Gamescom 2025: The Biggest Reveals and Surprises So Far

Gamescom 2025 has exploded with announcements, from blockbuster sequels to long-awaited fan favorites finally stepping back into the spotlight. Opening Night Live set the tone with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, which drops November 14, 2035-set campaign in tow, bringing four-player co-op and a progression system that spans across solo, multiplayer, and zombies. The developers teased missions inspired by Arkham’s fear-driven design, pushing COD in one of its strangest – and boldest – directions yet.

Team Cherry’s elusive Hollow Knight: Silksong finally resurfaced, promising a 2025 release alongside fresh gameplay.

Attendees walked away convinced the years of waiting will pay off, with its carefully crafted world already feeling like playable art. Nintendo brought chaos with Kirby Air Riders, a wild spin on vehicle combat that rejects kart-racing clichés in favor of pure silliness. Meanwhile, Resident Evil Requiem haunted ONL with its terrifying new stalker, while leaving fans desperate to know when Leon Kennedy will show up.

Capcom’s Pragmata drew mixed feelings with its innovative combat hack system that might prove repetitive over time, but their revival of Onimusha: Way of the Sword won players over with rock-solid swordplay, drawing instant comparisons to Ghost of Tsushima and Sekiro. Lego kept busy with two reveals: Lego Voyagers, already charming critics, and Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, a massive tribute to Batman’s history featuring Matt Berry as Bane.

Hardware also made waves, as the ROG Xbox Ally X launches October 16, though pricing remains a mystery. Strategy fans got a taste of Anno 117: Pax Romana, while horror buffs glimpsed Halloween, a new single-player project shaped with John Carpenter’s input. RPG lovers weren’t left behind either: The Blood of Dawnwalker introduced its vampire-human duality, while Game Science unveiled Black Myth: Zhong Kui, steeped in Chinese folklore.

Other highlights included a Sekiro anime adaptation, Fallout Season 2’s Vegas-bound trailer, and the controversial Switch 2 version of Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, which struggled to run smoothly in handheld mode. Gearbox teased new vault hunter Harlowe for Borderlands 4, Ninja Gaiden 4 introduced Yakumo as its new lead, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 revealed its Forge DLC. RTS fans rejoiced at Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4, now in the hands of King Art Games. Finally, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 locked in an October 21 release, bringing 21 years of anticipation to an end.

And while all that was happening, the surprises kept coming – from Monster Hunter and Final Fantasy XIV crossovers to bizarre indies like Denshattack! (yes, it’s train trick racing) and the unexpected return of Bubsy. Gamescom 2025 has proven one thing already: the future of gaming is stranger, bolder, and more crowded than ever.