10 of our favorite games from this year’s show

Some of the coolest upcoming games we’ve seen in the gallery

PAX East 2022 was weird. It was my first time attending the show since the pandemic shut down in-person conferences. And it was great to see old friends, new faces, and lots of interesting indie games in Boston again.

For all my four days, I’ve been walking around the parade grounds, checking out loads of games along the way. To be clear, I didn’t see everything. Despite best efforts and a year less bulk than usual, there was still so much on the floor that I didn’t get a chance to check out.

But from the list of what I saw, a few in particular stood out. So without further ado, here are some games worth checking out from PAX East 2022.

Lucid

Take a fraction from every platform game you’ve dug in the past, mix them together, and you’ll be somewhere on the football field. Lucid. She has a little Celeste And metroidplus some sprint effects over time, and Hyper Light DrifterAdjacent style.

But the comparisons don’t really do justice to seeing her in motion. It ties it all together in a game that feels tight and fast, even in an uninterrupted demo from behind closed screens. This little standalone project was one of my favorite things about the weekend, and while I only saw a small slice, I’m very interested in seeing what developer Eric Manahan has in store for the future.

look for it steam here.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

What do I want to say more? TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge It turned out just as I hoped it would be. It’s lively, optimistic, and easy to pick up and blast to master.

It’s full of magic, just the way you’d want the brawler to play on a Saturday morning. Turtles, Splinter, and April all feel unique and are worth switching around the menu to check out. I’m glad this retro spunk is shaped so well.

look for it steam here.

golf curse

someone in Request the comments section of my preview Why so many indies are dealing with golf in particular. It’s been a few days since then, and I feel like it golf curse Provides the answer.

Golf itself is a flexible sport. You have rackets and a ball and a hole that you have to hit the ball in. Everything in the middle is entirely up to the designer; The cycle can take as many twists and turns as you want. golf curse It does just that, turning the game of grand golf into a platform-based roguelike, puzzle-solving and course-planning game full of challenging and fun characters. It’s a clever reinterpretation in context golf story And what golfand deserves attention.

look for it Steam, with demo, here.

Signalis

It was the demo I tried at PAX East 2022 Actually the same thing you played last yearso I don’t have much to report about Signalis In front of me.

This is also an incredibly good thing, as I was more than happy to play such a great show again and am still excited for the full match. This survival horror, sci-fi with classic vampire Feelings are high in my watchlist. If you love the horror of extraterrestrial technological diversity, don’t miss it Signalis escape before.

look for it steam here.

Pregnancy worship

This was one of the biggest surprises for me. Not because I wasn’t aware of it Pregnancy worship; I’ve seen it appear in showcases and trailers. But I didn’t think I was the target demographic for this.

Behind the admittedly pleasurable contrast between the gentle and the gloomy, beyond the roguelite movement, there is the management aspect of the construction of the base Got my attention. Building a cult means building, after all. And I’m so eager to build my own adorable animal to follow when Pregnancy worship Finally falls.

look for it steam here.

LEGO Practalis

Few games have captured my childhood like LEGO Practalis, a game about physics and LEGO bricks on an equal footing. It’s a fun adventure through a dioramic world that lets you solve problems using sets of plastic bricks.

Snap them together, then send through the bot and see if it’s fixed. It’s a surprisingly simple concept It works very well In the world of Lego. stay tuned Bricktales If you want more hands-on build in your Lego virtual experiences.

look for it steam here.

moss rust

I managed to catch a spot on moss rust The setting is in the PAX height area between appointments, which was a surprise in itself. It garnered a lot of fans out there, and after playing it’s easy to see why.

moss rust He has elements of lead hell, metroidAnd Contraeven Electronic commandos. It looks great, feels great to play, and swinging through the gaps with my barrels blazing over enemies was unbelievable. She checks an incredible number of boxes, and even in a short demo, she made a long-lasting impression.

look for it Steam, with demo, here.

Potionomics

method Potionomics Blends several types that I enjoy together in one cohesive drink It’s so amazing. Sell ​​potions to meet people, date these people, get their cards, and better bargain in the shop. Build decks, find rare ingredients, and fulfill the needs of a city full of adventurers and puzzles.

Enjoy a touch of design and excellent character animation, and Potionomics It seems to converge well. I’m excited to mingle, socialize, and sell out later this year.

look for it steam here.

demon strangle

pitch for demon strangle Completely different from your usual game. that it physical game onlyFor Nintendo Switch. And while I’m cautious about the approach, I admit that it’s a very interesting game.

demon strangle It is a very powerful top-down shooting game for two people (or one person with character switch). It has some RPG elements in the mix, and lots of fun jokes. The two seek revenge against a demon: a vampire for taking her cups, and a gunslinger for sleeping with his wife. It’s funny, very old, and very interesting. My only concern is that more people won’t be able to run it, as it is All sold out now On site. Hope it won’t get in the way of manufacturing a good time demon strangle.

wrestling

Wrestling and RPG become a great combination in the game wrestling. At first glance, it’s easy to get involved in pixel art and turn-based battles as many fighters fight it out in the ring.

Show that, but keep telling the surprisingly good stories and tackling the darker subject matter. The combo on this doesn’t pull the punches, and it has a star-studded lineup of wrestling legends to boot.

look for it steam here.

And one final note, shouts PAX East 2022 for rendezvous pointfour players competitive bong-Like that it already existed and was very fun to play; And Tough Love ArenaFree, browser-based fighting game. Both are already released, but they are very much worth your time.