Must-Have Games and Gadgets: Our Top Picks from Gamescom 2025
From cutting-edge gadgets to the most anticipated games, this year’s Gamescom showcased an array of must-see innovations. Discover our hand-picked favorites from the event that highlight the latest trends and essential releases for every enthusiast.
Tl;dr
- Breakthroughs in cloud gaming and premium hardware unveiled.
- New titles impressed, but real surprises were rare.
- Unexpected accessories brought novelty to the event.
High Stakes for Cloud Gaming at Gamescom 2025
As summer drew crowds to Cologne, the Gamescom 2025 edition put the spotlight firmly on next-generation cloud gaming. This year, excitement centered around the revamped service from Nvidia GeForce Now. The promise? An experience rivaling — and perhaps outclassing — that of traditional home consoles. Core to this leap is a reimagined architecture, propelled by the brand-new RTX 5080. Gamers can now anticipate resolutions up to 5K at 120 FPS, or an impressive 360 FPS in 1080p for those passionate about e-sports. In terms of latency, results hovered around a remarkable 17ms, raising eyebrows even among seasoned players. With added support for Steam Deck integration and compatibility with Logitech wheels, not to mention direct cloud-based game installations, the platform seems primed for a broader audience.
Premium Hardware: A Competitive Shake-up
Hardware innovations made waves as well. Attention quickly turned toward a notable partnership between Asus and Microsoft, resulting in the much-discussed ROG Xbox Ally. Initial skepticism lingered following early benchmarks; yet, hands-on testing soon dispelled doubts. Its ergonomic design — clearly inspired by the classic Xbox controller — brings genuine comfort for portable play, while a custom interface helps sidestep some of Windows 11’s notorious sluggishness. The performance figures spoke volumes: « more than 80 FPS on Doom: The Dark Ages at full HD » ». Such numbers suggest this device could challenge the popularity of Valve’s Steam Deck.
Within audio innovation, there was plenty to notice as well. The Quantum line from JBL, especially its flagship Quantum 950 headset, turned heads thanks to features like memory foam earcups, advanced spatialization, and a clever dual-battery system that ensures near-endless autonomy. While positioned as a premium offering, more accessible variants were also showcased for wider appeal.
A Mixed Bag on Game Reveals and Show Atmosphere
Not all eyes remained fixed solely on technology. High-profile releases such as « Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 » and « Silent Hill f » took center stage during the show’s opening gala hosted by Geoff Keighley. Nevertheless, truly unexpected announcements proved elusive. One exception: « Resident Evil Requiem », whose hands-on demo impressed with its tense ambiance and an innovative blend of first- and third-person gameplay perspectives. A new LEGO Batman game was also revealed — Arkham-inspired but ultimately not especially surprising.
The Unusual Finds Its Place
Beyond mainstream reveals, certain gadgets stood out for their sheer eccentricity. Chief among these was an olfactory device from Omara, ingeniously designed to emit scents matching on-screen action. While undeniably novel — perhaps even whimsical — only time will tell whether such immersive tech finds favor among players.
Ultimately, while this edition reasserted Cologne’s role as Europe’s summer capital for gaming events, many left wondering if such innovation could ever recapture the unpredictability that once defined an E3 in its prime.