Halls Virtual Tour
In my Gamescom 2025 first impressions post, I promised to share a proper gallery tour — a virtual excursion through the halls of Koelnmesse. This post delivers exactly that. Since this was my seventh Gamescom, I’ll be your guide through the consumer areas, with both photos and practical tips for making the most out of next year’s show.
With hundreds of photos taken, I decided to split them into themed posts so it’s easier to digest:
- This post covers Halls 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 — the main consumer areas.
- A separate post will focus on Hall 5 (merch).
- I’ll also take you behind the curtain of the B2B business area, usually closed to the public.
- And of course, there will be a dedicated feature on cosplay.
Most photos you’ll see here were taken early in the morning on press day. That’s why the halls look almost empty — during the prime days, with over 300,000+ visitors [source], it’s nearly impossible to capture the booths themselves without being swallowed by the crowd.
Pro tip: If you want to see all the major booths and activities, prepare for an 8-km loop from entrance to exit. Prioritize your must-see games before committing to long wait times for hands-on demos.
Table of Contents
While this tour is about the 2025 fair, I’ve seen the same hall dynamics repeat year after year. Based on Koelnmesse’s pricing brochures and the long-term booth rentals of major publishers, I’m fairly confident the Gamescom 2026 show floor will look very similar.
Hall 6 – Where Blockbusters Live
Hall 6 is the biggest consumer hall at the fair, always packed with two long rows of massive booths and a central boulevard that feels straight out of a cyberpunk movie — music, neon lights, and walls of LED screens everywhere.
It also holds the record for the longest lines every year, as this is where most of the blockbuster games are showcased. In 2025, the heavyweights were Borderlands 4, Anno 117, Phantom Blade, Crimson Desert, and The Blood of Dawnwalker. The last two I actually played myself — look out for separate posts with detailed impressions.
💡 Tip: Start your Gamescom journey in Hall 6 — the sheer spectacle sets the tone for the entire show.
One of the most striking setups came from Pearl Abyss, who built two full castle structures that dominated almost an entire row. But the prize for the most jaw-dropping prop went to Farming Simulator: a real, EU-legal, John Deere 9RX 830 tractor. This 900HP beast costs over €1 million and stands as probably the most expensive prop ever brought to Gamescom.
📸 Gallery of Hall 6 – the largest consumer hall, home to blockbusters, castles, and even a million-euro tractor.
Hall 7 – Big Brands and Colorful Worlds
Hall 7 was anchored by Xbox, but this year their booth felt fragmented. Instead of the usual massive centerpiece, the space was broken down into smaller boxes for each upcoming release. The grandeur was gone, especially compared to last year’s Xbox “mini-city” which filled half the hall with streets, signs, and even an info center.
Microsoft’s other titan, Blizzard, was pushed into the next hall — another example of the big-corp split that hurt the overall atmosphere and epicness.
Still, Hall 7 had plenty of highlights:
- InZOI, a life simulation aiming to rival The Sims.
- Two separate SpongeBob SquarePants booths (Paramount and THQ Nordic).
- A massive Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds zone complete with racing rigs.
- THQ Nordic also showcased Reanimal and Gothic Remake — both of which I had interviews about, so stay tuned for special posts.
📸 Gallery of Hall 7 – Xbox zone, SpongeBob doubled up, and THQ’s Gothic and Reanimal grabbed attention.
Hall 8 – The Noisy North Gate
Hall 8 is probably the loudest hall of the entire show thanks to the ASUS ROG stage, with its constant DJs, giveaways, and booming sound system. Pro tip: if your company ever rents booth space, avoid being neighbors with hardware brands — they always pull huge crowds and crank the volume.
Because it’s the closest hall to the North Entrance, this is where visitors usually sprint right after the doors open. By mid-morning the place is packed, but the crowd thins toward the evening, making it a good hall to check out on your way out of the fairgrounds.
Highlights of Hall 8 in 2025:
- Netflix shows & collabs, including a One Piece x LEGO installation.
- A life-size Going Merry ship, easily the biggest prop by sheer size this year.
- Arknights: Endfield and Blizzard showcases.
- Cronos: The New Dawn from Bloober Team — I’ll share a separate hands-on review soon, with my honest “should you buy it?” verdict.
📸 Gallery of Hall 8 – the loudest hall with ASUS ROG beats, Netflix shows, the Going Merry ship, and Endfield’s sci-fi stage.
Hall 9 – Nintendo Kingdom & Undead Guests
Hall 9 traditionally belongs to Nintendo, and 2025 was no exception. If you’re into Pokémon Go, this hall is a must-visit thanks to its PokéStop with exclusive buffs.
Alongside Nintendo, Samsung had a huge presence this year, especially in the monitor space. I saw their displays across countless booths — their marketing spend must have been massive. It even got me thinking about testing one for a gaming monitor review (interested? Drop a comment).
Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem booth went all-in with live zombie actors. One “undead” performer was pinned under a car for the entire day, never breaking character. It made me wonder — how do you survive as a zombie for a ten-hour shift? Food, water, bathroom breaks… none of that seemed possible. Hey Capcom, did someone feed the zombie?!
Other notable booths included:
- Duet Night Abyss featured a four-meter-tall winged statue, dramatically lit with cinematic lighting.
- Honor of Kings: World invited visitors to hand-draw wishes on cards and hang them on a dedicated wish tree.
- CrisisX – I couldn’t get hands-on time, but I made some contacts to follow up later.
📸 Gallery of Hall 9 – Nintendo and Pokémon led the way, Samsung monitors were everywhere, and Capcom’s zombies stole the show.
Hall 10 – Two Floors of Everything Else
Hall 10 is massive, split across two floors (10.1 and 10.2). It took me nearly two hours just to walk through it.
Hall 10.1 is mostly Hardware & Activities. This floor was home to hardware makers like BeQuiet, DeepCool, and Thermaltake, alongside gaming chair and desk brands. While I miss the larger hardware presence of past years, Gamescom remains a game-first event, so hardware is more of a side note. There were also activity zones, including sports areas and remote-controlled car racing.
Hall 10.2 is about Indies, Retro, Careers. This floor is divided into three main areas:
- Indie Zone – Probably the largest indie showcase I’ve ever seen at Gamescom, with 200+ games. Some were single-PC setups with stickers and flyers, while others had fully built stands and props. The best part is meeting the developers themselves — often the entire studio is right there to chat with you.
- Retro Zone – A playable museum of classic systems. From the Commodore 64 to the Super Nintendo and early PlayStation models, it’s a nostalgic trip you can actually play through. This was easily the most heartwarming part of the show — if you look at the photos, you’ll see generations sharing joy together, with fathers, sons, and even grandparents touching classic games and swapping stories from their youth.
- Careers & Education – Here you can talk to recruiters, explore IT and game industry roles, and even apply for educational programs on the spot.
But before we dive into the final and largest gallery, here are a few tips to help you make the most of the show.
Gamescom Visitor Tips
Every hall offers chill zones, restrooms, and catering, so you’re never more than a few minutes away from a break. Many seasoned visitors bring foldable chairs to survive the long wait lines. Accessibility is also well covered with ramps and elevators throughout the venue.
⚠️ Tip: Bring an empty bottle — Cologne’s tap water is high-quality and drinkable, and you can refill at restrooms for free.
If this B2C tour left you curious about the other sides of Gamescom — merch, cosplay, and the behind-the-scenes B2B halls — those will follow in upcoming posts. For now, that wraps up the consumer hall tour. Time to enjoy the final gallery!
📸 Gallery of Hall 10 – two floors of hardware, indies, retro classics, and career zones, taking hours to explore.
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