Our 16 Favourite Video games from PAX East 2024

PAX East is all the time a deal with. A smaller, extra intimate present than PAX West, PAX East is an effective approach 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 it’s possible you’ll not have heard of earlier than. I spent 4 days at PAX East this 12 months, 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 lots of cool stuff. This roundup will cowl one of the best of one of the best.

Lucid | Developer: The Matte Black Studio | Writer: Apogee Leisure | Launch Date: TBA

Generally, even throughout a present as nice as this 12 months’s PAX East, there’s one recreation that appears to suck up all of the oxygen within the room, the sort of recreation that’s so good that it’s on everybody’s checklist once they’re discussing one of the best video games of the present. This 12 months, 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 to be: LUCID’s art work is totally gorgeous, from the way in which it makes use of depth of area within the background and foreground to the way in which the smallest particulars of the sport world information your eye to the factor it is advisable 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 finest, you’re consistently transferring, flowing by way of the setting like water by way of a winding canyon, all the time ahead, round, over, between. And in the event you mess up, it’s simply a possibility to attempt once more, which makes nailing a bit that had given you bother all of the extra satisfying.

If I needed to sum up LUCID in two phrases, they might be “considerate” and “deliberate.” All the things 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 components 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 try this, and that’s no imply feat. This was, unquestionably, my recreation of the present at PAX East, and I can’t wait till I can play it once more.

Heading Out | Developer: Severe Sim | Writer: Saber Interactive | Launch Date: Might seventh, 2024

Every so often, 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 traditional highway motion pictures 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 way in which, 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 fascinating narrative with a ton of branching paths, a roguelite the place you by no means know what’s across the nook, and all Americana. Severe Sim is a Polish studio, however they clearly perceive the American highway and automotive tradition. All the things 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 subsequent run and put the pedal down. By no means cease operating, 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 12 months, 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 Lifeless is a beautiful, brutal motion recreation the place dying is all the time across the nook and fight feels so good you’re trying it within the face and daring it to convey it on. Dragon is Lifeless’s fight is stellar, however what’s even cooler is how development works. You keep your gear and runes whenever you die, so dying is extra of an inconvenience than a progress-stopper. Reside, kill monsters, get loot, die, and repeat in your approach 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 might 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 recreation 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 combat for humanity on Earth. The premise would possibly sound a bit ridiculous, however I rapidly grew to love this charming and humorous crew. Ra Ra Growth’s art work is trendy, colourful, and clear, and it’s obtained an incredible soundtrack to beat up robots to, however the coolest factor about it’s its gameplay. Each character feels totally different and comes outfitted 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 combat. Throw in upgradeable tech bushes to energy up your character of selection and funky boss fights, and Ra Ra Growth seems to be like a knockout. I favored Ra Ra Growth a lot that I dragged a number of associates again to Midwest’s sales space to play it with me, and guess what? All of them favored it, too. That ought to let you know all it is advisable 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, Recreation Boy Advance video games of previous, particularly the previous Zelda video games, Pipistrello is quick, satisfying, colourful, and filled with creative little quirks. You possibly can bounce your yoyo off of corners to bounce it into enemies, or the subsequent nook, the place it would bounce once more, which turns into required to resolve puzzles or clear rooms, and whereas it is touring, you’ll be able to nonetheless whip enemies along with your yoyo string. You possibly can journey it throughout water, use it to snag objects, and so forth. After which there are badges, which improve your stats or present perks. Pipistrello’s inspirations are clear, however 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 a few of the finest video games of yesteryear.

Slime Heroes | Developer: Pancake Video games | Writer: Whitethorn Video games | Launch Date: TBA

I didn’t count on Slime Heroes to emotionally devastate me lower than 5 minutes in. I additionally didn’t count on 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 all the things round you into monsters, your little slime (and a buddy’s, in the event you’re feeling nasty) got down to save the world. To try this, you’ll combat your approach 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 system is quick, crunchy, and fluid, and it by no means obtained previous watching my Slime wade into enemies along with his sword or do his finest Kirby impression and stomp opponents from above after he’d become a shoe.

The actual kicker, although, is the ability gems you’ll discover, permitting you to mix customized magic spells. Positive, you possibly can persist with an everyday projectile or twister skills, however you too can 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 combat all the things, search in every single place, and experiment, and I all the time beloved discovering one thing new and attempting each mixture I might. Plus, you will discover little hats on 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 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 Nineteen Eighties Texas, after the zombie apocalypse has upended the world. I began the demo by looking out a home for meals and different provides to convey 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 individuals I had for a return I wasn’t certain of. I went in.

