Gamescom 2022: Finally back on site! Photos and impressions after the long break

For the past two years, Gamescom has only been held digitally. Being presented with the latest games on the sofa at home was a pleasant change that was especially easy on the legs, but the on-site video games fair is a completely different and, above all, special experience that many of you may have missed.

At Gamescom you will meet thousands of people who have the same or at least similar interests. Developers and publishers not only present their games at thousands of stands: there are discussions about the pros and cons of certain games or platforms. There is an exchange and the icing on the cake is getting to know new games or maybe even genres that you have never considered before.

But is that still the case after the long break? There are still thousands of people even after the two years, but there seem to be fewer visitors overall. Nevertheless, the crowd that gathered in front of the entrances on Wednesday and Thursday morning was enough to block everything at 9 am sharp.

So if you still want to buy a ticket or have already gotten one, you should either arrive in the morning or plan enough waiting time in the morning.

Everything seems the same as always

Arrived at the exhibition center, everything seems to be as it was in the years before the pandemic. Cosplayers congratulate each other on their successful costumes and visitors wondering what they might represent. Likewise, players who otherwise rarely see each other due to different places of residence, but meet every day via TeamSpeak or Discord.

Gamescom 2022

A colorful mix of photos fresh from Gamescom 2022. From huge goats to small models, everything is included.

In groups or alone, the crowd pushes through the halls. Row after row there are stands that couldn’t be more different. Goat Simulator 3 welcomes you to a green and brightly lit meadow. In Warhammer, of course, the stand has to be dark and dim. Many stands are adorned with large statues and structures that invite fans to photo shoots.

Photos with, next to, on and if you ask, then probably also below, recreated props to match the game are simply a must for many of the visitors. There are also little goodies everywhere so that you don’t forget your visit. So everything as usual? Not at all!

Some things have changed

If you take a closer look, you will notice that after the pandemic, one or the other publisher who used to exhibit at Gamescom is no longer there.

But even if Sony and Nintendo are missing, there are still enough titles for gamers for both consoles that you can play at Gamescom. Even if you are lucky and there is not much going on in the halls, you can easily spend several hours here.

If you have time to test a game, don’t be surprised that most titles can only be played on PC instead of PS5. Because the shortage of consoles has not left a big trade fair like Gamescom untouched.

But that doesn’t seem to detract from the joy of playing. Not only is it played at the fair itself, but various titles are also discussed and backseat gaming can also be observed from time to time.

So at its core, it’s still Gamescom as we know and love it. The event where gamers of all genres come together and celebrate their joy in past, released and upcoming video games. Other changes are even positive. For example, the wider aisles provide more air in the stuffy halls.