PAX West was back in full force in 2023. As one of North America's largest video game shows, the popular fan convention allows the gaming audience to sample some of the next big games, and smaller surprises, set for release this Fall and in 2024. With other adjacent events happening during PAX West 2023, such as Nintendo Live and The Mix's Media Indie Exchange, the offerings this year featured a wide breadth of pulse-pounding action games and other titles that went for a more cozy and chill vibe to help set a different mood.
In this roundup of cool games, we're spotlighting some of the most exciting and eye-grabbing games we saw during PAX West 2023 and other adjacent events.
Dungeons of Hinterberg Developer: Microbird Games | Publisher: Curve Games | Release Date: TBD 2024
What makes Dungeons of Hinterberg such a charming game is that it really sticks firmly to its "cozy" take on a dungeon crawler. Set in a scenic Austrian town where mysterious dungeons and monsters have sprouted up, you play as a young adventurer named Luisa, who joins other explorers worldwide to uncover treasure and find the source of these strange events. Blending elements of an action-RPG dungeon crawler with a social sim, the protagonist makes daring dives into puzzle- and monster-filled dungeons and then returns to town to bond with their friends over drinks and other activities.
Dungeons of Hinterberg is a type of role-playing game that emphasizes establishing a bond with the setting and its characters while giving some exciting moments of action as you delve further into the mystery. Itss chill vibe and friendly atmosphere makes it a unique type of adventure experience that'll give players a reason to want to make time for its character before making that daring jump back into the unknown.
Animal Well Developer: Shared Memory | Publisher: Bigmode | Release Date: TBD 2024
Animal Well is an eerie adventure game that left a lasting impression on me after I finished playing it. As something of an experimental 2D puzzle-platformer, you're placed in the role of a strange, newly hatched critter who must brave the depths of a bizarre and hostile world. You'll need to use your wits, some gadgets found in the ruins, and quick thinking while avoiding traps, monsters, and other hazards to survive your journey. It's a game that made 2D exploration feel unnerving, yet there was a certain beauty to be seen in Animal Well's dangerous world. The stunning atmosphere and retro 2D visuals intrigued me and made me want to explore more of what Animal Well's setting and minimalist story had to offer.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Developer & Publisher: Nintendo | Release Date: October 20, 2023
Those who made it to Nintendo Live right across from PAX West had the chance to play the first-ever public hands-on for Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the next big 2D Mario game coming just around the corner. In IGN's recent full preview, we got a clearer picture of Nintendo's reinvention of a 2D Mario game, focusing on stage warping spectacle and the weirdness brewing in each level. Where Super Mario Bros. Wonder really shines is when you get a chance to play with a group, turning those fast-paced and dynamic levels into crowd-pleasing and tense feats of platforming fun. It's shaping up to be a stellar and visually stunning reinvention of 2D Mario, and we can't wait to see more of Super Mario's turn into a wacky platformer in the full game next month.
Pacific Drive
Developer: Ironwood Studios | Publisher: Kepler Interactive | Release Date: Q1 2024
Pacific Drive is a clever blend of different genres that all come together to make a tense and thrilling roguelite survival-driving game set in an open world. Playing as a survivor who's trapped in the mysterious Olympic Exclusion Zone, you'll need to scrounge together spare parts and resources to keep your car running, all while avoiding eerie supernatural foes on the lookout for you. In many ways, your vehicle is the main character of Pacific Drive, as you'll need to keep it in working order to travel across the map and survive the harrowing threats that lay in wait – such creepy mannequins that will only move when you take your eyes off them.
Pacific Drive evokes a certain type of loneliness when exploring an apocalyptic world, which all comes to a shocking halt as soon as enemies spot you and try to tear your car apart. It's an atmospheric and unique take on a driving game, giving it the makings of one of the most original genre mash-ups we've seen in a long time.
Spirit Swap: Lo-Fi Beats to Match-3 To
Developer: Soft Not Weak, LLC | Publisher: Soft Not Weak, LLC | Release Date: TBD 2023
Even with the brief time I spent with Spirit Swap, it almost immediately put me in that familiar, soothing, cozy mood that the popular Lofi Girl YouTube channel is able to give its viewers. As a puzzle-action game with social-sim elements, you play as a young witch who battles and eventually forms bonds with characters over a game where you have to match three symbols together. It takes the familiar concept of the match-3 puzzle game, but channels that concept into a chill and carefree setting that's all about making friends with lively characters and making your town a better place. It's the type of game you can really sink yourself into, and that chill and inviting vibe is what Spirit Swap proudly wears on its sleeve.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R
Developer & Publisher: Square Enix | Release Date: November 2, 2024
Star Ocean: The Second Story on the original PlayStation was one of the great underrated role-playing games of the console. It developed a cult following for its unusual yet endearing blend of sci-fi and high-fantasy, and the upcoming remaster brings that spirited and fun adventure back in a fresher and more engaging way. Diving into the remaster, it was clear that the game featured numerous quality-of-life upgrades to quicken the pace of the storytelling and combat. Battles maintain that action-RPG flow of dodging and unleashing your party's skills, but it also includes a revised tactical command menu, an enemy staggering mechanic, and a new momentum system that buffs your party as you keep your focus on each battle.
The remaster for Star Ocean: The Second Story keeps the 2D and 3D aesthetic alive but adds more details to make the battlefield and world exploration more dynamic and visually interesting. It's a remaster that shows what made the original special while giving it some much-needed updates to make for a better-paced and engaging RPG to jump into.
Beastieball
Developer: Wishes Ultd. | Publisher: Klei Publishing | Release Date: TBD 2024
When you blend volleyball with Pokemon, you get the unusual yet still charming Beastieball. Coming from the same team behind Chicory: A Tale of Color, Beastieball is an homage and fun parody of Pokemon, focusing on trainers and their team of superpowered critters as they battle across a circuit in pursuit of fame and a bit of respect from their community. It's a lovely and surprisingly funny adventure that puts a clever turn-based RPG twist on the game of volleyball – but with creature battles. It's equally a fun parody of Pokemon and a clever, oddball RPG, which gives it a charming vibe that I want to see more of.
Path of Exile 2
Developer & Publisher: Grinding Gear Games | Release Date: TBD 2024
With Diablo 4 having reawakened excitement for the loot-fueled action-RPG genre, it's appropriate that Path of Exile 2 is on its way, too. Now as a stand-alone sequel, instead of the initially planned overhaul of the original game, PoE2 puts a more significant focus on giving players a wider degree of freedom in building their class and their skills, allowing for even more min-maxing and exploiting powerful loadouts. The newest class set for the sequel is the Druid, allowing for a seamless shifting between casting elemental magic in the human form and pulverizing brute force in the werebear form. So far, Path of Exile 2 is looking to be a sizable and exciting follow-up to a well-loved free-to-play action-RPG that gained its own cult alongside heavy hitters of the action-RPG space.