It’s been just over a year since we attended our first FORMAT event, which at the time was still Manchester-exclusive. But the latest edition saw FORMAT venture down the M62 to Liverpool, setting up camp at Camp and Furnace, right in the heart of the Baltic Triangle. But it wasn’t just us going to FORMAT Liverpool.
Yep, this one felt extra special to us, as it marked the first time we met up with Ben, the mastermind behind NinjaRefinery.com. We kicked things off with a quick pint, then some delicious bites at the Baltic Market before heading over to see what the night had in store.
What FORMAT Liverpool had in store for us
FORMAT Liverpool had everything you’d want: a bunch of games to try out, live entertainment, and even a raffle supporting Safe In Our World—a charity that supports mental health in the gaming community. And, obviously, the first stop was the bar.
Once we had a pint in hand, it was time to get a feel for the place. We noticed an impressive showing from VR developers this year, offering some seriously cool experiences. But our favourite game wasn’t even playable—it was all about the presentation. The game, Hounded, drew us in with its fantastic artwork and a snippet of its gameplay mechanics. It’s Stray, but with a dog. You play as Duke, a pup searching for his owner in a dystopian city, and the devs promised a hilarious achievement for “marking” all the propaganda posters in the city. What’s not to love about that?
We also loved playing HumanitZ, a top-down zombie survival game. We’re suckers for anything with zombies, and getting a free t-shirt after playing through some of the early levels was just the cherry on top. We fixed up a car and mowed down some zombies, getting some serious State of Decay vibes mixed with a bit of DayZ. The devs seemed to be influenced by those classics, but we couldn’t help but notice a bit of Survive The Nights inspiration with the level of detail and crafting options.
Later, we took a nostalgic trip down memory lane with some of the Antstream Arcade machines on offer. Hundreds of classic games were at our fingertips, and we had a blast playing a few we remembered from our childhoods.
The FORMAT Liverpool atmosphere was electric, especially when the Spartan Dance Group hit the stage. But the highlight was definitely Lucia La Rezza, The Nerd Violinist. Her performance was mesmerizing, playing medleys from Halo, Mortal Kombat, Final Fantasy, and even Pokémon. When she took the stage, it was impossible to focus on anything else.
After more rounds exploring the FORMAT Liverpool venue and chatting with developers, it was time for the raffle. Sadly, no luck for us, but it didn’t matter. We still had an amazing time, wrapping up the night with a quiet pint nearby and reflecting on a great evening.
The following day’s antics
It was wonderful to finally meet Ben, and the next day he hooked us up with a session at Gravity MAX in Liverpool One, where we took on the EKart track before hitting the batting cages. Not to brag (I definitely am), but I dominated the competition—especially on the track with the fastest lap time. A rematch is inevitable, and I can’t wait.
FORMAT Liverpool delivered on every front—a proper mix of gaming, live music, and community vibes. It was just what we needed and more, bringing like-minded people together for a night full of fun, nostalgia, and a little friendly competition. Can’t wait for the next one!
To check out some more of the events that we’ve been to like this piece on FORMAT Liverpool, head over to our Events and Venues page.