As always, these YvoCaro Plays blurbs are mainly about the video games I’m currently playing. This time, though, it’s about something that feels almost like a game from another era: taking my Nintendo 3DS to Gamescom 2026 and seeing whether StreetPass still has any life left in it.
The answer surprised me!
GamesCom 2026 in Cologne
Cologne is only about a two-hour drive from home, making it an easy day trip. Since visiting Gamescom for the first time in 2023, the event seems to get bigger and busier every year. I’m not as mobile as a couple of years ago, so we had to pace ourselves and head home a little earlier than planned. Still, I had one mission: I was determined to complete before leaving: finding StreetPass hits and seeing the little green light!
We arrived early, before the crowds really started pouring in, which gave us some time to wander around and take in the atmosphere. First point to visit was the Nintendo area, where they had set up a charming Pokémon Pokopia-themed setting that was perfect for taking a photo. Without dozens of people around, it was easy to enjoy it and appreciate the effort that had gone into creating them.
Another game that caught my eye was LEGO Skylines, a game that is on my Wishlist and it scheduled for release in 2027. I even came away with a nice commemorative lanyard. Another highlight was Lou’s Lagoon. released on August 27th, the exact day we were at GamesCom. The game looked absolutely lovely on the various Nintendo Switch setups, with its vibrant colours and inviting island atmosphere. I couldn’t resist downloading it as soon as I came home.
Member of a Special Club
But while new games were everywhere, I kept wondering about something much older.
Every half hour or so, I pulled out my trusty Nintendo 3DS to check for StreetPass visitors. I wasn’t disappointed. Each time I opened Mii Plaza, a few new visitors were waiting at the gate. I didn’t have enough time to sit down and work through all the mini-games, but I was able to collect some puzzle pieces that had been missing from my collection for years.
Every single StreetPass hit felt special. Back in the heyday of the Nintendo 3DS, StreetPasses were everywhere. You could barely walk around a gaming event without filling your plaza multiple times, and even commuting to and from work I picked up plenty of hits on the train. In 2026, anyone carrying a 3DS around Gamescom is making a conscious choice. It feels less like a handheld feature and more like membership in a small, friendly club.
There’s something oddly comforting about that. Among all the giant booths, flashy announcements, and the latest gaming titles and hardware, there are still people carrying a piece of Nintendo history in their bags, hoping to meet fellow enthusiasts through a feature that Nintendo introduced well over a decade ago.
The Little Green Light
Gamescom 2026 reminded me why I still keep my 3DS charged. The latest games may have dominated the show floor, but some of my favourite moments came from a feature Nintendo introduced years ago. Every green notification light and every new Mii felt like discovering another player who hadn’t quite let go of that magic either. Overall, in 5 hours time I had 20 hits from people of various countries, which I thought was not bad!
I think that’s the StreetPass experience at its best. Not the numbers, but the feeling that somewhere in that enormous crowd, another 3DS fan is still carrying their system just in case.
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