Over five years after its launch, the Games Lift Incubator is no longer new. The kickoff and first meeting of this year’s cohort took place in the same location — SPACE has long established itself as the perfect fit. A certain assuredness was palpable. Even if people had to overcome technical hurdles while giving their presentation.

It always worked out. The mood was light. The teams and Gamecity staff sat together on yellow chairs, listening and talking about the significant steps ahead in the coming months. Games Lift’s five mentors attended in full and introduced themselves to the group before a first round of one-on-one meetings. But it’s always the teams and their projects that make the event exciting.

Dead Jockeys, Playing Volleyball

First up were Vincent Will and Sharon Sacks. Their project “The Wrong Horse“ is still in concept phase but even the mockups look like the game is done. This is hardly surprising — both have studied illustration. Now, they are creating a crime adventure where an entire racetrack is held in suspense by the death of a jockey. As a journalist, players must piece together clues and navigate a colorful cast of characters to solve the case.

“Phasmopass“ also hits you in the face like a volleyball: Curio Compass are the trio behind an idea that you must see in action to really get it. In the afterlife lies the city of Limbo, and those who hope to escape must get through the trials of a volleyball reality show. This purgatory may look dystopian, but also stylish and intriguing. As a roguelike strategy game, it presents turn-based matches from dramatic and dynamic camera angles.

Old-School Platformers and Older Cards

Leif Gutowski steps up as a well-connected solo developer with work experience and a fresh game idea. In “Encaged and Ungraded,“ cards land on your virtual desk, ready for a close inspection. Is the card real? Is it fake? Or worse? The game taps into anomaly horror and portrays a job that is as important as it is dangerous. If the card grader fails to seal a cursed card and lets it out into the world, there is more at stake than his or her job. And as it turns out, a game about inspecting cards is a great way to highlight illustrations from different artists.

“Fading Skies“ is a project with a history of its own. The experienced duo Distant Blue have invested years in an ambitious action-adventure with nostalgic PS2 vibes. In 2024, they even successfully completed a Kickstarter campaign. The combination of old-school platforming and modern action left an impression at the kickoff event. With Games Lift’s help, the fantasy story about the young woman Ryn and her magical dragon is set to make significant steps toward the finish line.

End deliciously

“Project Slimepot“ by Calluna Games may not have a fixed title yet. But the genre sounds catchy enough — it's a hack'n'snack game. Players defeat creatures in a dungeon, then cook and serve them in their tavern. The core loop (Slay, Cook, Serve) is meant to be exciting, then creative, then relaxing. While the project is in an early stage, the four-person team behind it has already worked together and is making quick progress.

After presentations were done and discussions were held, it was time for two rewards. Food was served (without cooked creatures), and numerous Games Lift alumni showed up to mingle with the crowd. Many already knew each other, whether from university or previous projects. That's the point of Gamecity Hamburg: It’s not about getting you through a program but getting you into a network. And it grows each year.