Every year, Gamescom brings all the biggest and most exciting games to Cologne, Germany, for a massive games industry trade show. This year is shaping up to be just as exciting, as big names prepare to hit the floor with demos, previews, and more.
PlayStation will not have a presence at the show (making this the sixth year that Sony has abstained from appearing), but Xbox, Nintendo, and plenty of other big names will be present to give gamers a preview of the future of the industry.
10 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Shows Off Its DLC, The Order of Giants
Return For More Adventuring With Indy
The first DLC for Bethesda and Lucasfilm’s 2024 hit Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is coming out soon, but fans can get a preview by tuning in to coverage of Gamescom 2025.
The DLC, titled The Order of Giants, will launch on September 4 and will send the intrepid Indiana Jones on a series of new adventures through Rome. Gamescom will allow attendees to traverse through the streets and ancient sewers of the old city, overcoming obstacles and facing new and old foes.
9 Little Nightmares 3 Shows Its Creepy Face
The New Co-Op Mode Might Be Demoed
Supermassive Games’ hit Little Nightmares franchise returns with a third game. Set in the same dark and creepy world of the previous two games, Little Nightmares 3 will place players into the tiny feet of Low and Alone, either in co-op mode or with a computer companion.
The highly anticipated third game may show off its co-op capabilities at Gamescom. Although players were accompanied by an AI friend in the last game, this is the first time a second player will be able to take up the controls.
8 Pragmata Finally Appears In Playable Form
What Comes After Dreaming?
Capcom’s new standalone adventure game asks, “What comes after dreaming?” The Sc-Fi game follows protagonist Hugh and his Android companion, a little girl with flowing hair named Diana, through an abandoned lunar research station. Players will have to shoot and hack their way through dangers, all the while asking what it really means to be human.
No release date has been revealed yet, but the game is expected to arrive sometime in 2026. Initially announced in 2020, Pragmata has suffered several delays, so it’s exciting to see it finally playable at Gamecom.
Instead of introducing a new generation, the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A will follow in the footsteps of Arceus and return to a previous generation. Fans will be able to wander around the city of Lumiose in the Kalos region from Pokémon X&Y, where Pokémon and humans are learning to live in harmony.
Like the previous Legends title, Z-A brings some innovations to the franchise—like directional attacks—that could change the way future games play out. Z-A will be released on October 16 and is one of the most exciting demos to be playable at Gamescom this year.
6 Ninja Gaiden 4 Returns To A Decades-Old Franchise
Witness The Future Of The Franchise
Ninja Gaiden 4 will mark Koei Tecmo’s return to the franchise for the first time in over a decade. Later this month, fans will get their first glimpse at the series’ future as the title brings back a familiar face and introduces a brand-new protagonist.
Although several industry insiders and news outlets (including Screen Rant) have gotten to try an early build, Gamescom will include the first public demo of Ninja Gaiden 4, which is heading to consoles on October 21 this year.
5 The Outer Worlds 2 Presents A Guided Theater Experience
Explore The Inner Workings Of The Megacorporations
The Outer Worlds 2 by Obsidian Entertainment was revealed at The Game Awards in December 2024 and is slated for an October 29 release. It’s set to bring the same unabashed humor as the original 2019 classic, throwing players into a space colony taken over by megacorporations.
In lieu of a hands-on demo, Xbox is bringing a special theater presentation of The Outer Worlds 2 to Gamescom. In this special guided tour of the Tomb of the Matriarch, visitors will get an inside look at the capitalist society that thrives on propaganda and loyalty—and the player’s role in it all.
4 Black Ops 7 Unveils New Story Information And More
Travel Back To The Future With A Familiar Face
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is one of the headlining titles coming Gamescom, and will be featured on August 19 during Opening Night Live. The game was officially announced at Summer Game Fest just over two months ago with a teaser trailer.
The teaser revealed that the title would bring Black Ops 2 protagonist David Mason to the future for new combat featuring high-tech innovations and gadgets. The Gamescom presentation will feature developer insider information and reveal more about the story.
Fans at home will also see even more exclusive content on the Call of Duty social media pages following the presentation.
3 Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Arrives This Year
Witness The First Hands-On Footage
Metroid Prime 4 has had a few false starts and developmental upheavals since its announcement in 2017. Earlier this year, Nintendo finally confirmed that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will be arriving sometime in 2025, and a playable demo will be available at Gamescom.
The game will continue the saga of Samus Aran on the planet Viewros, with some new psychic powers to play around with. The Beyond will be the first Metroid Prime game in nearly 20 years, so it’s definitely something to look forward to when Gamescom is underway.
We May Finally Find Out Leon’s Role In The Game
Capcom announced Resident Evil Requiem during June’s Summer Game Fest, and a demo will be playable on the floor of Gamescom. The game’s official release date is February 27, 2026, but fans can get a preview by tuning in to the event’s Opening Night Live.
The Gamescom 2025 opening night livestream will feature the first gameplay footage from the upcoming title, which follows FBI agent Grace Ashcroft. Capcom’s presentation may finally reveal whether Leon will be playable in the upcoming title, which has been teased and rumored since fans started spotting Raccoon City references in the reveal trailer.
1 Hollow Knight: Silksong Has A Playable Demo
After Six Years Of Waiting, It’s Finally Happening
Fans have waited for six long years for the highly anticipated sequel to the beloved Metroidvania Hollow Knight. After several delays and scant information from developers Team Cherry, many fans had given up hope on ever seeing the game.
At long last, Hollow Knight: Silksong will have a playable demo this month, featured by both Nintendo and Xbox, which will also have it as part of its preview of the handheld ROG Ally. No release date has been revealed yet, though the game is still (allegedly) slated to release sometime in 2025.
Considering fans have only a handful of screenshots, a six-year-old trailer, and a sheet of sprite designs, this playable demo might be the most exciting thing coming to Gamescom 2025.
- Location
- Cologne, Germany
- Description
- Gamescom is the world’s largest video game trade fair, held annually in Cologne, Germany. It features major gaming announcements, demos, and exhibits from top developers and publishers, attracting industry professionals and gaming enthusiasts. The event includes conferences, esports tournaments, and showcases the latest in gaming technology and trends. Gamescom 2024 takes place from Wed, Aug 21 to Sun, Aug 25.
- Dates
- August 21-25, 2024
