Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, is the world biggest gaming conference and the best place to meet developers and find your next favorite indie game. (Kat Nickola)
Last fall I went to the world’s biggest gaming convention. Attending Gamescom in Cologne, Germany has become an annual event I really look forward to, and not just for the big game announcements.
My favorite part of Gamescom is meeting the independent developers who are at the conference just trying to get their game out into the world. These indie developers (devs) will have their games on in full show; sometimes the only space they have is a quarter section at a standing table with a small PC screen and poster. Other devs may get larger table space, perhaps a seated table or even a modest display area with theming. The size of their display area can tell you a lot about the size of the company or individuals and how new they are to the gaming scene.
While so many of the AAA games by major big-budget studios are going for first-person-shooters and super-popular massive world-building action-adventure and RPG games, some indie devs are out there making something totally different: cozy games.
Cozy games are low-stress and non-violent, often with open-ended game play. Many of the popular ones are simulators like “Animal Crossing” or, one of my faves “Stardew Valley.” Lately, cozy game devs have branched out of the village farming rut, offering story-based games, spooky options and mundane-task sims that allow you to power-wash, mow lawns or pack cars. There are now so many incredible options you can be very specific about your likes and dislikes.
So, at Gamescom as I wandered around the hundreds of games crammed into the indie area last fall, my goal was to find the perfect cozy game set in Europe, bonus points for layers of history or mythology. And, as always, the devs didn’t disappoint. Here are my favorites, in no particular order:
“The Berlin Apartment”
Released Nov. 17, 2025 on Steam, PS, Xbox | Developer: BTF | Publisher: ByteRockers Games, PARCO Games
While fixing up an old apartment in Berlin, you discover interesting clues and relics that lead you back in time to understand the city’s history through the eyes of one apartment’s owners. I loved the art style, the moody coloration and seeing all the different apartment iterations. But, what stands out is the story telling. The way it gamifies history, never feeling like a boring school lesson, is fascinating and different. The game is perfect for anyone interested in German World War II and Cold War history. Blue Backpack (formerly BTF Games) is a larger indie dev with 20 employees based in Berlin. If you enjoy the time travel and amazing handmade artwork, try their previous game called “Trüberbrook” for a sci-fi jump to the 1960’s in rural Germany.
I was able to play the demo of “The Berlin Apartment” at Gamescom 2025. (Kat Nickola)
“The Berlin Apartment” by BTF (BTF | ByteRockers Games | PARCO Games)
In “Berlin Apartment” you get to see the apartment during different time periods as the stories get told. (BTF | ByteRockers Games | PARCO Games)
The view out of the apartment window changes over time. (BTF | ByteRockers Games | PARCO Games)
“Farewell North”
Released Aug. 16, 2024 on Steam, Switch, Xbox, PS | Developer: Kyle Banks | Publisher: Mooneye Studios
Explore the world of the northern Scottish islands as a border collie, all the while bringing life and color back to the land. The deeper story is a mix of overcoming grief, honoring the past and moving into the present. At first, playing as a dog felt light-hearted, but as the game progresses the storyline takes over and I became more emotionally invested. It was truly a gentle walk, though, colorizing the scenery and puzzling the way forward in a way that made the emotional story enjoyable instead of overwhelming.
Getting in some “Farewell North” gameplay at Gamescom 2024. (Kat Nickola)
The fun in “Farewell North” lies in playing as a border collie. (Kyle Banks | Mooneye Studios)
There are a variety of landscapes in “Farewell North”, including the water that makes the Scottish islands so unique. (Kyle Banks | Mooneye Studios)
Bringing back color and life to the land in “Farewell North”. (Kyle Banks | Mooneye Studios)
“Cat Me if You Can”
Upcoming Release | Developer/Publisher: Cosmic Stag Games
Play as a cat in a hand-drawn blackline world. Explore locations around the world, including many in Europe to photograph hidden cats and colorize them. At Gamescom, I waited nearly an hour to play the demo for this game, and watching my first cat come to life was worth every minute. Not one to waste time while in line, I spoke with the art director from the Berlin-based company who said that they will ask for community input on new locations to add as the game expands. The backstory to “Cat Me if You Can” is fun: some mystery cat-astrophe removed all mammals except for cats and all but you are frozen in time, in need of a kitty photographer to snap them back into full living color.
