PAX East is always an exciting time for gamers of all stripes. The enormous video game convention celebrating all aspects of nerd culture is a huge draw for board gamers, tabletop fans, and geeks of any variety. With both the historical depth of old grognards and the cutting-edge releases of ultra-modern gaming, this gaming expo brings the best of nerd culture to Boston from May 8th to May 11th.
For gamers, the biggest draw is the avalanche of new releases, sneak previews, and unannounced demos that video game developers bring to show off at PAX. From huge names like Blizzard down to the tiniest one-person indie devs, PAX East gives fans direct access to the people who work hard to make the thriving games industry what it is and see the latest and greatest ideas to get immortalized in pixels. While this list is nowhere near comprehensive and many amazing games have been left off due to the sheer number of available titles, here are ten games that we can’t wait to try out at PAX East.
10
Splitgate 2 Provides Frantic FPS Fun With Portals
This Polished Splitgate Sequel Has An Open Beta Starting May 2025
Splitgate 2 is the next installment in a franchise that feels like a love letter to the old console and PC shooters of the turn of the millennium, combining frantic Halo-style FPS action with Portal‘s player-controlled teleportation portals to create a strategic arena shooter where players need to expect the unexpected. The original Splitgate has thousands of positive reviews and a robust community around it, so plenty of players should be jumping into this stylish free-to-play run-and-gun sequel.
Fans of the series can expect more maps for classic team deathmatch fights, plus the brand-new game mode of Splitball. Details about the first Splitgate‘s ongoing status are being shared with the community via developer 1047 Games’ Discord. While some streamers have been given advanced access to test and hype the upcoming game, the general public can currently apply for an open beta of Splitgate 2, which is set to begin in May 2025.
This Virtual Reality Horror Explorer Promises Terrifying Mysteries
One of the joys of conventions like PAX East is looking for cutting-edge games and new hardware. While VR has yet to fully burst into the mainstream, the rise of new platforms like the Oculus have begun to make virtual reality a viable reality for more and more gamers. Tunnels, a claustrophobic horror explorer, is coming to PAX with a demo for the Meta Quest that promises jump scares, mysterious caves, and terrifying creatures for players to dodge from the safety of their headset.
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Developer NomadMonkey is a relatively young company, but horror VR appears to be its specialty. Its earlier zombie horror game Wretched currently has a perfect score on Sidequest. Tunnels‘ trailers show platforming and adventure elements which should make this an engaging exploration game that will keep would-be spelunkers looking over their shoulders. Fans won’t need to wait long after PAX to try the game, since Tunnels launches on May 15th, right after the show.
8
Whirlight: No Time to Trip Looks Like a Classic Point-and-Click Adventure
This Already-Lauded Game Is Part of the PAX Rising Showcase
Fans of Monkey Island rejoice: Whirlight: No Time to Trip seems like the perfect modern take on point-and-click puzzle adventure games. The game puts players in charge of navigating eccentric and unlucky inventor Hector and determined artist Margaret through a journey across space and time. Critical reception is already effusive, with the game being featured on both 24indie and IndieLiveExpo in the past few weeks.
Whirlight is being featured as a PAX Rising selection, one of a few standout titles featured by PAX for their creativity, originality, and potential. It seems a natural choice: the game trailers and available demo showcase a charming retro aesthetic and offbeat sense of humor that evokes a range of claymation titles and nostalgia games. If fans really enjoy the available demo and can’t wait for the upcoming 2025 release date, they might check out developer Imaginarylab’s other adventure game, the very positively reviewed Willy Morgan and the Curse of Bone Town.
7
Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch Is a Roguelite Survival RPG
Both a Demo of Lost Eidolons and Early Access Are Available Now Ahead of a Later 2025 Release
Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch is the next game in the Lost Eidolons RPG franchise. Players will play an amnesiac survivor marooned on a mysterious island and granted incredible power by a local witch. Armed with the ability to recover from death, they’ll see roguelite mechanics added to the RPG tactical RPG battles of the first Lost Eidolons game. With a focus on impressive graphics and strategic gameplay, the new addition to the series looks eye-catching.
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Developer Ocean Drive Studio regularly employs early access in their games in order to stress-test and develop directly for the audience they attract, so players can both demo Veil of the Witch and purchase Early Access right now on Steam ahead of the game’s release sometime in the latter half of 2025. Other games by the developer will also be presented at PAX East, including twin-stick shooter Section 13 (also with Early Access) and medieval open-world zombie survival game God Save Birmingham.
6
Net.Attack() Is a Rogue-Like Bullet Hell Players Can Program
Using Node-Based Coding, Players Design and Upgrade Their Attacks
For fans of top-down survival rogue-likes and bullet hell games, Net.Attack() offers a novel twist on the genre that can also impart real computer coding knowledge. Using a drag-and-drop node system for intuitive and simple coding, this game turns coding principles into gameplay loops. As players unlock new abilities, they’ll be able to program additional functionality into their characters and attacks, making a compelling progression familiar to Vampire Survivors or other rogue-like fans, but with incredible versatility to create triggers with the intuitive yet complex levelling.
