PAX East is at all times a deal with. A smaller, extra intimate present than PAX West, PAX East is an effective method to take the trade’s temperature and see a ton of thrilling new video games from each main publishers and small indies which can be doing thrilling new work it’s possible you’ll not have heard of earlier than. I spent 4 days at PAX East this yr, seeing a ton of cool video games each on the present ground and behind closed doorways. Some I sadly can’t discuss, however let me be clear: I noticed a lot of cool stuff. This roundup will cowl the perfect of the perfect.
Lucid | Developer: The Matte Black Studio | Writer: Apogee Leisure | Launch Date: TBA
Generally, even throughout a present as nice as this yr’s PAX East, there’s one recreation that appears to suck up all of the oxygen within the room, the type of recreation that’s so good that it’s on everybody’s checklist after they’re discussing the perfect video games of the present. This yr, that was LUCID, a 2D motion platformer that pulls collectively items of Celeste, Metroid, Castlevania, and Mega Man X. The very first thing you’ll discover is the way it seems: LUCID’s paintings is totally gorgeous, from the best way it makes use of depth of area within the background and foreground to the best way the smallest particulars of the sport world information your eye to the factor it’s essential to see subsequent. The soundtrack is equally great, managing to convey temper and tone whereas completely matching the motion on-screen. After which there’s the texture of all of it, nailing dashes into jumps into air dashes into sword slashes that reset your different actions. At its greatest, you’re always shifting, flowing via the surroundings like water via a winding canyon, at all times ahead, round, over, between. And in case you mess up, it’s simply a possibility to attempt once more, which makes nailing a bit that had given you hassle all of the extra satisfying.
If I needed to sum up LUCID in two phrases, they might be “considerate” and “deliberate.” All the pieces feels intentional, and all the things connects to all the things else. It’s not unusual for an indie recreation to pay homage to nice video games of the previous. It’s unusual for them to take their disparate parts and switch them right into a single, holistic design that honors the classics that got here earlier than whereas feeling new and uniquely itself. LUCID appears on path to do this, and that’s no imply feat. This was, unquestionably, my recreation of the present at PAX East, and I can not wait till I can play it once more.
Heading Out | Developer: Critical Sim | Writer: Saber Interactive | Launch Date: Might seventh, 2024
From time to time, you run right into a recreation that’s so totally Your JamTM that it looks like it was made only for you. For me, that’s Heading Out, a story driving recreation impressed by the cult basic street films of yesteryear. You step into the hoodie of the Interstate Jackalope, a driver on the run from their fears and the cops, and so they journey throughout America. Alongside the best way, the fears, goals, and ambitions you select on the outset, and decisions you make throughout your run, will outline who your driver is, and the way they have an effect on the world round you. Heading Out is a great-feeling racer, an attention-grabbing narrative with a ton of branching paths, a roguelite the place you by no means know what’s across the nook, and all Americana. Critical Sim is a Polish studio, however they clearly perceive the American street and automobile tradition. All the pieces from the black-and-white visuals to the soundtrack and radio broadcasts simply felt proper to this gearhead, and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel for the following run and put the pedal down. By no means cease working, Jackalope.
Dragon is Useless | Developer: TeamSuneat | Writer: PM Studios | Launch Date: June seventh, 2024 in Early Entry
I had the nice fortune to play Dragon is Useless behind closed doorways final yr, and it’s outstanding to see how far it has come. A roguelike action-platformer that seems like a mixture of Castlevania and Diablo, Dragon is Useless is a beautiful, brutal motion recreation the place loss of life is at all times across the nook and fight feels so good you’re trying it within the face and daring it to carry it on. Dragon is Useless’s fight is stellar, however what’s even cooler is how development works. You keep your gear and runes if you die, so loss of life is extra of an inconvenience than a progress-stopper. Stay, kill monsters, get loot, die, and repeat in your method to kill Guernian, the final dragon and chief of the Darkish Dragons, whose evil is corrupting the world. Oh, I discussed Dragon is Useless has cool lore, proper? And a few superior music? What extra may you ask for?
