September 17, 2024, 8:08 am | Read time: 10 minutes

Today, Gamescom will close its doors for another year. TECHBOOK was once again at the gaming trade fair this year. Once again, there was a lot to discover – some of it was more worthwhile than others. The editors reveal their highlights.

Gaming highlights at Gamescom 2024

Despite all the side activities now scheduled, Gamescom is one thing above all: a games fair. Accordingly, more than 200 games were once again on show in 2024. Among the larger and smaller indie titles, some were again particularly worthwhile for me. Here is a personal list:

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was actually supposed to be released this year. However, due to several factors, the Czech developer studio Warhorse Studio decided to postpone the date to February 2025. I was, therefore, particularly pleased that the game was represented at Gamescom 2024 – and very prominently at that. Hopefully, the calculation will work out in the end. After all, the studio is taking no small risk with the title. Almost all resources have been focused on the successor to the popular medieval role-playing game.

The first installment, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, was released in 2018. It follows young Henry, the son of a blacksmith in Bohemia at the beginning of the 15th century. However, history fans – and, of course, players of the title – know that this was an extremely turbulent time politically, which Henry and his family also fell victim to. After the death of his parents, Heinrich swears revenge; the players accompany him on his escape and subsequent adventures. The sequel will continue Henry’s story, but unlike the first part, players will not start from scratch. Instead, they will be given an already battle-hardened protagonist who is still in search of revenge and the master sword.

This was also evident in the demo at Gamescom 2024. There, you played a side mission in the beautifully designed Kuttenberg. In the course of the quest, you could already get an impression of the game world and the various role-playing aspects that the game offers. As with its predecessor, you can influence the fate of the NPCs around you. I see the fact that the release has been postponed as a good sign, as the first part was rather buggy when it came onto the market. In any case, I’m really looking forward to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.

Unknown 9: Awakening

To be honest, I didn’t hear anything about this game in the run-up to Gamescom 2024. At the Opening Night Live, the trailer stuck in my mind, and I had the opportunity to try out the game. In my opinion, the demo excerpt was not necessarily well chosen. You don’t really get to see anything of the story, and the mechanics are explained to you using quickly changing screenshots – and then it starts straight away. So, unfortunately, I can’t say much more about the plot here than what Bandai Namco has already revealed: “In the role of Haroona, you become embroiled in the conflict between two hostile secret societies and explore the depths of a parallel reality whose powerful energy you must use to outwit and defeat your opponents.”

At first glance, the title doesn’t seem to be played for its elaborate plot. In any case, the demo made me very curious about the gameplay. I heard from other testers that they gave up after several deaths within a very short time – understandable; after all, there are many other games waiting at Gamescom 2024.

But to be honest, my ambition got the better of me, and I’m glad it did! In the end, I defeated the enemies – especially one particularly nasty one, which I hope there won’t be too many of in the finished game – not so much with the intended skills, but simply with a lot of sneakiness. However, I found the versatile fighting style very promising. The protagonist, Haroona, played by Witcher star Anya Chalotra, also seems to be an exciting character. I’m definitely hooked.

Winter Burrow

This indie title brings together two genres that don’t really belong together: Cozy and Survival. As a mouse, you have to survive in the bitterly cold winter by expanding your home. To do this, you must collect materials and ensure you always have enough food and warmth. And then there’s the aunt who disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

Winter Burrow comes with a unique style and a convincing concept that actually does justice to both genres but with a focus on coziness. I was very impressed by the atmosphere and, above all, the graphics, and I’m looking forward to the 2025 release.

Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert was already one of my Gamescom highlights last year. But the game simply has a lot to offer. There is a great danger that it might even want a little too much. But what can I do? So far, what has been shown has delivered what was promised. It was not for nothing that Crimson Desert was the only game for which I actually stood in the remarkably long queue on press day.

Crimson Desert was actually supposed to be launched as an MMORPG. Thankfully, however, the makers decided to make it a single-player game after all. I say thankfully because this, of course, opens up completely different graphical possibilities. And at least according to the trailer and the Gamescom demo, the developers are making full use of this. Pearl Abyss’ own engine, BlackSpace, does the game world, which is called Pywel, a lot of good. The versatile combat system, on which the game focuses, was also compelling.

Hopefully, the decision for a single-player game also shows that Pearl Abyss has learned from the mistakes of the past. Many fans have been annoyed with Black Desert Online, which is full of microtransactions. So I really just hope that this won’t be the case with Crimson Desert – the game could be absolutely great!