Developer Byterockers’ Games is bringing a diverse roster of other games to PAX as well, including tactical deck-builder Solnox: Grimoire of Seasons. While each game has really diverse mechanics and visual style, playable demos and trailers show a uniform high quality of animation and intriguing gameplay regardless of genre. The games promise to draw fans when players get to experience them at PAX.
5
Nocturne Is an Indie Rhythm RPG Adventure With an Emotional Story
This PAX Rising Selection Generated Early Attention for Its Writing And Unique Genre Mash-Up
Rhythm games and RPGs aren’t a genre pair that are often seen together, so for Nocturne to be one of the featured games of PAX East remains a doubly impressive feat. The game is set in a digital afterlife that has persisted beyond humanity’s extinction. Players will explore this strange land, discover new friends, and battle enemies in a skill-based rhythm combat system. The charming pixel illustration belie the promised themes of questioning what it means to be alive.
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Nocturne has been a long time coming, earning its moment in the spotlight with almost a decade of hard work. With first proof-of-concept being made in 2016, Nocturne has been in full-time development with a small team since 2018. The final previews of the game look to be a testament to the attention and care put in by the team, and its place in the PAX Rising showcase speaks to its well-earned buzz.
4
Swapmeat Makes Limbs and Appendages Into Lootable Gear
This Wacky Roguelike Co-Op Shooter Has a Goofy Sense of Humor
Swapmeat brings the off-beat sci-fi humor of games like Fallout or Outer Worlds to an endless universe of varied enemies. The looter-shooter mechanics get a unique twist: players can collect and equip the arms and limbs of enemies to recover health and gain new abilities. The glib tone and wacky science pair with a vibrant, slap-happy experience that promises to be popular for fans of the best couch co-op games and light-hearted humor.
One More Games, Inc. is a fairly green development studio, but has big-name experience on titles such as Guild Wars and Diablo to bolster its credentials. Swapmeat is part of their goal of encouraging social gaming, where the fun of exploding angry aliens is increased by doing it alongside your friends. Between bright visuals and a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, this indie shooter looks like it will provide plenty of entertainment for players who are craving a light-hearted excuse to spray bullets and collect loot.
3
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar Is the Next Game in the Cozy Farming Village Franchise
This Remake from the Original Developers of Harvest Moon Brings a DS Classic to a New Generation
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is the latest remake from the franchise formerly known as Harvest Moon. Players take the role of a young newcomer to Zephyr Town who takes on the daunting task of revitalizing the town’s once-profitable Grand Bazaar from its current dilapidated state. By farming, exploring, and assisting the villagers around the hamlet, players will bring customers to the Grand Bazaar and restore the town to its previous prosperity.
Fans of modern cozy games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing will want to check this game out if they weren’t already familiar with this series. Since Story of Seasons is a remade series of the original Harvest Moon games, old-school fans will recognize much of the game. However, the new release will include updated visuals, an expanded story, new characters, and full voice acting during story moments, which isa first for the series as a whole. With plenty of new content to explore, this relaxed lifestyle game looks to be a hit for both old fans and newcomers alike.
2
Soulframe Is a New MMORPG from the Makers of Warframe
This Fantasy Game Has Players Exploring a Fantastic Island to Uncover An Ancient Power
Soulframe‘s trailers currently offer more questions than answers about the game’s setting. Players will take the role of an Envoy, washed ashore on the mysterious island of Midrath, where mighty beasts lie chained and the very world itself splits in anger. They’ll need to learn the melodies of soul unbinding in order to discover the secrets of the Silvern Seas, awaken the Ancestors, and protect the wilds from the dangers that stalk among them.
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Developer Digital Extremes is no stranger to large-scale MMO games; sci-fi action-shooter RPG Warframe has been active for 12 years, with over 50 million players. This new game promises the popular quality of their original game in an entirely distinct setting and looks to provide both new challenges for Warframe fans and a novel experience to attract new fans. Between intriguing trailers and impressive gameplay sneak peeks, Soulframe promises to draw a lot of attention at PAX East and as it nears its own release.
1
Elden Ring: Nightreign Brings New Functionality to the Breakout Fan Favorite
Releasing On May 30, 2025, This Spinoff Offers a New Standalone Adventure
FromSoftware fans will be eagerly crowding around for a glimpse of next month’s Elden Ring: Nightreign release before it drops for consoles and PC. The second outing in the Elden Ring universe and the fifth game in the genre-defining Dark Souls franchise, Nightreign promises more immersive settings to explore, terrifying enemies to overcome, and new playstyles to master. With six new classes to play as, new enemies and bosses, and a fresh location, this game is the perfect answer for players who have been looking for new challenges since the release of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
As of now, players can expect six playable classes: the hook-chain-wielding Wylder, the large-weapon Raider, the hardy Guardian, the agile Duchess, the magical Recluse, and the archery-focused Iron-Eye. The game can be played solo, but it’s designed for up to three players to explore a shrinking location together during the in-game day before facing bosses at nightfall. If there’s no chance to try the game during PAX, don’t worry, Nightreign is scheduled to release at the end of May, giving PC, Xbox, and PlayStation gamers the chance to explore the procedurally generated lands of Limveld.
