PAX East 2026: 10 indie games that stole the show

We left PAX East feeling desperate to get our hands on these indie games again.

This was possibly the best PAX East show that we’ve gotten to attend thus far! The panels were fun and lively, the time with friends and colleagues was meaningful and memorable, and of course the game demos hit! We got to play so many games that we’ve been anticipating for a long time and ones that we had never heard of, but we walked away very excited to play them once again. These ten games stood out among the pack and we can’t wait to play them again someday!

1. The Secret of Crystal Mountain

Developed by: Revolutron
Published by: Revolutron
Steam Store Page

We went to check out The Secret of Crystal Mountain on the recommendation of the illustrious Indie Informer herself, Jill Grodt. Not that we needed a single shred more evidence to know that she always stands on business with her recommendations, but this 3D platformer RPG in development from Revolutron truly was not one to miss at this year’s PAX Rising. 

You play as a Delivery Cat, trying to journey up a mountain on a postal mission to deliver a message. What begins as a small, simple task becomes an epic adventure as you fight and puzzle your way through various landscapes and face a variety of (I will say, very cute) enemies. The platforming and combat felt smooth and polished. I didn’t want to put it down. I will be very anxiously awaiting the full release of The Secret of Crystal Mountain, which we hear from solo developer Chris Rosenthal will likely be sometime in late 2027.

– Emily

2. Well Dweller

Developed by: Kyle Thompson
Published by: Kyle Thompson, Top Hat Studios, Inc.
Steam Store Page

Crypt Custodian is one of my favorite indie games of all time, so I was absolutely thrilled to see Kyle Thompson’s Well Dweller on the show floor at PAX! It has Thompson’s distinct art style, but I noticed a lot more downward movement compared to Crypt Custodian, which really fits the well dwelling vibes! To no surprise, the platforming feels great. The thing that sticks out the most in my mind is the vibrant colors and dark fairytale vibes. Playing this demo got me even more curious and excited about the story, which I’m sure will hit us right where it hurts. There’s no public demo or release date yet, but it’s slated for 2026 and I’ll definitely be there on launch day!

– Kate

3. Paranormal Activity: Threshold

Developed by: DarkStone Digital
Published by: DreadXP
Steam Store Page

As a huge fan of The Mortuary Assistant, I’ve been dying to finally get a look at what Brian Clarke of Darkstone Digital has been cooking up for this latest installment in the Paranormal Activity franchise. Unsurprisingly, the demo did not disappoint. I don’t want to spoil too much, but I will say that the flavor of horror felt representative of everything I love most about The Mortuary Assistant. It’s a slow burn, placing a greater focus on slowly elevating the tension and then scaring the player through subtle environmental changes and peripheral jumpscares, rather than outright getting in the player’s face or using excessive gore. 

It was great to see the DNA of one of my all-time favorite horror games embedded into a narrative experience that felt very true to the Paranormal Activity series, driven by a “found footage” feel and a highly relatable cast of characters. I walked away really excited by what I had seen and anticipating the full game even more than before (if that’s possible).

– Emily

4. Canvas City

Developed by: Disc 2 Games
Published by: Disc 2 Games
Steam Store Page

Disc 2 Games is the second publishing entity coming from Black Salt Games, the makers of Dredge! It’s so impressive and exciting that they’re able to do something like this, and Canvas City is the perfect debut title under the Disc 2 publishing name! I’m not really a turn based tactics girly, and I think the genre has felt really unapproachable to me overall. However, Canvas City is giving me some serious Bomb Rush Cyber Funk and Jet Set Radio vibes, so maybe all I needed to enjoy this genre was some hotties on roller skates! The game looks and feels great, and I had a fairly easy and fun time navigating the tutorial. I genuinely love stories that focus on art as rebellion! No release date or public demo announcement yet, but Canvas City is one to watch!

– Kate

5. Grave Seasons

Developed by: Perfect Garbage
Published by: Blumhouse Games
Steam Store Page

I’ve been following Grave Seasons for a long, long time now. I remember first seeing Perfect Garbage post a few years ago about their murder mystery farming sim in development and thinking “this is everything I’ve ever wanted in a game!” Clearly I’m not alone because the wait time to play this upcoming cozy horror title averaged between 1-2 hours throughout most of the PAX East expo. It was great to hear first hand from the Perfect Garbage team that they’ve been just as dedicated to crafting a straightforward and satisfying farming experience as they have been to setting up a compelling and gripping set of serial killer scenarios. 

The narrative is split into separate campaigns, where any villager in town is the potential culprit behind the game’s string of murders. Different victims, different motivations, and different clues make for a unique experience across each storyline. The pixel art is some of the most dynamic and beautiful that I’ve ever seen, with grass blowing in the wind and gently flowing rivers that rival many a 3D AAA title. I can also confirm that the horror is visceral and thrilling. Even portrayed in pixel art style, characters’ deaths deliver a significant impact. I don’t think I could possibly be more excited and look forward to the newly announced release date on August 14th!

