Image credit: Em Stonham for Kyusai
One of my favorite things about being a journalist is being able to attend gaming conventions; no matter where they are in the world, these events are always energizing and vibrant, acting as a strong reminder of how games bring people together. Cheesy, but true.
One such event that I had the opportunity to attend earlier this year was Debug Games Festival, which took place in Norwich on April 25, 2026. The event was overflowing with interesting game demos and panels, making it a highlight of the year’s gaming calendar so far.
A celebration of indie games
Debug Games Festival took place on April 25, 2026, in Norwich, hosted by the Debug magazine team.
The event aimed to bring together fans of indie games, retro titles, and pop culture – and based on the variety of different fandoms, genres, and franchises I saw being represented, it certainly succeeded.
It was a day-long event, largely made up of indie game developers and teams showcasing their demos, alongside a handful of artist stalls and merchants selling gloriously geeky wares.
The event took place in the Norfolk Showground venue, with stalls dotted throughout the large hall, and a main stage towards the far side. I spent most of my time browsing the different indie game demos on offer, and ended up playing everything from retro-inspired arcade games to football deck-builders.
The publisher Secret Mode had a couple of tables at Debug Games Festival, showcasing some of their best titles. I spent a fair amount of time here, trying out NUTMEG! and A Storied Life: Tabitha.
I’ve never been fussed about football – an unathletic horror games journalist who doesn’t like sports, I know, ground-breaking – but I found NUTMEG! to be strangely compelling. It’s a nostalgic football deck-builder with a deeply moreish gameplay loop, letting you play out a match in the form of colorful cards.
A Storied Life: Tabitha was enjoyable, too, strikingly different from the footie game at a table over from it.
In this game, you’ve been tasked with packing up a cozy estate after a loved one has passed away, tidying up their belongings, and picking through beloved memorabilia. It’s a soft and sweet game, with some emotional story beats and a gorgeous art style; I can see fans of A Little to the Left loving it.
Scores of talented artists and creatives
Alongside the game previews and demos at Debug Games Festival, there were lots of creatives to chat with, selling everything from board games and stained glass artwork to physical game copies and pin badges.
One of the highlights of the artist alley area for me was the artist ZeroFaded; their work was cute, pink, and glittery, and featured everything from mystery bags to adorable pin badges celebrating different queer identities.
I’m a sucker for pin badges and stickers, and it was great to see so many authentic artists displaying their thoughtfully hand-drawn work in today’s age of AI obsession.
An artist that’s worth checking out as a video game lover is 16BitGlass, a stained glass duo that creates stunning pieces with iconic gaming characters like Pokémon starters and Elden Ring characters.
The pieces looked gorgeous laid out on the table, but when they were held up to the light, they gave off an ethereal energy.
There was a main stage area on the festival floor, too, playing host to a few panels, Q&As, and performances.
One of the highlights for me was a panel and live drawing session with Duncan Gutteridge, an artist and illustrator who worked with SEGA, illustrating Sonic for projects like the promotional artwork for Sonic the Hedgehog 2. He chatted with the audience and answered fan questions, all while sketching the Blue Blur live.
Every time I attend events like DreamHack or MCM Comic Con, I’m reminded why I love gaming so much – but every time I attend an indie event like Debug Games Festival, it reaffirms my belief that indie games are at the forefront of everything interesting in gaming.
The indie gaming world is so ridiculously broad – whether you like fast-paced arcade games, heart-breaking puzzle games, or tongue-in-cheek visual novels, there’ll be a game to suit you. Being able to attend Debug Games Festival was a delight, and I’d highly encourage folks to keep an eye out for future events from the same team.
FAQs
Debug Games Festival took place on April 25, 2026.
The Debug Games Festival event took place at Norwich Showground, in Norwich, UK.
Events like Debug Games Festival and other local conventions are always a shout for indie game lovers. Staples like DreamHack and MCM Comic Con usually feature plenty of awesome indie titles to check out.
If you’re hoping to find new indie games, make sure to browse genre tags on Steam or other major storefronts, but also spend time with Itch.io and social media pages dedicated to indie games. Attending conventions can also be a solid way to find new games to check out.
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