From October 13 to 15, 2023, Polaris took place for the second time in Hamburg. MeinMMO editor Lydia Poethig was present on Saturday and Sunday and reports from the major community event.
Note: The title image is a collage. The original image is © Hamburg Messe und Congress / Rolf Otzipka.
At the Hamburg Messe, the community event Polaris celebrated its 2nd birthday from October 13 to 15, and I was there for MeinMMO. If you want to know how the first edition went, you can find our report from last year here.
Over 3 days, in addition to me, more than 27,000 other visitors attended the event – that’s almost as many people per day on average as there were in total in 2022. On-site, there was once again the opportunity to explore various booths, try out games, be entertained by numerous stage shows, and meet some well-known personalities. Among others, PietSmiet, Gronkh, Gnu, and Doctor Froid were present, and I also encountered the Berlin YouTuber Tanzverbot.
Polaris clearly distinguishes itself from gamescom. Aside from the obvious difference in size, the focus is also somewhat different. Rather than being seen as a video game event, Polaris defines itself as a community event. Gaming thus makes up only a part, albeit an important one, of the offering.
Another core theme is East Asian pop culture in general and anime/manga in particular.
While influencers do appear at gamescom, some people there take issue with them. After all, one is there for the games. At Polaris, however, Twitch streamers and YouTubers are part of the event from the very beginning and are an important aspect of the community.
Update: October 18, 2023 – In a press release on October 16, content creator Gnu, who was a guest on-site, made a statement.
For me, it was the first Polaris this year. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the varied program. It was a very pleasant size for a fair. I was able to take my time with my community and relax while chatting with other creators and colleagues. I also love the large
Jasmin “Gnu”
cosplay area; I think it’s cool to admire all the elaborate costumes in the halls.
This is what Polaris looks like: Gaming, Anime, and Influencers
If you are like me, you want to get a rough overview first and note where you want to spend more time later and possibly spend some money. I was able to do this quickly on Saturday morning. Throughout the day, however, the fair became increasingly crowded, making it less easy to navigate.
As in the previous year, the fair extended over 2 halls that were divided into different areas, called thematic worlds.
The gaming area of Polaris was shared by larger exhibitors such as Nintendo and Capcom, along with numerous indie and retro games. Nintendo showcased current titles like Detective Pikachu and TLoZ: Tears of the Kingdom, as well as the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
At Capcom, I was able to try out Dragon’s Dogma 2 among other things. The RPG celebrated its European premiere at Polaris, just weeks after its world premiere in Tokyo, Japan. MeinMMO author Max Handwerk had the opportunity to try it out in September and wrote a detailed preview report.
The adjacent Cyberdome, however, was themed around influencers and e-sports. There were the large main stage and a “Meet & Greet” area. Creators such as the gaming group PietSmiet, the HORDE around Twitch streamer Gronkh, and YouTuber Gnu were present at Polaris.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t experience PietSmiet’s big game show on Friday night, but I was present at the Q&A with the HORDE on Saturday.
Another focus of Polaris is anime and manga. Anyone who has ever been to a fair in this area will feel right at home: Numerous booths with merchandise in the form of pillows, T-shirts, pins, and collector’s editions will make any fan’s heart race.
Additionally, there was an artist alley, a tabletop area, and a food court. Lovers of East Asian cuisine will especially be pleased at Polaris, but there are also classics like burgers, fries, and pizza. Particularly nice for those who value a meat-free diet: Almost all booths offer clearly labeled vegetarian or vegan meals.
However, Polaris doesn’t just offer countless booths to explore: On the 4 larger and several smaller stages, a varied program is offered. Visitors should ideally decide in advance what they want to see, as sometimes the choice can be difficult.
Special Highlights: Gaming History and a World Record
Although Polaris is still not a particularly large fair in terms of area, there was plenty to see and experience. Since I also didn’t want to miss some of the stage shows, the 2 days passed by very quickly and left me with a lot of impressions.
Here you will find a small selection of experiences that particularly stuck in my memory.
The Playable Museum of the Retro Games Club
Here, selected parts of gaming history could be experienced on original hardware. I was particularly pleased to encounter a SNES with Super Mario World because that was the first game featuring the mustached plumber that I played as a child – and even then it was considered a retro game. It was cool in this context to also be able to try out the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Wonder and see the development over the more than 30 years that have passed between the titles.
Cosplay Contest and World Record Attempt
These are basically two highlights in one. On Saturday, I was able to admire 10 absolutely fantastic costumes and performances during the cosplay contest. On Sunday, I attended the live recording of a new world record. With 492 people in video game cosplays in one place, the previous record, which had stood for 10 years in Finland, was surpassed by exactly one person.
For the world record attempt, organizer Wolf Lang and Daniel Schmitt from Hamburg Messe also dressed up. A record judge from the Guinness World Records, who had traveled especially for this occasion, witnessed the record and subsequently presented a certificate.
The Indie Arena
My heart beats for indie games, and I am pleased with how they shine at Polaris. In the Indie Arena, one could dive into the available titles at will. There were no long lines or time limits after which one had to yield to the next person. Instead, one could make themselves comfortable on the seats and temporarily block out the fair hustle and bustle with the provided headsets. Two titles particularly stood out to me:
- Howl is a turn-based strategy game that impresses with its beautiful watercolor look. However, one should not be misled by that, as every move in Howl must be well thought out. The difficulty seems more motivating than frustrating. After I completed a level due to my excessive caution with only one out of 3 stars, I immediately dove back in to improve my rating. Howl is set to release in 2023, and you can already play the demo on Steam.
- The Ebbing – A Coastal Tale is from the creators of A Bavarian Tale – Totgeschwiegen. Unlike in 19th century Upper Bavaria, this time it takes place in a port city on the North Sea. Although only a very early version was playable at the fair, it immediately captivated me. The detective RPG combines first-person detective work with role-playing elements and a touch of humor. Particularly cool for me as a language nerd: there will be fully voiced Plattdeutsch dialogue along with an English dub. The Ebbing does not yet have a release date, but also offers a demo on Steam.
My Conclusion:
I see potential for Polaris to establish itself as a staple in the event calendar. Even now, it has been a truly wonderful event that has already grown significantly compared to last year. From what I witnessed on-site, Polaris is expected to grow even further in the future.
With Capcom and Bethesda alongside Nintendo and Ubisoft, more major exhibitors have already been gained. In the future, there might be potential for further improvement and possibly spatial expansion. Additional community actions, such as the successful world record that gathered almost 500 cosplayers and countless spectators, should continue to be part of the event’s DNA.
There were a few growing pains – for example, I had trouble installing the official companion app on my Android phone – but I personally had a great time. Polaris gave me the opportunity to chat with many cool people, play games, and admire artworks and shows. I am very curious to see what the future of this fair holds.
If you are really only interested in gaming, you are likely well served by a one-day ticket with a shorter journey. However, if you also enjoy anime and manga, cosplay, or want to experience events with German influencers from Twitch and YouTube, then Polaris is made for you.
