More halls, more guests, more games: that was Polaris Convention 2025, once again turning Hamburg into a hotspot for fans of gaming, anime, fantasy, and pop culture. From October 10 to 12, there was plenty to experience and discover across more than 30,000 m². Naturally, Gamecity Hamburg didn’t miss this home game either and showcased more Hamburg-made games than ever before at its biggest booth to date. And so, excited video game fans streamed into the Sandbox Area right on Friday’s opening, where—between the Indie Arena Booth and the Retro Market—they could explore Hamburg’s diverse gaming landscape firsthand at eight playable stations at the Gamecity Hamburg booth.

The developers of the eight featured games, all created in Hamburg, had come up with plenty of creative ideas to delight visitors. Anyone stopping by could freely try out the games—solo or in multiplayer—and chat directly with the creative minds behind them. An opportunity that Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor of the City of Hamburg, did not miss either. During a tour of the convention, he visited the booth, took the time to talk with the developers and saw for himself the diversity and creativity that Hamburg-based studios bring to their games.

And when it came to content, there was something for everyone: from a charming math-learning app for kids, to a family-friendly multiplayer racer, to an atmospheric VR mystery experience and a darkly fantastic challenge for adults—the lineup was more diverse than ever. The “Road to Polaris” 2025 games impressively demonstrated how multifaceted, creative, and vibrant Hamburg’s game development scene truly is.

The “Road to Polaris” 2025 games:

• Tivola Games – Ed & Edda: GRAND PRIX – Racing Champions
• neurodactics – Mambio
• Pipapo Games – Map Map – A Game About Maps
• Nightless Games – NeverLight
• SalsaShark Studios – Super Chipflake Ü
• Curvature Games – The Amusement
• Positive Impact Games – The Regreening
• Godcomplex Games – Vacunauts

Further details about the games and our “Road to” program can be found here.

Alongside all the gaming fun, the booth also offered fascinating insights into the Hamburg games scene: the Gamecity Hamburg team provided information on funding opportunities, training programs, and career options in the city’s growing video game industry.

Wrapping up with networking at the Gamecity Treff

But Gamecity Hamburg’s activities didn’t end in the convention halls. Continuing a beloved tradition, Gamecity Hamburg—together with our sponsor photon—once again hosted the Gamecity Treff on Friday evening of the Polaris.

At the Grüner Jäger in St. Pauli, more than 230 developers and members of the Hamburg games industry gathered for a relaxed evening of food, drinks, and plenty of networking. Those who wanted could join the optional speed meeting to make new contacts, exchange ideas, and perhaps even find their next big collaboration partner.

A big thanks goes out to our teams who accompanied us on-site and once again made the Polaris Convention an unforgettable experience.

See you next year at the next Polaris in October 2026!