Gamescom 2026: NEO BERLIN 2087—An Indie Game with AAA Visuals

At Gamescom 2026, Elysium Game Studio presented NEO BERLIN 2087, a title slated for a 2028 release. A 30-minute playthrough offered a glimpse into the game's mechanics and combat, leaving a strong impression.

The game's visual design is immediately striking. Futuristic environments are rendered with exceptional detail, from lifelike water effects to intricately decorated interiors. One demo segment showcased an interior resembling an old Victorian building, packed with decorations and knick-knacks, demonstrating the game's graphical fidelity.

In NEO BERLIN 2087, players assume the role of Nolan, who investigates a conspiracy in a futuristic Neo Berlin. The city is enclosed by a new wall, intended for protection. The world, set in a highly advanced 3087, integrates technology directly into gameplay. According to its Steam description, player origin dictates access to technology. The elite enjoy advanced cybernetics, while ordinary citizens have limited upgrades. Outcasts face malfunctioning machines, some of which have developed sentience and attack humans. The city has supposedly dealt with these threats, but the surrounding wastelands hold a different story. Settlements dot the barren lands, led by rival factions, with the wealthy living in comfort behind the Berlin walls, shielded from the harsh environment and the struggles of others.

Gameplay involves analyzing crime scenes and gathering clues. A scanner aids in this process, highlighting essential items and evidence. A distinctive mechanic allows players to extract a chip from victims and experience their final hours, reenacting events to uncover what happened. This is how combat was presented in the demo.

The combat sequences, experienced through these simulated replays, felt detached due to the lack of real consequences—death meant simply restarting the sequence. While this might be clarified in the full game, the current implementation felt like a justification for combat. During the preview, various weapons were available. Stealth attacks and hiding bodies were encouraged; a direct confrontation resulted in running out of ammunition and a quick demise.

NEO BERLIN 2087 evokes comparisons to Detroit: Become Human with its futuristic setting, robotic characters, and crime scene investigation elements, though the developers reportedly disagreed with this comparison.

Currently, NEO BERLIN 2087 stands out as a visually ambitious title, especially for an indie studio. While the overall gameplay loop requires further development, the existing elements are promising. The developers aim to imbue the gameplay with greater reward.

NEO BERLIN 2087 is scheduled for release in 2028 and is available to wishlist on Steam.