T5W#494-Top 5 Magfest 2025 Cosplays (Sunday Only)

Magfest, for those who may not be aware, is a Video Game-centric convention held in the same location as Katsucon, the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, about 3-4 weeks before Katsu.  I’ve never been to Magfest but I hear good things from those who go and I still wonder how some of my friends can still do both cons back to back.  Just for the heck of it, I decided to check out the Gaylord in advance of Katsu and see what the cosplay scene for Magfest looked like on a Sunday.  Probably could have seen more if I could get into the Expo Hall but hey, I’ll take what I can get.  Normally I’d hold off on this kind of Top 5 til October but since this was a rare event, I figured on todays’ Top 5 Wednesday I’d countdown my Top 5 Magfest 2025 Cosplays (Sunday Only).  This was only a taste of the epic convention cousin of Katsu and I’m hoping 2026 will mark a full weekend stay, but we’ll see.  Anyway, onto the cosplays.

 
#5-Senshi

Everyone loves Dungeon Meshi (aka Delicious in Dungeon).  More importantly, everyone loves Senshi, the man who could write an entire series of cookbooks for his fantasy world on how to chop up and serve monsters.  Naturally, this makes him one of the most popular cosplay picks for cons and Magfest seems to be no exception.  This Senshi’s beard particularly stands out.  It looks like a fully knit blanket and tbh I wonder how heavy it is considering it’s length.  Still, it’s a perfect recreation of the Master Chef’s chief feature.
 

#4-Blues Brothers

They’re on a mission from God and apparently that included a trip through Magfest.  It’s always fun to see some surprise cosplays you wouldn’t expect at any con and it doesn’t get more surprising than seeing Jake and Elwood Blues behind the wheel and windshield of their 1968 Cadillac Sixty Special.  This looks like a perfect duo cosplay with both participants carrying around the front piece of the car while emulating the too cool for school feel of the Blues Brothers. 

 
#3-Snake Plisken

The Man, the Myth, the Legend, the inspiration for Hideo Kojima’s ultimate hero.  Kurt Russell’s Snake Plisken from Escape from New York is a scifi action icon and he seems to have found himself on a special mission to Magfest (two types of those jokes in two entries?).  This cosplayer nailed Snake’s look to a T, especially the cool jacket he sports in the beginning of the film.  The one piece that stood out most to me was the timer wristband used to keep track of how much time Snake had in his original mission before what would basically be his “Game Over”. 
 

#2-Sailor Neptune (Life of Cosplay)

It’s always a pleasure to spot Life of Cosplay at a con.  While probably best known for her many variants on Lady Dimitrescu from Resident Evil Village, she can tackle a wide range of characters.  I think this is the first time I’ve seen her cosplay a Sailor Senshi and wow she is simply a striking and beautiful Sailor Neptune.  The hair, the shoes, the suit, all on point and LoC has no trouble nailing that confident grace of Michiru Kaioh, it’s simply put, just beautiful.
 
For more of Life of Cosplay’s con adventures and various Lady D schenanigans, you can check her out on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/lifeofcosplay?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
 

#1-Gundam Universe (Mobile Suit Gundam, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack & Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08^th MS Team)

Honestly, I knew I was in for a good time during my visit when the first cosplayers I saw were a group from the 08^th MS Team: Specifically Shiro Amada, Aina Sachalin, Eledore Massis and Kiki Rosita.  They all looked amazing, especially Aina’s pilot suit.  08^th MS Team is definitely a rare Gundam series to see at a con…you know who isnt so rare, Char Aznable.  A separate group later appeared as all of Char’s variants from Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam and Char’s Counterattack (the Zeta one is questionable…if you get it, you get it).  Add in a Haman Karn too and I couldn’t help but point the Char’s in the direction of the 08^th Team and luck into getting a pick of both groups together.  Freaking epic moment for any Gundam fan.