Recommendations of the Editorial team
For passionate gamers, it is the promised country: Gamescom in Cologne. Every year the city transforms into a pulsating melting pot of the game culture and, partly months or years before publication, gives insights into upcoming titles. From 20th to August 24th, a total of 357,000 visitors flock to the exhibition center. An overview of the presented highlights of 2025.
A look over the extensive halls is enough to recognize: Gaming is no longer a marginal phenomenon, but the heart of the entertainment industry. The numbers speak for themselves: Around $ 200 billion in sales generate video games in the past year alone-almost twice as much as the film sector. The contingent of developers who show their most promising projects is correspondingly large.
There is a lot to discover across genre – from established blockbusters to brave new developments that take players into unknown worlds. With “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7”, the traditional first-person shooter goes into a new, action-packed round. A trailer presents the new PVE mode “Endgame” and the opportunity to experience the campaign together with up to four players.
Horror classic and dark worlds
Capcom Gameplay material reveals to “Resident Evil Requiem”, which already gives an idea of which nightmares the players expect. Meanwhile, “Silent Hill F” returns to the roots of the psychological horror: a setting, classic exploration and puzzle elements shaped by Japan, as well as targeted sound effects create an oppressive atmosphere that guarantees nostalgic goosebumps.
The indie scene once again shows its creative range and innovative strength at Gamescom 2025. Among other things, visitors can test “Hollow Knight: Silksong”-one of the most expected indie games in recent years that promises a spectacular journey full of dangerous opponents, hidden secrets and acrobatic challenges.
Likewise fascinating: “Call of the Elder Gods” takes you into a dark Lovecraft world full of mysterious powers, while “Kiyo-Bunny Tyranny” scores as a Jump’n’Run adventure with charming humor and puts the players into the role of a rebellious cat that opposes a capitalist rabbit band.
Indie power and German classics
Other titles such as “Grind Survivors”, “Darkswitch” or “Arcane Eats” surprise with creative game mechanics and original concepts and show that innovation often takes place away from the blockbuster.
Successful titles, especially on the German market, receive a striking presentation. “Gothic Remake”-the new edition of the role-playing classic, presented last year-impressively shows in a fight demo how the elderly template is adapted to modern play habits without losing its rough, medieval soul. Ubisoft puts the building strategy series “Anno” with “Anno Pax Romana” into the Roman Empire and thus dares to jump into a historical era that has not yet been illuminated by the franchise.
Series fans immerse yourself in well-known and new worlds: Revisites from streaming hits such as “Stranger Things”, “Wednesday” and “One Piece”-from demonic demogorgon to the legendary pirate ship Flying Lamb-draw their eyes and make the halls appear like a stage in pop culture. The next series production is already in the starting blocks: “Fallout” will receive a second season on December 17th and promises post -apocalyptic adventures at a well -known depth.
The musical entertainment also shapes the trade fair experience. In addition to an orchestral performance of music from the role-playing hit “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt”, the Swedish power metal veterans Sabaton bring the halls to shake with their war anthems. Appropriately, the update 2.0 announces the largest replica for the tactics shooter “World of Tanks”, which, among other things, brings new vehicles and cards into play.
Pop culture and musical highlights
Whether blockbuster or indie pearl-Gamescom 2025 once again proves that the diversity and creativity of the gaming world knows no limits and has new adventures for every visitor.