Ra Ra Growth | Developer: Gylee Games | Writer: Midwest Games | Launch Date: TBA
I grew up enjoying video games like Turtles in Time and X-Males in my native arcade, so Ra Ra Growth caught my eye as quickly as I noticed the arcade cupboard at Midwest Games’s sales space. But it surely’s one factor for a recreation to catch my eye and one other for it to demand my consideration. Ra Ra Growth follows a bunch of ninja cheerleaders from area as they battle for humanity on Earth. The premise would possibly sound a little bit ridiculous, however I rapidly grew to love this charming and humorous crew. Ra Ra Growth’s paintings is fashionable, colourful, and clear, and it’s received an important soundtrack to beat up robots to, however the coolest factor about it’s its gameplay. Each character feels totally different and comes geared up with a ranged assault and a strong tremendous transfer to show the tables. What makes it distinctive, although, is the dynamic lane system, which makes it simple to concentrate on the place you wish to be on-screen and the enemies you wish to battle. Throw in upgradeable tech bushes to energy up your character of alternative and funky boss fights, and Ra Ra Growth seems like a knockout. I preferred Ra Ra Growth a lot that I dragged a number of buddies again to Midwest’s sales space to play it with me, and guess what? They all preferred it, too. That ought to inform you all it’s essential to know.
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo | Developer: Pocket Lure | Writer: PM Studios | Launch Date: TBA
Pipstrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a horrible identify, however as a online game? It guidelines. Styled after the top-down, Sport Boy Advance video games of previous, particularly the previous Zelda video games, Pipistrello is quick, satisfying, colourful, and filled with creative little quirks. You may bounce your yoyo off of corners to bounce it into enemies, or the following nook, the place it is going to bounce once more, which turns into required to resolve puzzles or clear rooms, and whereas it is touring, you possibly can nonetheless whip enemies along with your yoyo string. You may experience it throughout water, use it to snag gadgets, and so forth. After which there are badges, which improve your stats or present perks. Pipistrello’s inspirations are clear, nevertheless it nonetheless seems like its personal distinctive factor, and it’s all wrapped up in a surprising presentation, from its charming artwork to up-tempo music that harkens again to among the greatest video games of yesteryear.
Slime Heroes | Developer: Pancake Games | Writer: Whitethorn Games | Launch Date: TBA
I didn’t anticipate Slime Heroes to emotionally devastate me lower than 5 minutes in. I additionally didn’t anticipate to fall head over heels for the fight. However video video games are stunning like that. As your magical forest is overrun by an odd corruption that’s reworking all the things round you into monsters, your little slime (and a buddy’s, in case you’re feeling nasty) got down to save the world. To do this, you’ll battle your manner throughout a magical, whimsical world full of puzzles, dungeons, and secrets and techniques. The sport’s fight, which is constructed on the sunshine assault/heavy assault/dodge components is quick, crunchy, and fluid, and it by no means received previous watching my Slime wade into enemies together with his sword or do his greatest Kirby impression and stomp opponents from above after he’d become a shoe.
The true kicker, although, is the talent gems you’ll discover, permitting you to mix customized magic spells. Certain, you can persist with an everyday projectile or twister talents, however you can even mix two projectile gems to make an excellent projectile, or mix a projectile and a twister to show that twister right into a projectile, or possibly simply add a standing impact like electrical energy on high of no matter spell you make. It’s a enjoyable system that encourages you to battle all the things, search in all places, and experiment, and I at all times liked discovering one thing new and making an attempt each mixture I may. Plus, you could find little hats to your slime to put on as armor! Slime Heroes is lovely, feels nice, and appears attractive. Oh, and that soundtrack. Man. Who says a slime can’t be a hero?
Into the Useless: Our Darkest Days | Developer: PikPok | Writer: PikPok | Launch Date: TBA
PikPok is bringing their mobile-exclusive Into the Useless franchise to PC for the primary time with Our Darkest Days, however you wouldn’t comprehend it from enjoying it. A particularly polished side-scroller, Our Darkest Days drops you into Eighties Texas, after the zombie apocalypse has upended the world. I began the demo by looking a home for meals and different provides to carry again to my shelter. Whereas I used to be there, I heard an SOS name from a close-by police station. Saving different survivors is dangerous: it meant risking folks I had for a return I wasn’t positive of. I went in.
I received everybody in my group of survivors killed. The primary one went down after I received misplaced and wandered right into a room filled with zombies. The second survivor set off the siren of a close-by police automobile, alerting a horde I had no probability towards. And my final, who arrived too late to save lots of the folks I’ve been despatched there to save lots of, fell sufferer to backyard selection unhealthy luck whereas he was on his manner out. It was a devastating run; I had solely made a pair errors, and it had price me all the things. However sneaking via rooms of zombies, preventing after I needed to, working when issues received dire, and taking dangers is a rewarding loop that rewards you for enjoying effectively, and I may see how I may have completed higher every time I made a mistake. I can’t wait for an additional shot at it.