Patiently waiting my turn to play “Cat Me if You Can” at Gamescom 2025. (Kat Nickola)
“Cat Me if You Can” by Cosmic Stag Games (Cosmic Stag Games)
Finding kitties to colorize is fun and addicting in “Cat Me if You Can.” (Cosmic Stag Games)
Can you spot the cat in “Cat Me if You Can?” (Cosmic Stag Games )
“Strange Antiquities”
Released Sept. 17, 2025 on Steam, Epic Games, Switch | Developer: Bad Viking | Publisher: Iceberg Interactive
Being an apprentice in a small-town occult antiquities shop is challenging as you puzzle out all the mythical symbols, magical items and mysterious townspeople. This game fed my fascination with dark mythology and magical things, but had me obsessed once I discovered that a map was involved. The Bad Viking development company is run by brothers Rob and John Donkin, based in England. They told me about how they scouted out real occult symbols at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum for inspiration into creating symbols for the game. For any other garden lovers out there, the brothers’ other game set in the same town of Undermere is called “Strange Horticulture” and similarly offers a mysterious narrative dark puzzle about medicinal and witchy ways to use plants.
I met with the Donkin brothers and got in some early “Strange Antiquities” game play at Gamescom 2025. (Kat Nickola)
“Strange Antiquities” by Bad Viking (Bad Viking | Iceberg Interactive)
Be sure to pet the cat assistant in “Strange Antiquities.” (Bad Viking | Iceberg Interactive)
Each magical item in “Strange Antiquities” has it’s own strange powers that you must puzzle out. (Bad Viking | Iceberg Interactive)
“Heidi’s Legacy: Mountains Calling”
Upcoming Release (demo on Steam) | Developer/Publisher: Humble Reeds
In this village farming simulator (I couldn’t help but include one), you play as a young woman heading into the Alps to help Grandpa herd goats, forage and fish. Inspired by the “Heidi” novels, the game has calming background music, a pretty watercolor art style and super cute goats. While playing the demo at Gamescom, I chatted with Mélanie & Aurélien, both developers at French game studio, Humble Reeds. They wanted to present a game set in the mountains and focused on the healing power of nature. Using the familiar Heidi story as a baseline was a way to do that while bringing in aspects of intergenerational relationships and community building. Until “Heidi’s Legacy” is released, try their other nature-based game about restoring wetlands and collecting frogs, “Kamaeru.”
I had a great time playing the “Heidi’s Legacy: Mountains Calling” demo and meeting the devs Mélanie & Aurélien at Gamescom 2025. (Kat Nickola)
“Heidi’s Legacy: Mountains Calling” by Humble Reeds (Humble Reeds)
In “Heidi’s Legacy: Mountains Calling,” game artwork is a calm, pretty watercolor style (Humble Reeds)
You have the ability to craft a variety of products in “Heidi’s Legacy: Mountains Calling” from goat milk and other mountain resources. ()
“Jeppe and Oswald”
Upcoming Release (demo on Steam) | Developer/Publisher: Dully & Dax, Redox Interactive
Illustrator Sabine Dully and author Eva Dax write children’s books, and their “Jeppe & Oswald” series has been adapted into a game for kids and families. Playing as Jeppe the pixie (Hauswichtel in German), you are tasked with cleaning a forest cottage to pass your house-elf exam. However, a pesky hamster name Oswald makes things difficult. I spent longer than I expected playing this game, finding all the spider webs and cleaning up blueberries. It was also great to chat with the Dully and Dax, from Cologne, Germany, who are passionate about kids’ fiction. With colorful storybook graphics, simple directions and a variety of tasks, the “Jeppe and Oswald” world of books, toys and videos just got bigger with this game.
I met with Dully and Dax at Gamescom 2025 after some demo “Jeppe and Oswald” gameplay. (Kat Nickola)
Jeppe is sometimes on the outs with pesky hamster Oswald. (Dully & Dax | Redox Interactive)
Jeppe has spiderwebs to clean. (Dully & Dax | Redox Interactive)
This year Gamescom will take place Aug. 26-30, 2026.
I highly recommend any avid or casual gamer to make plans now to attend Gamescom. It is one the most fun weekends you will ever have, and gives you the opportunity to play upcoming games, chat with developers and get to know all the aspects of the gaming industry. Click here to read more about Gamescom, get details on how you can go and about what to expect.