15 top indie games we saw at PAX East
We had an absolute blast at PAX East this year!! We were so delighted to see an incredible showing from a huge variety of indie game developers, studios and publishers. The demos for both new and upcoming games blew us away! Here are some of our very favorite indie game demos that we got to experience at PAX this year.
1. Botany Manor
Botany Manor is a beautiful, serene escape into the world of Arabella Greene, a botanical researcher studying the ideal growing conditions for a variety of rare flora. At its heart this is a puzzle game, where the player gets to investigate a gorgeous manor and its grounds to discover the clues to the plants’ secret, but the vibes make it feel like you’ve just stepped into a pleasant dream.
If you like: Strange Horticulture, Return of the Obra Dinn
Developer: Balloon Studios
Publisher: Whitethorn Games
Release Date: Apr 9, 2024
2. LUCID
Eric of The Matte Black Studio describes Lucid as a Celestoidvania! If you like games that reward you for your hard work, but also sound and look amazing with a very specific color palette, Lucid is for you! The pixel graphic fans will also really love this one. Playing the demo while talking to Eric was an incredible experience, and we are now highly anticipating Lucid!
If you like: Celeste, Axiom Verge, and Dandara
Developer: The Matte Black Studio
Publisher: Apogee Entertainment
Release Date: 2025
3. Wild Woods
The Wild Woods couch was PACKED for PAX! You could tell how excited everyone was to play this casual couch co-op, which is thoughtfully designed for intergenerational players of all skill levels and experience. We recommend this one for families or for folks who are just getting started on their video game journey and want to play with others!
If you like: Overcooked, Bloons TD
Developer: Octofox Games
Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment
Release Date: To be announced
4. The Mortuary Assistant: Definitive Edition
The Mortuary Assistant took the indie horror scene by storm when it released back in 2022. Since then, DarkStone Digital has made a number of free content updates to the game, which will culminate in the Definitive Edition, launching later this year in tandem with the game’s console release. This is possibly our favorite (well, Emily’s favorite) horror game, and we look forward to some additional scares and a new game mode, which will surely keep us playing (and embalming) for many more hours to come!
If you like: Phasmophobia, Visage
Developer: DarkStone Digital
Publisher: DreadXP
Release Date: 2024
5. Littlelands
The Littlelands demo had us immediately sucked in and wanting more. Styled after iconic classics like Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and Pokémon, this charming 3D modeled adventure whisks the player away into a world that feels both small and yet somehow expansive. The only downside to the experience of playing this demo was that we have to wait for the full title to come out.
If you like: Legend of Zelda, Pokémon
Developer: Rafael Martín
Publisher: Apogee Entertainment
Release Date: To be announced
We’re so grateful for the warm welcome from the folks at Apogee and Stride PR!! Big, big thank you to Eric from The Matte Black Studio and Kyle from the Littlelands team for sitting down with us for interviews!
6. Let’s! Revolution!
Let’s! Revolution! caught us off-guard with its addictive gameplay and disarmingly beautiful graphics. If you’re a fan of Minesweeper (as we are), you’ll be delighted by this roguelite twist on an old classic. We had to drag ourselves away from this demo at the BUCK booth so that others could give it a try!
If you like: Slay the Spire, Backpack Hero, Minesweeper
Developer: BUCK, Antfood
Publisher: BUCK, Hawthorn Games
Release Date: Jul 19, 2023
7. Snacko
What a ride! Snacko is an adorable farming sim that really focuses on CATS! As a cat lover myself, I really appreciated the witty and hilarious dialogue that the cats of Snacko are equipped with. The jumping and fishing mechanics are so satisfying. We’re giving Snacko a 10/10 for the immaculate vibes!
If you like: Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, Moonstone Island
Developer: Bluecurse Studios
Publisher: Armor Games
Release Date: Dec 6, 2023
8. Memory’s Reach
Although it was intimidating to play the demo of a very clever puzzle game in front of the very clever puzzle creator himself, we had a great time dipping our toes into the world of Memory’s Reach. We enjoyed the sci-fi vibes and the alien planet aesthetic, clearly pulling some inspiration from Metroid Prime (both in visual style and in the game’s genre), and really look forward to seeing how the gameplay and puzzle-solving build as more skills are unlocked.