I obtained everybody in my group of survivors killed. The primary one went down once I obtained misplaced and wandered right into a room filled with zombies. The second survivor set off the siren of a close-by police automotive, alerting a horde I had no likelihood in opposition to. And my final, who arrived too late to avoid wasting the individuals I’ve been despatched there to avoid wasting, fell sufferer to backyard selection dangerous luck whereas he was on his approach out. It was a devastating run; I had solely made a pair errors, and it had price me all the things. However sneaking by way of rooms of zombies, combating once I needed to, operating when issues obtained dire, and taking dangers is a rewarding loop that rewards you for taking part in effectively, and I might see how I might have achieved 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 appeared and sounded. Critically, even the ambient noise on this recreation is spectacular. The second was that the fight felt each weighty and satisfying, not like some video games within the Souls-like style. However what actually impressed me about it, past the world and story, which is instantly fascinating, and the hand-drawn cutscenes, which appear like they’re straight out of a comic book e book, was the celebration 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 coated. And a mage that doesn’t use mana however whose abilities generate warmth and might explode in the event you’re not cautious about managing it? Naturally.

Be warned, although: if one goes down, all of them do. Some celebration members may not like one another, providing debuffs in addition to buffs in the event you use them collectively. You may also construct up sync as you combat to each swap characters and pull off a devastating Morphstrike whenever you land successful, which might 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, however it additionally seems like there’s a 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 research 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 count on, and issues get actual bizarre, actual quick. Armed with a digicam, Sam has to determine what the heck’s happening. Heartworm is genuinely creepy, and a way of dread hung over my complete 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 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: Desires Uncorporated | Writer: Atari | Launch Date: April twenty third, 2024

Lunar Lander Past in all probability shouldn’t work, however it does. You step into the boots of the most recent captain of the Pegasus Company. Meals and air are luxuries whenever you work for Pegasus, so that you’d finest work out find out how to earn money, and quick. You’ll try this by guiding your pilots, and your lander, throughout planets to rescue pilots, ship cargo, and repair gear issues. This can be a lander, so it’s not probably 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 choose 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 must 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 Video games | Writer: Envision Video 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 sort of recreation I wish to play with my associates on a wet Sunday. In a world of scattered islands and disparate tribes, you’ll lead your individuals 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 remodel your populace in the event 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 possibly can zoom all the way in which right into a floor degree and observe a chunk of wooden from the second it’s chopped right 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 would like it, with dozens of assets to assemble and tons of of pioneers to handle, however you too can take a top-down view and easily assign broad duties and watch as your individuals fear about whether or not to assemble smooth or onerous wooden (sure, it makes a distinction) or complement leather-based manufacturing with material. Me, I simply wanna construct a reasonably city with my associates and benefit from the vibe, and Pioneers of Pagonia lets me do exactly that.

Disco Samurai | Developer: Pixel Fiber Video games | Writer: We Dig Video 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 obtained 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 throughout the Disco Samurai you’re enjoying, and there’s so much 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 probably can. It’s indie Entrance Mission. There, achieved. Wait, you need extra? Okay. Kriegsfront Ways is ready 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 selections in fight to dwell to combat one other day. As an illustration, in the event you sneak up behind one other mech, they gained’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 conflict, and even the place you finish your flip and whenever you reload your weapons. Mix some intense technique with a catchy soundtrack and gritty, low-poly visuals, and Kriegsfront Ways was probably the most 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 approach to inform what’s good is to look at the crowds round a sales space because the present goes on. Once I first sat right down to play Dustborn on the primary day of the present, nearly 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 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 individuals and are helpful in fight, and so forth – which is useful whenever 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 standard journey recreation, the place I needed to wander round and work out find out how to activate a robotic elevate so a bus didn’t find yourself crushing a good friend. Afterward, I used to be stopped at a safety checkpoint and compelled to play a music to show we really have 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 might throw and recall in my finest Kratos impression. None of this feels disjointed because of 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 brief, most individuals at PAX didn’t know what Dustborn was earlier than the present, however 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 these days, 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 highway film, all rule of cool. That includes a graphical type that wouldn’t look misplaced in a few of the finest shooters of the early 2000s (please perceive; it is a large 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 use to punch lightning by way of individuals. Cool, completely? However that second of hitstop proper earlier than they flip into crimson paste? Divine.

Enter the Chronosphere | Developer: Effort Star | Writer: Joystick Ventures | Launch Date: TBA

Enter the Chronosphere is a roguelite ways recreation the place time strikes whenever you transfer. Consequently, turns might be as quick as you need. With a singular crew, every of which comes with their very own skills – I imply, severely, one among them is basically a bear carrying 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 fascinating 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 beneath to wishlist them or create your individual customized rankings: