PAX Aus has come and gone for an additional yr. This yr’s turnout exceeded 85,000, a powerful turnout over three days of gaming, cosplay, workshops, theatrics, and extra.
Right here at Pure Nintendo, we love exploring the indie dev space of the showroom flooring, which appears to develop in dimension annually. That’s as a result of there’s simply a lot expertise on show, with devs from throughout Australia gathering to point out their wares.
PAX Aus 2025 packed an actual punch, highlighting some prime titles. We met with an entire lot of devs to speak about their thrilling video games. Beneath is a abstract of the video games we sampled. It’s not every thing from the occasion, so if we missed you, please attain out and tell us! In case you have been on the present, tell us your fave titles on show.
Proper, let’s get to it!
Chessplus (Chessplus)
Chessplus is not any stranger to PAX Aus. We’ve observed the bodily board recreation on show and on sale over the previous few years. It presents the basic 64-square recreation of chess with a twist: you’ll be able to merge items to create new hybrid sorts!
For instance, pawn + knight = knawn. This new piece can transfer and assault like a pawn and knight, providing you with extra choices. You can too cut up items to plan the proper assault. It provides an entire lot of technique to this basic boardgame.
PAX Aus 2025 introduced us a pleasant shock once we stumbled upon the Chessplus staff within the indie dev space, displaying off a digital model of the sport. Gamers have been inspired to check and even break the sport – we did a little bit of each whereas chatting to enthusiastic developer, Josh. Shade us impressed when Josh promptly up to date the sport in a single day so we might attempt to break it once more the following day. This is without doubt one of the many explanation why we love PAX – and why we actually love indie devs.
The Chessplus Video Recreation is greater than only a digital model of the board. It includes a new deckbuilding roguelike mode, permitting gamers to unleash game-changing playing cards and grasp variants. It provides lots of selection to the sport, and we cherished what we noticed at PAX.
The corporate’s slogan is easy: It’s not chess, it’s higher! This enjoyable tackle the basic recreation is because of hit early entry on Steam quickly, and you may wishlist Chessplus now. We’re trying ahead to listening to whether or not a Change model could be within the works, too.
Discover out extra about Chessplus on their web site.
Fort Cab (Royal Reign)
Fort Cab’s colourful, fast-paced motion actually stands out while you stroll previous the show on the showroom flooring at PAX Aus. The staff at Royal Reign has created one thing distinctive and enjoyable with Fort Cab, placing you into the horseshoes of a noble steed from the center ages. Your objective? Run round city hitched to your trusty cart, finishing quests and inflicting chaos.
It’s a blast to play, with guards chasing you as you destroy every thing in your path with a neat twister transfer. Your horse is customizable, and everyone knows that horses sporting hats are merely the perfect. It additionally options as much as 4 gamers in multiplayer mode.
Fort Cab is slated for launch in 2026 on Steam. A Change model has additionally been introduced, although timing is but to be confirmed. Within the meantime, you’ll be able to wishlist Fort Cab on Steam.
Elasticritters (Yooreekaa Video games)
Don’t let the cuteness idiot you, Elasticritters is a tough little title! It includes cute critters formed like balls who bounce via varied platforming ranges. This sales space was in style throughout the weekend, however we saved an eye fixed on it and took benefit when the queue died down so we might chat with the 2 builders on the stand.
The objective of Elasticritters varies, with each racing and capture-the-flag modes obtainable. We tried each and had a blast. The controls are comparatively easy, together with your critter bouncing routinely. All you actually need to do is transfer them in the precise course, although it’s also possible to carry out a much bigger leap by urgent the related button.
The sport is 3D, so rotating the digicam view is important whereas navigating difficult platforms and large followers. It was irritating (for this reporter) at first, however as soon as issues clicked, I used to be smiling the complete time. I even received seize the flag!
Elasticritters is slated for launch on Steam in quarter 4 of 2025. We want the staff nicely with the upcoming launch – and our fingers stay crossed for a Change model sooner or later!
Silk Soar (Stout Coronary heart Video games)
Silk Soar (to not be confused with Silktune) is a physics-based recreation that includes a caterpillar attempting to ascend via a tree trunk. How? By catapulting your self greater and better on to completely different platforms, after all!
You’ll be able to management the trajectory and energy of your shot, making it really feel somewhat like a 2D golf title. It’s a type of video games that’s fast to choose up and hard to place down. The controls are simple and intuitive, however oh boy is it difficult!
There are powerups and collectibles all through the sport, and a useful (elective) internet to catch you for those who fall. We actually wanted this security internet in our playthrough!
You’ll be able to strive the demo for your self on Steam. The staff is attempting to get onto the Nintendo Change, however hasn’t had a lot luck with Nintendo at this stage. Fingers crossed the Huge N will permit them to port their recreation throughout, as it could go well with the hybrid system completely. We’ll watch in anticipation!
My Arms are Longer Now (Toot Video games)
If there was an award for “Most Hilarious Indie Title” at PAX Aus, this may be it. My Arms are Longer Now, from Victoria’s Toot Video games, sees gamers management a squiggly, elongated arm because it slithers its approach via varied environments. The objective? To trigger chaos.
The gameplay is foolish however enjoyable, with the arm – belonging to you because the participant – inflicting all types of havoc because it winds its approach via a practice within the demo. Highlights embody taking somebody’s bike with out them noticing and slapping the ticket inspector when he boards the practice.
The intense, colourful graphics are coupled with some terrific voiceover work from native Aussie comedians. The staff has additionally added in customizable arms to make it really feel extra such as you’re the one in command of this elongated mischief maker.
In case you’re on the lookout for one thing edgy, control this one. It’s not out on Steam simply but, however you’ll be able to wishlist My Arms are Longer Now proper now. Hopefully we’ll see this one snake its approach on to the Change sooner or later, too.
Fox and Shadow (Paper Cactus Video games)
Fox and Shadow had a terrific location at PAX Aus – there’s no “dangerous location” actually, however this was actually in a terrific spot. It allowed loads of passersby to view the colourful, anime-inspired poster, merch, and pattern the sport.
The sport itself is a sci-fi dual-deckbuilding roguelike. The story includes scavenging for assets in a damaged metropolis to take care of your crumbling bunker. As you progress, you unlock playing cards used to face off towards enemies in satisfying turn-based battles. One of many standout options is the flexibility to mix playing cards between battles, enhancing your talents.
We tried this one and had a blast. Whereas the sport has no launch date proper now, you’ll be able to wishlist Fox and Shadow on Steam. There’s additionally a demo obtainable. Will it additionally come to Change? Time will inform.
Howdy World (UltraPlayers)
We truly tried Howdy World at PAX Aus 2024. We’re comfortable to report that this cell recreation has improved considerably over the previous 12 months, with improved efficiency and graphics.
UltraPlayers is not any stranger to recreation improvement, with earlier releases together with Gumballs& Dungeons, Ares Virus, and Tremendous Snail. They’ve received a number of awards alongside the way in which, they usually’re ramping up for extra positivity with Howdy World (we simply love the identify, by the way in which).
In Howdy World, gamers are transported to a mysterious world stuffed with historic creatures. The distinctive premise sees you combine with these creatures to turn out to be tremendous highly effective, with mutations and all types of craziness throughout your time with this roguelike journey.
The staff was as soon as once more tremendous comfortable to be at PAX Aus, interacting with everybody and asking gamers for suggestions. This yr, the staff had stickers and a leaderboard to assist promote the sport. Did we make it onto the board? Sure. Sure, we did. That’s as a result of we spent a prolonged period of time on this one.
The total model remains to be pegged for launch on cell units initially, so we’ll proceed watching with curiosity. Our fingers stay crossed that this journey finally makes its strategy to the Change, too.
Cow Chess (lablab)
Cow Chess intrigued us from the start, largely due to its identify. However don’t be fooled; the sport has little to nothing to do with precise chess. We spoke with the duo who developed the sport and cherished the humorousness on show (even when our want for seeing cows enjoying chess was left unfulfilled).
Cow Chess is a multiplayer artillery outing that resembles Smash Bros. crossed with Worms. The sport has been in improvement for a few years by the NSW staff, and it’s shaping as much as be a super-fun time. We examined it out with some fellow avid gamers and had a blast – actually and figuratively.
The objective is easy; blow away your opponents to knock them out of the world à la Smash Bros. And destroy the atmosphere whilst you’re at it, à la Worms. It’s chaotic enjoyable, with every spherical lasting mere seconds. Between rounds, gamers can select a powerup, making additional performs much more outrageous.
There’s additionally one thing to be mentioned for the aesthetics, with easy, pastel-based hues holding the main target squarely on the gameplay. The characters are cute – and really marketable. This reporter was lucky sufficient to buy the final frog pin on the stand.
You’ll be able to play the Cow Chess demo on Steam. The staff can also be very a lot hoping to deliver the title to the Change sooner or later. We will’t wait!
Had been you at PAX Aus this yr? Tell us your favourite second! You can too examine hands-on impressions of Metroid Prime 4: Past, Kirby Air Riders, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.
We chatted about every thing PAX associated on this week’s Pure Nintendo Podcast, so you should definitely tell us your ideas!