If you like: Metroid Prime, Myst, The Talos Principle
Developer: 100 Stones Interactive
Publisher: 100 Stones Interactive
Release Date: To be announced
9. Baladins
If you love cute and cozy with a touch of chaos, Baladins is for you! Even if you’ve never played D&D before, Baladins makes jumping into virtual TTRP approachable and enjoyable for everyone, no matter your experience level. We had a blast demoing this at PAX, and are so grateful for Ariana at Armor Games for giving us the Baladins 101. It’s very likely we’ll be covering Baladins as our first ever NSG co-op game 👀 so stay tuned for that! If you want to hear us talk a bit more about Baladins, check out our episode discussing our favorite announcements from the 2023 Wholesome Snack showcase.
If you like: Honey Heist, Wildermyth, Dicey Dungeons
Developer: Seed by Seed
Publisher: Armor Games
Release Date: 2024
The folks at the Armor Games were so kind for taking the time to show us not only the Baladins demo, but also the demos for Snacko and Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge. We adored these demos and can’t wait to play the full titles!
10. Part of You
Fans of Smile for Me will love the art style and mechanics of this quirky puzzle adventure game, full of memorable characters! Players get to literally turn frowns upside down with clever mechanics that let you copy, rearrange and swap facial expressions on other characters in the game. If you’re looking for a game with a big dose of personality and an intriguing premise, we think you’ll enjoy diving into Part of You.
If you like: Smile For Me, Night in the Woods
Developer: Team Sometimes Y
Publisher: Team Sometimes Y
Release Date: Mar 22, 2024
11. A Space for the Unbound
The Toge Productions booth was one of our most memorable PAX experiences! This team is INCREDIBLY passionate and kind, which also comes through when you experience one of their games. They had many gameplay experiences of all genres for folks at PAX to experience, and we highly recommend that y’all check out A Space for the Unbound. If you like cats, beautiful landscapes, and emotionally driven narratives, you definitely gotta add this one to your bucket list!
If you like: When the Past was Around, Until Then
Developer: Mojiken
Publisher: Toge Productions
Release Date: Jan 19, 2023
12. Heartworm
We feel confident that Heartworm is going to be a favorite among horror game fans who find themselves replaying and reminiscing over 90s and 00s classics like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Within just a few minutes of starting the demo, we felt the strongly unsettling vibes that this game so effectively creates. This is at the top of our list to keep our eyes on in the indie horror scene.
If you like: Resident Evil, Silent Hill
Developer: Vincent Adinolfi
Publisher: DreadXP
Release Date: 2025
The Heartworm demo, showcased at the DreadXP booth, left us so excited to play the full game. We should say, playing with a controller will definitely be the best experience for most players, but the game sucked us in regardless!
13. Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge
We are certain that ANYONE could play and love this game. Kamaeru wins for the most approachable and relaxing demo that we played at PAX. Despite the chaos of the show floor, we felt tranquil in this lush paradise full of cute frogs, characters, and plenty of critters. Thank you to the devs for kindly walking us through Kamaeru with such care.
If you like: Usagi Shima, Minami Lane
Developer: Humble Reeds
Publisher: Armor Games
Release Date: 2024
14. The Big Con
The fantastically bright and vibrant Mighty Yell booth at PAX East was hard to miss! The Big Con has been on our radar for quite some time, and meeting this fantastic team solidified our excitement to eventually cover a Mighty Yell game on our show. If you appreciate 90’s aesthetic, funny games, and super eye-catching visuals, you’re gonna wanna check this one out!
If you like: Rain on Your Parade, Donut County
Developer: Mighty Yell Studios
Publisher: Mighty Yell Studios, Skybound Games
Release Date: Aug 31, 2021
15. Rightfully, Beary Arms
Daylight Basement Studio is proving that cuteness and bullet hells are a match made in heaven (or bullet heaven?). We were drawn into their booth at PAX by the fun, colorful graphics and their friendly, welcoming team members, but we stayed for the delightfully action-packed and quirky gameplay. We have also fully been converted to the cult of Pajama-core, by the game’s PJ-wearing protagonist!
If you like: Enter the Gungeon, Brotato
Developer: Daylight Basement Studio LLC
Publisher: Daylight Basement Studio LLC
Release Date: Jul 27, 2023
We were delighted both by the friendly graphics and Daylight Basement Studio team members at the Rightfully, Bear Arms booth!