6 biggest mistakes first-time Gamescom visitors make

If you're attending Gamescom for the first time, it's easy to assume it's just another business event. You book a hotel, print your badge, schedule a few meetings, and think you're ready.

But are you really? What awaits you in Cologne is a maze of enormous exhibition halls, more walking than you’ve done in months, trying to find a meeting room hidden behind a game publisher's stand, and realising you forgot to eat lunch.

You can avoid most of the issues if you know what to prepare for. Here’s the list of common mistakes first-time visitors make.

Trying to see everything

Gamescom is huge. With hundreds of exhibitors, multiple halls, business areas, esports tournaments, indie showcases, cosplay events, developer talks, and networking sessions, you'll never see everything in a single visit.

Instead of trying to cover the entire event, decide in advance what your priorities are.

Ask yourself:

• Which companies do I want to meet?

• Which sessions are actually relevant?

• Which halls matter most?

• What can I safely skip?

A realistic plan is far more valuable than an ambitious one you'll abandon halfway.

Filling your calendar from morning until evening

You’ll want to accept every meeting request. After all, you're only at Gamescom once a year.

But back-to-back meetings rarely stay back-to-back. People arrive late. Conversations run over. Walking between halls can easily take 15-20 minutes.

Leave breathing room between appointments. Those extra minutes will save you a lot of stress from running late and trying to find a meeting room in a hurry.

As a bonus, you'll also have time for the unexpected conversations that often become the most valuable part of the event.

Underestimating how much walking you'll do

This is probably the mistake every first-time visitor regrets.

Gamescom covers an enormous exhibition space, and you'll likely spend the entire day moving between halls. Comfortable shoes aren't optional, even if you are an avid walker.

Neither are:

• a reusable water bottle

• a power bank

• snacks

• comfortable clothing

You'll enjoy the event much more if you're not exhausted by lunchtime.

Not exploring beyond scheduled meetings

Some of the best opportunities at Gamescom aren't in your calendar.

Walk through the indie area. Visit smaller exhibitors. Attend a talk you hadn't planned on. Spend a little time in the networking spaces instead of rushing straight to your next appointment.

Many valuable partnerships begin with completely unplanned conversations.

Not researching exhibitors beforehand

Walking through hundreds of booths, hoping something catches your eye, isn't the best use of your time.

Spend an hour before the event browsing the exhibitor list. Identify companies that fit your goals, learn what they do, and prepare a few conversation starters. Even five minutes of research makes discussions far more productive. People notice when you've come prepared.

Waiting until the event to start networking

Networking starts long before the event opens. Many businesses begin arranging meetings weeks in advance through LinkedIn, email, or the Gamescom platform.

If you wait until you're already there, the people you want to meet may already have full schedules.

A simple message saying you'll be attending and would like to meet can make a huge difference.

The Gamescom app can be a big help here. It allows you to locate exhibitors, navigate between halls, check event schedules and receive programme updates.

See you at Gamescom 2026

This year, Payop will be at Gamescom as the official sponsor of the Cosplay Village.

If you're looking for a payment partner that understands the challenges of selling games and digital content globally, we'd love to meet. Whether you want to discuss local payment methods, Pay by Bank, or payment optimisation for gaming businesses, book a meeting with our team.

And if you simply want to say hello between meetings, you're more than welcome. See you in Cologne!