PAX East is all the time a deal with. A smaller, extra intimate present than PAX West, PAX East is an effective technique to take the business’s temperature and see a ton of thrilling new video games from each main publishers and small indies which are doing thrilling new work you might 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 speak about, however let me be clear: I noticed a lot of cool stuff. This roundup will cowl the most effective of the most effective.
Lucid | Developer: The Matte Black Studio | Writer: Apogee Leisure | Launch Date: TBA
Typically, even throughout a present as nice as this yr’s PAX East, there’s one sport that appears to suck up all of the oxygen within the room, the form of sport that’s so good that it’s on everybody’s listing once they’re discussing the most effective 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 appears: LUCID’s paintings is completely gorgeous, from the best way it makes use of depth of discipline within the background and foreground to the best way the smallest particulars of the sport world information your eye to the factor that you must 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 continually shifting, flowing by the surroundings like water by a winding canyon, all the time ahead, round, over, between. And for those who mess up, it’s simply a possibility to strive 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.” Every thing feels intentional, and every part connects to every part else. It’s not unusual for an indie sport 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 sport of the present at PAX East, and I can’t wait till I can play it once more.
Heading Out | Developer: Critical Sim | Writer: Saber Interactive | Launch Date: Could seventh, 2024
Now and again, you run right into a sport that’s so totally Your JamTM that it looks as if it was made only for you. For me, that’s Heading Out, a story driving sport impressed by the cult traditional highway films of yesteryear. You step into the hoodie of the Interstate Jackalope, a driver on the run from their fears and the cops, they usually journey throughout America. Alongside the best way, the fears, goals, and ambitions you select on the outset, and selections 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 highway and automobile tradition. Every thing 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 Lifeless | Developer: TeamSuneat | Writer: PM Studios | Launch Date: June seventh, 2024 in Early Entry
I had the nice fortune to play Dragon is Lifeless behind closed doorways final yr, and it’s exceptional to see how far it has come. A roguelike action-platformer that appears like a mix of Castlevania and Diablo, Dragon is Lifeless is a beautiful, brutal motion sport the place demise is all the time across the nook and fight feels so good you’re trying it within the face and daring it to deliver it on. Dragon is Lifeless’s fight is stellar, however what’s even cooler is how development works. You keep your gear and runes if you die, so demise is extra of an inconvenience than a progress-stopper. Stay, kill monsters, get loot, die, and repeat in your technique to kill Guernian, the final dragon and chief of the Darkish Dragons, whose evil is corrupting the world. Oh, I discussed Dragon is Lifeless has cool lore, proper? And a few superior music? What extra may you ask for?
Ra Ra Growth | Developer: Gylee Video games | Writer: Midwest Video 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 Video games’s sales space. But it surely’s one factor for a sport to catch my eye and one other for it to demand my consideration. Ra Ra Growth follows a bunch of ninja cheerleaders from house as they struggle for humanity on Earth. The premise may sound a little bit ridiculous, however I shortly grew to love this charming and humorous crew. Ra Ra Growth’s paintings is fashionable, colourful, and clear, and it’s received a fantastic 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 deal with the place you wish to be on-screen and the enemies you wish to struggle. Throw in upgradeable tech bushes to energy up your character of alternative and funky boss fights, and Ra Ra Growth appears like a knockout. I favored 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 favored it, too. That ought to let you know all that you must know.
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo | Developer: Pocket Lure | Writer: PM Studios | Launch Date: TBA
Pipstrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a horrible title, however as a online game? It guidelines. Styled after the top-down, Recreation Boy Advance video games of previous, particularly the previous Zelda video games, Pipistrello is quick, satisfying, colourful, and filled with ingenious little quirks. You’ll be able to bounce your yoyo off of corners to bounce it into enemies, or the following nook, the place it should bounce once more, which turns into required to unravel puzzles or clear rooms, and whereas it is touring, you may nonetheless whip enemies together with your yoyo string. You’ll be able to journey 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 appears like its personal distinctive factor, and it’s all wrapped up in a shocking presentation, from its charming artwork to up-tempo music that harkens again to a number of the greatest video games of yesteryear.
Slime Heroes | Developer: Pancake Video games | Writer: Whitethorn Video 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 a wierd corruption that’s reworking every part round you into monsters, your little slime (and a buddy’s, for those who’re feeling nasty) got down to save the world. To try this, you’ll struggle your method throughout a magical, whimsical world crammed with 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 along with his sword or do his greatest Kirby impression and stomp opponents from above after he’d changed into a shoe.
The actual kicker, although, is the ability gems you’ll discover, permitting you to mix customized magic spells. Positive, you may stick to an everyday projectile or twister talents, however it’s also possible to 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 perhaps 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 struggle every part, search all over the place, and experiment, and I all the time cherished discovering one thing new and making an attempt each mixture I may. Plus, you’ll find little hats to your slime to put on as armor! Slime Heroes is cute, feels nice, and appears attractive. Oh, and that soundtrack. Man. Who says a slime can’t be a hero?
Into the Lifeless: Our Darkest Days | Developer: PikPok | Writer: PikPok | Launch Date: TBA
PikPok is bringing their mobile-exclusive Into the Lifeless franchise to PC for the primary time with Our Darkest Days, however you wouldn’t understand 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 deliver 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 certain 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 in opposition to. 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 dangerous luck whereas he was on his method out. It was a devastating run; I had solely made a pair errors, and it had value me every part. However sneaking by rooms of zombies, combating after I needed to, working when issues received dire, and taking dangers is a rewarding loop that rewards you for taking part in nicely, and I may see how I may have carried out higher every time I made a mistake. I can’t wait for one more 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 seemed and sounded. Severely, even the ambient noise on this sport 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 straight away attention-grabbing, and the hand-drawn cutscenes, which appear like they’re straight out of a comic book e book, was the occasion 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. For those who want a rogue, you should utilize your rogue. Want a beefy tank? He’s there. A bruiser? You’re coated. And a mage that doesn’t use mana however whose expertise generate warmth and may explode for those who’re not cautious about managing it? Naturally.
Be warned, although: if one goes down, all of them do. Some occasion members can also not like one another, providing debuffs in addition to buffs for those who use them collectively. It’s also possible to construct up sync as you struggle to each swap characters and pull off a devastating Morphstrike if you land a success, which will be the distinction between a detailed victory and a crushing defeat. Deathbound is a singular 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 appears 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 girl devastated by the lack of these near her, who decides to analyze a supposedly supernatural home that’s rumored to let you make contact with the nice past. That goes about in addition to you’d anticipate, and issues get actual bizarre, actual quick. Armed with a digicam, 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. Based mostly on what I noticed, Heartworm’s writing is intelligent and powerful, 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 let you know 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 determine how you can generate income, and quick. You’ll do this by guiding your pilots, and your lander, throughout planets to rescue pilots, ship cargo, and repair gear issues. It is a lander, so it’s not essentially the most maneuverable factor. For those who 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 every part in-between – however that’s what makes it a lot enjoyable. You’ll additionally must handle your pilots’ stress ranges – you wouldn’t need them hallucinating in the midst of a mission, would you? – and your personal restricted sources. 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 Video games | Writer: Envision Video games | Launch Date: Dec 13, 2023 in Early Entry
Pioneers of Pagonia is a sport about vibes. A soothing metropolis builder with a heat, inviting artwork model and a low barrier of entry, Pioneers of Pagonia is the form of sport 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 may run into legendary creatures like werewolves who require silver weapons to take down and can rework your populace for those who’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’ll be able to zoom all the best way right into a floor stage and observe a bit 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 sources to assemble and a whole lot of pioneers to handle, however it’s also possible to take a top-down view and easily assign broad duties and watch as your folks fear about whether or not to assemble smooth or onerous wooden (sure, it makes a distinction) or complement leather-based manufacturing with fabric. Me, I simply wanna construct a reasonably city with my buddies and benefit from the vibe, and Pioneers of Pagonia lets me just do that.
Disco Samurai | Developer: Pixel Fiber Video games | Writer: We Dig Video games | Launch Date: TBA 2024
Disco Samurai is a sport for motion sport sickos. A rhythm-based motion sport 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 power 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 inside the Disco Samurai you’re enjoying, and there’s so much to love right here. I discovered Disco Samurai’s fight difficult however honest, 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 probably can. It’s indie Entrance Mission. There, carried out. Wait, you need extra? Okay. Kriegsfront Ways is ready in a battle in Southeast Asia throughout an alternate Nineteen Seventies, and your squad of mechs is behind enemy strains. Recruit pilots, customise your mechs, and make good selections in fight to dwell to struggle one other day. As an example, for those who sneak up behind one other mech, they gained’t have an opportunity of dodging your assaults. Positioning is every part 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: Pink Thread Video games | Writer: Quantic Dream | Launch Date: August twentieth, 2024
Humorous factor about commerce exhibits: one technique to inform what’s good is to observe the crowds round a sales space because the present goes on. Once I first sat all the way down to play Dustborn on the primary day of the present, virtually no one was taking an curiosity within the sales space. Once 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 package deal throughout a divided, alternate historical past United States. Every member of your crew has particular powers – one is robust sufficient to carry 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 sport, the place I needed to wander round and determine how you can activate a robotic carry so a bus didn’t find yourself crushing a pal. Afterward, I used to be stopped at a safety checkpoint and compelled to play a music to show we really 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 e book. 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 a component motion movie, half highway film, all rule of cool. That includes a graphical model that wouldn’t look misplaced in a number of 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 gained me over in a short time. I imply, come on, Shelly has a cybernetic arm that she will be able to use to punch lightning by 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 ways sport the place time strikes if you transfer. In consequence, turns will be as quick as you need. With a singular crew, every of which comes with their very own talents – I imply, severely, 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.
If any of those video games caught your eye, use the Playlist under to wishlist them or create your personal customized rankings: