CGMagazine had an entire team present on the gamescom 2025 exhibition floor, dedicating ourselves to experiencing as many games as possible during our time there. We traversed the expansive halls of Koelnmesse throughout the week, encountering everything from a colossal World of Warcraft: Midnight portal to a stunning Zenless Zone Zero Aston Martin. We engaged with extraction shooters, strategy titles, a plethora of horror games, and cozy games so adorable it was overwhelming.

After sampling over 50 titles during four days, CGM has narrowed down its selections for Best of Gamescom 2025. These games left us eager for more immersive experiences, prompting us to inquire further with developers and, in certain instances, pleading for release dates. Whether it was an innovative twist on a genre like The Blood of Dawnwalker, a highly anticipated sequel such as Hollow Knight: Silksong, or a game that was so disquieting it lingered in our thoughts like REANIMAL, these are our top picks for Best of Gamescom 2025.

Borderlands 4

Played by: Dayna Eileen
Developer: 2K Games
Game Link

It’s clear that Borderlands 4 is among the most awaited titles of 2025, captivating its loyal fanbase. However, I was unprepared for the intense 30 minutes of action-packed, adrenaline-filled gameplay I experienced while combating waves of foes in the Borderlands realm, which turned out to be among the highlights of gamescom 2025. Thanks to NVIDIA, I had the opportunity to play on an RTX 5090 with DLSS 4, and the performance was impeccable.

2K Games has truly outdone themselves with Borderlands 4. During my brief play session, I hopped from island to island, vanquishing each one before proceeding. I opted for Vex the Siren and utilized her ability to call forth Reapers and Spectres to assist in dispatching enemies. The enjoyment I experienced was astounding, even in moments of defeat, and I can’t wait for the game’s full launch on September 12.

Gods Death & Reapers

Played by: Dayna Eileen
Developer: Wolcen Studio
Game Link

Referred to as an “ExtrAction RPG” by Wolcen Studio, Gods Death & Reapers seeks to introduce a fresh angle to extraction games. With various difficulty settings and a completely solo campaign, I am eager to see how the full version unfolds. Wolcen has also indicated there will be options to preserve specific items, like crafted gear, from being lost during gameplay. Gods Death & Reapers is already demonstrating remarkable detail. The foes I encountered were horrifying, and the atmosphere felt bleak and frigid,