Little Nightmares 3

There was a lot of excitement – including mine – last year when Little Nightmares 3 was announced, rather surprisingly. By Gamescom 2024, however, it was clear that the game would no longer be developed by Tarsier Studios but by Supermassive Games. That’s why I really wanted to take a look at the title this year, if possible. And what can I say? I really liked what I saw in the demo.

Little Nightmares is all about escaping the small – but usually quite large – nightmares that give the game its title in a dark world. To do this, you have to solve various puzzles and complete level-like sections. It remains to be seen whether the game will be able to keep this up in the end and perhaps find its own touch. For me, the first part is still something very special. The second has managed to tell its own path and, above all, a completely new story. In any case, the game was one of my highlights at Gamescom 2024.

Greedfall 2: The Dying World

2019 was a fantastic year for gamers. Just a reminder: this year saw the release of titles such as Red Dead Redemption 2, Death Stranding, Borderlands 3 (the fourth installment was announced at Gamescom 2024), Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Greedfall. While the first-mentioned titles raised expectations in advance, Greedfall came pretty much out of nowhere for many – myself included. Now, with Greedfall 2: The Dying World comes a sequel in the form of a prequel.

As with its predecessor, Greedfall 2 once again focuses on the fascinating game world of Teer Fradee. For many in an alternative 17th century, this means hope and an escape from the old continent, which is almost uninhabitable due to overpopulation, environmental pollution, and the Malichor plague. However, the story takes place three years before the first part, and this time, players take on the role of a kidnapped Teer Fradee native.

The Gamescom demo once again showed a cool combat system and suggested that the focus is even more on role-playing elements. In addition, the party size has been increased by one more person so that you can now roam the game world in a classic four-person combo.

Further highlights at Gamescom 2024

Indie and retro area

As is the case every year, the Indie Area is very popular – and I’m no exception. Nowhere else at the trade fair will you find so many games in one place. You also usually have the opportunity to talk to the developers of the games, which are usually lovingly made and rich in detail.

Thankfully, the Retro Area is right next door in the same hall. There, you can not only see old consoles and titles but also actually test them. And this year, there were also some developers who provided variety with “new” old games. At least a short visit is worthwhile every year.

New Cards & Boards Area

In 2024, the Gamescom concept was also broadened, and a new area was introduced: Cards & Boards. Well-known manufacturers presented their analog games there. The area was appropriately located next to and above the merchandise area and almost functioned as a supplement in places. Konami and Ravensburger, for example, were there. But at a trade fair like Gamescom, Wizards of the Coast with a game like Dungeons & Dragons was, of course, not to be missed.

While the flow of visitors was still somewhat restrained on Thursday morning, the new area also filled up quite quickly over time. Hopefully, the concept will be a success, and there will be a corresponding area at Gamescom again next year.

More on the topic

IFA visit Back at IFA after 20 years! It made me happy and sad at the same time

Gaming trade fair in Cologne Our expectations of Gamescom 2024

First impression Are robots that recognize emotions on the way? LG unveils prototype at IFA 2024

Personal conclusion on Gamescom 2024

This year, I went to Gamescom with a clearer concept than last year. Perhaps this was because there were fewer beacons in the form of AAA games to hold on to from the outset, but overall, I found the lineup and, therefore, the trade fair design very pleasant. I really don’t mind that two of the biggest names in the industry, Sony and Nintendo, have canceled, and no, I didn’t miss last year’s huge Netflix stand, either. Should Sony, in particular, have an understanding with its fans and return to the trade fair – that’s fine, too.

Instead, I had more time to devote to the small to medium-sized titles, which were also an important part of Gamescom 2024. When do you ever get such a concentrated offer to discover new titles? And it’s also analog and not digital at some Steam sales – nothing against Steam sales. Trade fairs like Gamescom are also always great opportunities to meet friends and acquaintances from the industry and get some unofficial background information.

And there were so many worthwhile games again this year that I haven’t included in this article yet. Mirthwood, for example, made a positive impression on me, as did the versatile platformer The Eternal Life of Goldman, Enotria: The Last Song, and the 2D adventure The Edge of Allegoria. At the same time, new games were also announced at Gamescom 2024 that make me very curious, especially Lost Records: Bloom and Rage and Masters of Albion. Maybe I’ll be able to play them at Gamescom 2025.

The German original of this article was published in August 2024.