– Emily

6. Oh, Apollo!

Developed by: Blue Backpack
Published by: Blue Backpack
Steam Store Page

Oh, Apollo! was one of the last games that I played on the show floor, and it was a perfectly pleasant way to start winding down on Sunday. I felt truly immersed in this world of cutie cartoon characters with a soft pastel color palette in this unique,  narrative management experience. Play as priestess of Apollo’s oracle in Delphi and give advice to your community! Choices really do matter, because your answers will determine if you are favored by mortals or the gods. I really felt the impact of my choices immediately, and the writing is clever, funny, and sincere. I found myself laughing out loud several times and bopping along to the music while taking in the cozy visuals. I’m totally sold on this one, and it found me at the perfect time! No release date yet, but the demo is available now on steam.

– Kate

7. We Were Here Tomorrow

Developed by: Total Mayhem Games
Published by: Total Mayhem Games
Steam Store Page

While I got to play many demos for games that I have been looking forward to for months if not years at PAX this year, one was particularly special on a personal level. I got to play We Were Here Tomorrow, from the incredibly clever developers at Total Mayhem, which is the sixth in their series of asymmetric co-op puzzle adventures. I’ve played four out of their five previously released titles with my partner, and can say with certainty that these games played a role in bringing us closer together (or We Were Here Together, you might say), even before we were officially “together.” 

But I think puzzle fans far and wide have reason to be excited for this next installment in the series, even if you’ve never played a We Were Here game before. This game breaks with some traditions established by its predecessors, with a new sci-fi aesthetic and player-specific abilities. These updates make for an experience that feels fresh, while the gameplay still hinges on the players’ ability to communicate effectively with each other first and foremost. We had a great time chatting with the devs, getting a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to design this genre of co-op puzzle. I’ll be keeping an ear to the ground for more news on the release date for We Were Here Tomorrow, which we hear will likely be sometime later on in 2026.

– Emily

8. Inkblood

Developed by: Hey Bird!
Published by: CRITICAL REFLEX
Steam Store Page

Inkblood has been calling to me since the moment I laid eyes on it. The art style is genuinely so disturbing, I was shaking in my boots when I watched the trailer a few months ago. The Critical Reflex booth is always bringing banger after banger, but among all of the offerings, Inkblood was my first priority. The game didn’t give me a ton of explanation when I started playing, but I found that the more I observed and the more I tried to interact with the environment, the more I was rewarded!

This is exactly the kind of compact puzzle and mystery solving experience that I’m looking for. It’s sinister, but it also has a whimsical picture book vibe going on, which provides a perfect balance alongside the horrors and makes it easy to stay engaged. The mechanic for solving the mysteries among its hauntingly painted scenes feels fresh and engaging, and I felt such a strong sense of satisfaction upon completing this demo. I think those who love a creepy/cozy puzzle mystery will absolutely eat this up. Inkblood gets extra points for rewarding me for my curiosity!

– Kate

9. Crystalmancers

Developed by: Vania Games
Published by: No Publisher
Steam Store Page

I made it all the way to Sunday of PAX East without getting my roguelite deckbuilder fix on, but fear not, I did not walk away disappointed! I got to try Crystalmancers, the upcoming Tetris-inspired roguelike from Vania Games. Now, normally the mention of anything Tetris-like would cause my heart rate to skyrocket and my palms to start sweating, but Crystalmancers takes a very different approach to the block stacking and smashing gameplay. 

With no time limit in the Slay the Spire-esque turn-based combat, players get to choose where they’ll place their (legally distinct) Tetrinos on the board. This completely shifts the experience from hinging on the player’s reflexes to centering around thoughtful strategies and builds. Your block shapes can get upgrades like special glyph power-ups, or can be fundamentally altered by adding or removing block pieces. This was one of the few demos that I walked away from feeling truly disappointed… that I couldn’t go home and play it some more. I’m praying for a public demo to come out soon.

– Emily

10. Fractured Blooms

Developed by: Serenity Forge
Published by: Serenity Forge
Steam Store Page

It’s hard to even think of what to say when I look back on mine and Emily’s time with the PAX exclusive demo for Fractured Blooms. It reminds me of so many games that I love, but it feels like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. We tag teamed this one, with Emily navigating the game and me wearing the headphones. Even with our dividing and conquering, we were both so scared and on edge that we didn’t return to our normal selves until several hours after completing the demo.

Fractured Blooms is a masterclass in tension building, and is inspired by a true story, which could be the reason for everything feeling so visceral and high stakes. I actually felt the terror, sorrow, confusion, and loneliness though every step that Angie takes. As someone who lives rurally, the time looping element is really interesting, because living rurally while trying to grow, make, or improve something on your homestead actually does feel like you’re living in a repeating loop. There’s so much to experience and talk about with this one, so I recommend checking out the demo for yourself ASAP!

– Kate

About No Small Games

No Small Games is an indie game recap and review podcast brought to you by hosts Kate and Emily! They became friends while streaming on Twitch and bonded over their love of indie video games. In each episode of No Small Games, the two will discuss an indie game they both played independently. They’ll compare their experiences: the good, the bad, their most memorable moments of their playthroughs.

Learn more about the podcast and its hosts on the About page. You can find all our episodes here on the Episodes page, or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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