete Koelnmesse exhibition heart. You’re speaking round 4-5 halls only for the “fundamental” video games, 1 corridor for merch and cosplay (break up throughout two ranges), and one other corridor for indie and retro video games. It’s so large it even spills into the carpark behind corridor 8.

Throw in one other 3 halls for the business-only space and also you begin to perceive the size of it.

When you get your head across the scale of it you’ll additionally discover the sheer high quality of the stands on provide, due to the quantity of floorspace on provide sales space after sales space oozes with slick design and is a feast on your eyes. Kudos to anybody who labored on these stands.

After doing a whole lap of the present (and taking up 500 photographs) the format was now etched in my head and I’d even found some hacks. You may keep away from these fundamental corridors with seas of individuals by transferring between halls utilizing the facet doorways.

Queues, Queues, Queues

In case you’re taking a look at my photographs pondering “it doesn’t look that dangerous” please hold studying. Being a member of the press I used to be in a position to go searching and take all my photographs on Wednesday, the day that solely a small variety of non-trade shoppers are in a position to attend.

I felt the present get noticeably busier on Wednesday afternoon when these shoppers have been allowed in, however it was nothing in comparison with Thursday. Oh boy, the rumours hold getting more true.

335,000 folks attended Gamescom in 2024 and while every day figures aren’t obtainable, you’d need to estimate that no less than ⅓ of them have been there on every day. It’s onerous to think about 100,000 folks shuffling across the occasion halls however in actuality, it’s wave after wave after wave of individuals transferring in each path continuously – it’s slightly overwhelming.

There are loads of video games on the present, true, however each recreation has a restricted capability, some higher than others. Lengthy queues for well-liked video games kind nearly instantly. Some folks have clearly been earlier than and have introduced their very own fold-out chairs – good – as a result of they know they’re going to be queuing for hour(s) earlier than it’s their flip to seize the controller.

In case you’ve ever been to a theme park in peak season and waited 2 hours to go on a curler coaster, then you definitely’re in the appropriate ballpark. These are theme park-level of queues, maybe not in bodily size, however by way of wait time.

Selection is King

Away from a destructive and onto a optimistic, I used to be blown away by the quantity of various issues occurring on the present. There was an absolute ton of huge video games and an incredible quantity of indie video games too.

No solely that, although, there have been plenty of different sights such because the EVA (Esports Digital Enviornment) sales space, a human foosball desk, cosplay village, ninja warrior-style challenges and inflatables.

An enormous variety of peripherals have been showcased too, particularly these from the sim-racing world, I feel I counted no less than six completely different producers of racing wheels all exhibiting off their merchandise on sim rigs.

There was additionally an entire spectrum (not that one) of merchandise too all the best way from the stereotypical anime figurine fest all the best way as much as a totally stocked official LEGO retailer. There was tons of buying and selling card distributors and even an artist space. I didn’t see anybody promoting retro video games, although, however nearly anything gaming you may consider.

As a little bit of a automotive nerd, I used to be pleasantly shocked by the variety of vehicles on the present, together with this totally beastly GR Yaris.

What Are The Meals and Drink Choices?

The areas outdoors between the halls are the place many of the meals distributors might be discovered. You will get meals in a few of the halls however they’re few and much between. I truly actually appreciated the truth that the present usually separated the meals away from the showfloor.

Unsurprisingly, outdoors it was the anticipated pom frites (chips), burgers, bratwursts (hog canines), fried hen and pretzels on provide. The standard was respectable, most likely higher than meals within the UK, to be sincere. I ought to add that there was additionally a very fashionable Subway stand on the showfloor.

Inside, you would get extra candy treats like crepes and churros. Apart from these distributors, there have been additionally some smaller convenience-style shops in the primary concourse areas, however I did discover that a few of these have been cash-only.

Drinks have been closely weighted in the direction of your typical bottles of Coke, Fanta, and Pink Bull is clearly very fashionable in Germany. (TIL Germans love to combine Fanta and Coke to make a drink known as ‘Spezi’).

Costs have been barely on the excessive facet, with a pretzel and Pink Bull setting me again round €9. On the upside service was good, quick and minimal queuing. On the draw back, there aren’t many ‘correct’ locations/tables to sit down down close to these meals vans; you’ll find yourself perched on the ground or a random floor you’ll find, in case you’re fortunate.

Race Throughout The World

As I alluded to above, my return journey was not fairly as easy. Lufthansa function trains as “digital flight connections”. Not fairly positive how this labored, I arrived on the practice station effectively forward of time and managed to decipher the board and located my platform. Thus far, so good.

I used to be barely curious as to how this all labored because the connection time between arrival at Frankfurt Airport (from the practice) and Departure boarding was solely half-hour or so.

I hold watching the board and immediately my practice is up to date and scheduled 5 minutes late. Then 10 minutes, then 20 minutes, then 25 minutes. I verify my Lufthansa app, and a discover seems “your connection is now in danger and we’re monitoring the state of affairs”. Nice. It’s the final flight to BHX of the day, so if I do miss it, I’ll need to be put in a resort in a single day, and my spouse must miss work tomorrow.

The high-speed (265km/h) ICE practice lastly arrives, and we depart practically 35 minutes late. While on the practice I research the airport map to see the place my gate is and the quickest route – like every good gamer would.

Practice pulls into the station, I sling my 8kg backpack on and begin operating down the platform, up the steps throughout the hyperlink bridge up extra stairs and into the terminal. My calves are burning because it’s now 10 minutes earlier than boarding is because of shut.

It’s pretty late within the day, so fortunately the passport management has no queue – the guard stamps my passport and I rush by way of safety. After all, my backpack will get the dreaded punt of disgrace into the “we’re going to verify your bag” lane.

The clock ticks on like an escape sequence initially of an motion recreation. The guard clears my bag and I sling it again on, wanting like Sam Porter Bridges from Loss of life Stranding as I proceed to run by way of the airport to my gate.

I attain my gate with 5 minutes to spare, just for an announcement to observe shortly after telling us that boarding is being delayed for 20-25 minutes while they “get the aircraft prepared”.

Morale of the story: it’ll be tremendous.

Conclusions

Cologne was a pleasant metropolis to go to and I felt secure strolling again to my resort pretty late at evening. I can’t declare to have seen a great deal of the town, however what I noticed was nice. Town centre could be very tourist-friendly because it welcomes guests to it’s Cathedral on a year-round foundation.

Gamescom was just like reveals I’ve attended earlier than, however on an entire new scale. It’s huge. It’s loud. It’s busy. There are folks all over the place. It’s sizzling. It’s tiring – I did 50,000 steps (~35km) throughout my two day go to. The queues are sometimes lengthy, however not all the time.

Would I like to recommend attending? I feel it comes right down to your priorities. In case you’re going hellbent on taking part in the most recent AAA video games, it’s a tricky ask contemplating the price of journey. In case you’re going with mates, taking your time and absorb the festival-esque environment and perhaps play some video games alongside the best way, there’s a a lot better likelihood you’ll get worth for cash.

Time for a sleep. 🫠

Did you go to Gamescom this 12 months? Have you ever attended earlier than? What was your expertise? Tell us within the feedback beneath.