Deathbound | Developer: Trialforge Studio | Writer: Tate Multimedia | Launch Date: TBA 2024
The very first thing that struck me about Deathbound was how good it appeared and sounded. Severely, even the ambient noise on this recreation is spectacular. The second was that the fight felt each weighty and satisfying, in contrast to some video games within the Souls-like style. However what actually impressed me about it, past the world and story, which is instantly attention-grabbing, and the hand-drawn cutscenes, which appear to be they’re straight out of a comic book guide, was the get together system. In Deathbound, you management a celebration of as much as 4 characters, every with their very own well being and stamina bars, and you’ll swap between them on the fly relying on what you want and your well being and stamina. In the event you want a rogue, you should use your rogue. Want a beefy tank? He’s there. A bruiser? You’re lined. And a mage that doesn’t use mana however whose expertise generate warmth and may explode in case you’re not cautious about managing it? Naturally.
Be warned, although: if one goes down, all of them do. Some get together members might also not like one another, providing debuffs in addition to buffs in case you use them collectively. You may also construct up sync as you battle to each swap characters and pull off a devastating Morphstrike if you land successful, which might be the distinction between an in depth victory and a crushing defeat. Deathbound is a novel tackle one thing of an overstuffed style that already feels actually good, I’m to see the place it goes from right here.
Heartworm | Developer: Vincent Adinolfi | Writer: DreadXP | Launch Date: TBA 2025
Heartworm is the fusion of a number of of my favourite horror video games: Silent Hill, Dino Disaster, and Resident Evil, nevertheless it additionally seems like there’s a little bit little bit of Parasite Eve and Deadly Body thrown in for good measure. You play as Sam, a younger lady devastated by the lack of these near her, who decides to analyze a supposedly supernatural home that’s rumored to can help you make contact with the good past. That goes about in addition to you’d anticipate, and issues get actual bizarre, actual quick. Armed with a digital camera, Sam has to determine what the heck’s occurring. Heartworm is genuinely creepy, and a way of dread hung over my whole time with the sport, however I used to be so compelled I needed to push on. Primarily based on what I noticed, Heartworm’s writing is intelligent and robust, its music and background noise is unsettling, and its PS1-era aesthetic completely nails the vibe of video games from the period. All I can inform you is that when my time with Heartworm ended, I used to be unhappy 2025 is so far-off.
Lunar Lander Past | Developer: Goals Uncorporated | Writer: Atari | Launch Date: April twenty third, 2024
Lunar Lander Past in all probability shouldn’t work, nevertheless it does. You step into the boots of the latest captain of the Pegasus Company. Meals and air are luxuries if you work for Pegasus, so that you’d greatest work out learn how to generate income, and quick. You’ll try this by guiding your pilots, and your lander, throughout planets to rescue pilots, ship cargo, and repair tools issues. It is a lander, so it’s not essentially the most maneuverable factor. In the event you don’t wanna crash right into a rock, base, or simply the touchdown pad, you’ll have to select your spots, pulse your thrusters, and pray. It’s simple to overshoot, undershoot, and all the things in-between – however that’s what makes it a lot enjoyable. You’ll additionally should handle your pilots’ stress ranges – you wouldn’t need them hallucinating in the midst of a mission, would you? – and your individual restricted assets. Mix all that with some completely attractive, hand-drawn artwork, a bumping synthwave soundtrack, and a few actually neat stuff I don’t wish to spoil, and Lunar Lander Past is shaping as much as be very, very cool.
Pioneers of Pagonia | Developer: Envision Games | Writer: Envision Games | Launch Date: Dec 13, 2023 in Early Entry
Pioneers of Pagonia is a recreation about vibes. A calming metropolis builder with a heat, inviting artwork type and a low barrier of entry, Pioneers of Pagonia is the type of recreation I wish to play with my buddies on a wet Sunday. In a world of scattered islands and disparate tribes, you’ll lead your folks as they construct a bustling civilization and forge alliances with the opposite inhabitants of the world. Bandits will attempt to steal from you, and also you would possibly run into legendary creatures like werewolves who require silver weapons to take down and can rework your populace in case you’re not cautious, however what actually impresses about Pioneers of Pagonia is the depth of a simulation the place each object is accounted for. You may zoom all the best way right into a floor degree and comply with a chunk of wooden from the second it’s chopped all the way down to the second it’s used to construct a guard tower that expands your territory, or watch a field of provides journey from its level of origin in actual time.
There’s a ton of trivia right here if you’d like it, with dozens of assets to collect and a whole bunch of pioneers to handle, however you can even take a top-down view and easily assign broad duties and watch as your folks fear about whether or not to collect smooth or onerous wooden (sure, it makes a distinction) or complement leather-based manufacturing with material. Me, I simply wanna construct a fairly city with my buddies and benefit from the vibe, and Pioneers of Pagonia lets me do exactly that.
