Rezzed 2017: indie games galore

Tomorrow morning sees the start of the Rezzed 2017 in London’s Tobacco Dock. The event is hosted by the team behind EGX and features many playable pre-release games on both PC and console with a strong focus on indie titles. Developer sessions by well-known designers give attendees the opportunity to find out more about their projects, and creators are happy to answer questions out on the show floor.

I’ve gone to Rezzed every year since 2013 and the thing I love most about it is the atmosphere: it’s kind of like the EGX expo but different. It’s not so noisy, there aren’t as many publishers trying to push their wares into your face and there’s a real vibe of support for independent developers. Everyone is really friendly and open for a chat, creators and gamers alike, and it’s possible you’ll come away with some new friends (this is how I first met Tim from GeekOut South-West).

I’m due to be at the event on all three days and will be spending Thursday and Saturday morning volunteering on the stand for SpecialEffect. If you haven’t yet heard of the charity (or our Gamely Giving efforts) check out their website: it’s an amazing UK-based organisation which supports people with physical disabilities by helping to play video games. Last year we showed attendees how to play Rocket League with their chins and Minecraft with their eyes, and this time I think we’re playing with Abzu and Towerfall Ascension.

I’m only volunteering for half a day on the Saturday because we’re bringing my stepson to Rezzed for the first time! We’ve held off on doing it previously as we felt he was a little too young for the experience but, as he’s due to reach the grand-old-age of ten and is really getting into his gaming, it seems like it’s now appropriate. We haven’t told Ethan yet in order to make the day out a surprise for him – he can hang out with his dad in the morning and do ‘boy stuff’ before I join them both in the afternoon.

They’ll likely be some Rezzed-related content from me over the next couple of weeks depending on what I find and the games that impress me. I’d also like to write a piece explaining why you don’t need a press pass to get the most out of events like this in my experience… more on that another time.

If you haven’t yet bought your tickets and would like to attend, there are still some available for all days (at the time of writing). And if you’re going to be at the event, let me know in the comments below – and make sure you stop by the SpecialEffect stand to say hello!