Gamers who love monster-collecting games were in for a treat when they entered Koelnmesse in late August as gamescom 2024 saw Pixelmon make a big splash.
For those unfamiliar, Pixelmon is an IP that’s all about monster collection. As it’s an intellectual property and not just one game, Pixelmon is a collection of games that offer a unique experience for gamers who want to experience different flavors of collecting monsters.
While Pixelmon has been known for some time now, gamescom 2024 saw the IP get introduced to even more gamers thanks to an array of activities and demos that attendees were able to experience.
At the event, three Pixelmon games were highlighted, with each delivering a unique take on the monster collecting premise while still keeping the core theme.
All you need to know about Warden’s Ascent, Warriors of Nova Thera, and Eternal League
During the event, a massive Pixelmon booth was put up on the gamescom 2024 floor, and it featured demos of the three “mid-core” games in the franchise. The term “mid-core” is used in Pixlemon to denote the more complex 3D action games as the IP also features casual entries that are designed for more entry-level gamers.
The first of the three mid-core games at gamescom 2024 is Warden’s Ascent. This game is a turn-based RPG adventure title for Android and iOS, and the goal here is to collect and level up over 100 Pixelmon. As such, this game should be familiar to those who grew up playing titles like Pokemon and Digimon.
Warden’s Ascent features turn-based RPG gameplay, with players commanding their team of Pixelmon. This game also puts an emphasis on collecting rare Pixelmon eggs, hatching them, and subsequently growing them to become more powerful.
While this can be enjoyed solo, Warden’s Ascent is designed with socialization in mind as players can display their Pixelmon in the game’s social hub. More competitive players can also face other players in PVP matches. Thus, this game is made for players who want a more traditional monster collection title.
Next is Warriors of Nova Thera. As its name implies, this game has more emphasis on action given that it’s a roguelike adventure game where players directly control Pixelmons. Yes, that means instead of commanding them, players will directly control the cute monsters.
The gameplay loop here should be familiar to roguelike genre fans as players can explore different biomes and gather shardstones which can be used for upgrades. Once upgrades are unlocked, players can continue to explore even tougher areas.
Of course, as a roguelike game, your progress won’t exactly be saved. On the flip side, this does mean that each run will feel new, especially considering that the playable Pixelmons have unique different abilities and skill trees. These changes in abilities and skills also mean players will have to adapt their playstyle depending on their Pixelmon for each run.
Rounding out the gamescom 2024 lineup is Pixelmon’s Eternal League. This game is a MOBA, but instead of being a squad vs squad affair, each match is a 1v1 fight.
Here, players can customize their hero character with all sorts of robotic parts that feature distinct stat progressions. Players will also need to assemble and upgrade minions, adding an extra layer of strategy that’s not unlike a tower defense game.
Thus, this game is all about outmaneuvering the opponent through a proper build and a balanced attack courtesy of summonable minions.
Pixelmon showcases games with demos and activities at gamescom 2024
These three games were the highlight of the Pixelmon booth as visitors got to try out demos of these games for free. Meanwhile, many visitors also got to watch other players experience the various flavors of the Pixelmon experience thanks to the three titles.
Aside from getting to experience the games for themselves, visitors were also able to get tailored rundowns of each game’s systems. That’s because the demos were manned by actual Pixelmon producers and game designers. Among them was lead designer Seatin who is also a popular content creator.
Speaking of guests, gamescom attendees also got to see cosplayers in eye-catching outfits inspired by the world of Nova Thera.
@Pixelmon drip @magukarp pic.twitter.com/2hUuFzWnad
— YUUNO✨ (@yuuno_o) August 25, 2024
As a surprise bonus for SEA gamers, Pixelmon even brought in creators YUUNO (from Singapore) and Maggiekarp (from the Philippines) as guests. At the booth, the two donned adorable Pixelmon outfits that attendees got to see and take photos with.
It’s not just cosplayers that visitors got to take photos of though as the booth itself was also quite an impressive sight. That’s because Pixelmon brought the world of Nova Thera to life for the event, complete with a pub area and a photo booth.
What’s in store for Pixelmon in the future
After making a splash at this year’s gamescom, the team behind Pixelmon noted that their goal is to continue building upon the foundations laid out in the three games. They are also keen on expanding the scope of the three titles showcased at the event.
What’s more, there’s also interest in expanding the IP even more with other games in various genres. There’s even interest in other media like anime – not too surprising given the overlap between gamers and anime fans.
While the Pixelmon booth at gamescom targeted the European market, the developers also noted that Asia is still the most important market for them. This is thanks to the fact that most of their team is based in Asia, coupled with the fact that there’s still interest in web3 projects in countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, and Thailand.
Given this, players in East and Southeast Asia can expect to see more of Pixelmon in the near future, especially in web3 events.
For now though, the showcased titles at gamescom are still in the development phase, though players can expect closed beta tests for these games soon.
Players who are interested in trying these games out as soon as possible can register now through the Warden’s Ascent, Warriors of Nova Thera, and Eternal League official websites.