Disco Samurai | Developer: Pixel Fiber Games | Writer: We Dig Games | Launch Date: TBA 2024
Disco Samurai is a recreation for motion recreation sickos. A rhythm-based motion recreation loaded with cool cyberpunk artwork and a slamming synthwave/rock soundtrack, Disco Samurai asks you to assault, dodge, and parry to the beat to beat down your opponent’s stamina. You’ve additionally received the flexibility to kick enemies into environmental objects and take them out immediately, or use a gun and stun them, after which get to swinging. Add in a cool metanarrative based mostly round Disco Samurai, the sport throughout the Disco Samurai you’re enjoying, and there’s rather a lot to love right here. I discovered Disco Samurai’s fight difficult however truthful, and I can’t wait to dig again into it.
Kriegsfront Ways | Developer: Toge Productions | Writer: Toge Productions | Launch Date: TBA
Let me promote you on Kriegsfront: Ways as quick as I presumably can. It’s indie Entrance Mission. There, completed. Wait, you need extra? Okay. Kriegsfront Ways is about in a battle in Southeast Asia throughout an alternate Seventies, and your squad of mechs is behind enemy strains. Recruit pilots, customise your mechs, and make good decisions in fight to stay to battle one other day. As an illustration, in case you sneak up behind one other mech, they received’t have an opportunity of dodging your assaults. Positioning is all the things in Kriegsfont Ways, and also you’ll wish to be good when selecting which mech does what, which ones explores the fog of battle, and even the place you finish your flip and if you reload your weapons. Mix some intense technique with a catchy soundtrack and gritty, low-poly visuals, and Kriegsfront Ways was one of the vital memorable video games of the present.
Dustborn | Developer: Purple Thread Games | Writer: Quantic Dream | Launch Date: August twentieth, 2024
Humorous factor about commerce exhibits: one method to inform what’s good is to look at the crowds round a sales space because the present goes on. After I first sat all the way down to play Dustborn on the primary day of the present, nearly no one was taking an curiosity within the sales space. After I got here again to play once more on Saturday, the road was wrapped across the sales space. Clearly, Dustborn is doing one thing proper. You play as Pax, the chief of a crew employed to move a mysterious bundle throughout a divided, alternate historical past United States. Every member of your crew has particular powers – one is robust sufficient to elevate a bus, Pax’s phrases can manipulate folks and are helpful in fight, and so forth – which is useful if you’re masquerading as a punk rock band to get previous safety checkpoints.
Dustborn is a number of video games in a single. One part performed like a conventional journey recreation, the place I needed to wander round and work out learn how to activate a robotic elevate so a bus didn’t find yourself crushing a good friend. In a while, I used to be stopped at a safety checkpoint and compelled to play a track to show we truly had been a rock band, Guitar Hero-style. Nonetheless later, I used to be taking it to the person by beating up some cops with a baseball bat that I may throw and recall in my greatest Kratos impression. None of this feels disjointed due to the pure back-and-forth between the forged, who’re a genuinely likable, neurotic bunch, and visuals that wouldn’t look misplaced in a comic book guide. Lengthy story quick, most individuals at PAX didn’t know what Dustborn was earlier than the present, nevertheless it completely earned that line.
Phantom Fury | Developer: Slipgate Ironworks | Writer: 3D Realms | Launch Date: April twenty third, 2024
3D Realms has been killing it within the realm of the boomer shooter currently, and if Phantom Fury is something to go by, they’re not slowing down anytime quickly. The continuation of the story of Shelly “Bombshell” Harrison from Bombshell and Ion Fury, Phantom Fury is an element motion movie, half street film, all rule of cool. That includes a graphical type that wouldn’t look misplaced in among the greatest shooters of the early 2000s (please perceive; it is a huge praise), an insanely interactive world that jogged my memory of Duke Nukem 3D, and a few outrageous weapons and satisfying gunplay, and Phantom Fury received me over in a short time. I imply, come on, Shelly has a cybernetic arm that she will use to punch lightning via folks. Cool, completely? However that second of hitstop proper earlier than they flip into purple paste? Divine.
Enter the Chronosphere | Developer: Effort Star | Writer: Joystick Ventures | Launch Date: TBA
Enter the Chronosphere is a roguelite techniques recreation the place time strikes if you transfer. Because of this, turns might be as quick as you need. With a novel crew, every of which comes with their very own talents – I imply, critically, one in all them is actually a bear sporting a Energy Glove – gorgeous artwork design, a synthy soundtrack that had me nodding alongside, and a ton of distinctive weapons, phases, and enemies, no two runs in Enter the Chronosphere are precisely the identical. I ought to know, as a result of I did a number of of them. Enter the Chronosphere is likely one of the uncommon video games that will get weirder and extra attention-grabbing as you go, and I’m excited to see what my subsequent run brings.