Gamescom is Europe’s largest gaming convention, where hundreds of thousands of people gather to hear all the biggest gaming announcements, get their hands on the most long-awaited games, and have the chance to play some games before they are even announced. With more than 10 halls packed with games over three different floors, it can be intimidating. Even with it being open to the public for four days, there is absolutely no way you could see everything. This year was different to others if only because of how it has panned out so far. It’s not a stretch to say that 2023 has been the best year in gaming so far, and everyone wanted to prove themselves at the convention.
GLHF were out there at Gamescom, taking in the atmosphere, talking to developers, and getting a first look at some of the best games still to come. Here’s five things I didn’t expect to see while I was at Gamescom 2023 in Cologne, Germany.
1
The incredible cosplay
As with all gaming conventions, cosplay is highly encouraged, and while you expect to see some elaborate cosplays from the people at the booths, with the Cologne heat, you expect something a little less flashy from the visitors. However, they may have given the exhibitioners a run for their money this year, with plenty of incredible hand-made outfits with impressive detailing to be spotted as you wandered the halls.
We saw an incredibly accurate Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West, as well as a spectacular Princess Peach. Characters from games like Genshin Impact, and Honkai: Star Rail were everywhere, and you honestly couldn’t walk down one corridor without seeing a very recognizable costume. While the games are certainly the highlight, the cosplay made even the walks in between interesting.
2
The huge number of hands-on experiences available
So far this year we’ve had so many 10/10 games, including Tears of the Kingdom, Street Fighter 6, and Baldur’s Gate 3 to name just a few, that it’s hard to believe that we’re only two-thirds of the way through the year. Aside from the plethora of amazing indie games that are always on offer to try during Gamescom there were also some very big names that people were excited to try out.
Visitors lined up for hours to try out Starfield, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and Like a Dragon Gaiden, which all have a chance of being some of this year’s best. If you want to play these games it’s all about prioritization of course. You won’t fit all of the biggest games in, but playing just a few will show you why this year is so jacked.
3
You need to take precautions
As with any large convention, queues to get to the best parts can be hours long, and depending on when you arrive the queue to get in can take hours as well. This of course, means that there are a lot of people inside, and in the busiest areas, you will find yourself packed into rooms like sardines. There was also no mask mandate for Gamescom, and I think over the whole convention, I maybe saw five masks.
With big crowds come constraints. When queuing, you can’t run to the bathroom and there are limited facilities, which of course, leads to rather seldom handwashing. You also needed to bring a lot of water as the halls were barely air-conditioned and it became very hot inside. It was basically a breeding ground for disease, and I came away from the event pretty ill canceling my final day plans. If you are immunocompromised, you might want to skip this event, unless you don’t mind the risk of catching something.
4
The amazing diversity
For some reason gaming has a common stereotype of being unwelcoming to minorities, but I’ve always found that in reality this isn’t the case. There were people of all types at the events, and the crowds tended to give appropriate space to those with mobility issues despite having limited space themselves. Overall the vibe was very welcoming, and people were eager to start conversations on their passions.
This atmosphere was reflected in the games we saw, it’s hard for people to act with toxicity when they are excited about playing cute farming sims, or cozy indies. I’m sure there were disrespectful people there, but it was mostly an event about gathering to celebrate your love of gaming, and that was evident.
5
How much people were spending
As with all conventions, there was a huge amount of stuff available to buy, and no matter what you are into, there was sure to be something to tempt you. Despite how big the halls were, how limited the space was, and how far you would have to walk, it didn’t seem to deter people from purchasing huge bags full of merch for their favorite games.
For many it looked more like a shopping trip than a gaming convention, but it was cute to see just how happy people were with their purchases. It can be hard for people to find merch for their more obscure favorites, and the wide variety available meant there was something for everyone.
Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.
