With another PAX Australia in the books, we’d be remiss to not spotlight many of the special indie games we got to try out on the show floor. Developers come from near and far to seize their moment at the nation’s biggest consumer event for video games.
In years past, we’ve enjoyed looking at games like The Dungeon Experience and darkwebSTREAMER, however with neither of those games present, it left the floor open for a select few to steal focus.
Here are the coolest indies I saw while walking the PAX Australia show floor.
Key Fairy
Key Fairy was damn near close to my game of show, thanks in large part to its alluring hand-drawn art and penchant for folkloric pacifism.
It’s one part bullet hell action-adventure, one part Undertale as you avoid enemies, reap their fallen stars, and talk them into submission. A very strange, fascinating project that’s very Devolver Digital-coded, which means it speaks to me.
Wishlist here.
Corporeal
I absolutely adored the brief handful of minutes I got to spend with Corporeal, a paranormal mystery game where you’re piecing together a haunted photo album after you’re left as the sole survivor of unexplained events during the nineties in New Zealand.
The controls were a lot and took a bit of getting used to as you peruse the game’s retro analog interfaces to manipulate reels and print photographs needed to piece together your cursed family history.
It’s like Immortality through another, much spookier, lens.
Wishlist here.
My Arms Are Longer Now
A terrifically funny physics-puzzle game that sees you slither your enormous snakelike arm around in an effort to pull off the perfect heist and snatch anything that isn’t bolted down.
It gives me Untitled Goose Game vibes in that it places an emphasis on stealth, except instead of honking you’re helping yourself to people’s pockets.
Wishlist and try out the demo here.
Primordial Legends: Hollow Hero
Hollow Hero is a returning feature from previous expos, and it’s looking even better having enjoyed another year of polish.
Wombats are harder than a cat’s head and, as such, I do love the choice out of Australia’s gallery of remaining native fauna. Thanks to Wombat Stew, a storybook favourite of my kids, there’s a cultural cache that Toybox can cash in on.
Wishlist here.
Game Over
As someone who loved the quirkiness of Knuckle Sandwich, a game which blended turn-based roleplaying game elements, like those found in old school Final Fantasy games, with bespoke mini-games like in Mario Party, Game Over is for me.
It’s not a roleplaying game in the traditional sense with the ‘R’ standing for rhythm this time around. Created by one developer over the course of five long years, I get the sense this musical take on a battle-tested genre might be a breath of fresh air.
Wishlist here.
Dungeons and Dining Tables
After trying Tales of the Shire at Summer Game Fest, I’ve come to harbour an appreciation for games that lean whole-bodied into the realm of cosy.
Trawl procedurally-generated dungeons as a brave axolotl in an effort to improve both the decor and morale around Kindlerest. It’s a game that hammers home the importance of community, a worthwhile message to hitch a wagon to.
Wishlist here.
420 Blaze It 2
Look, it’s dank memes funnelled through what appears to be a shooter that plays like F.E.A.R.
What’s not to love? It’s definitely geared at those who like to sample the devil’s lettuce, among other things, but underneath the “poggerz” of it all there appears to be a surprisingly competent shooter here?
Wishlist here.
Doomtide
The thing that’s most immediately striking about Doomtide is its decision to filter its voxel art models through what I’m calling its mostly monochromatic “newspaper filter” because the game is black, white, and red all over.
Beneath its alluring art is a turn-based role playing game boasting hundreds of heroes to recruit, and an entire flooded city to rebuild all in the pursuit of sailing the seas to pillage the wealth and power of anyone unfortunate enough to get in your way.
Wishlist here.
Rose and Locket
As outlaw, Rose, you traverse the Underwest in an effort to rescue your daughter’s soul from the locket it resides in. Unlock once-lost gunslinger abilities to make short work of enemies in this action-adventure platformer gem.
I absolutely adore the game’s graphic novel aesthetic, and the Underwest’s colourful, damned realms remind me a little bit of Guacamelee, with a small dash of Samurai Jack.
Wishlist here and take on Wrath in the short demo.
Squat Ops
Squat Ops is a fascinating collision of ideas, taking the espionage action of Metal Gear Solid and marrying it to the fitness-focused player input of something like Ring Fit.
Using either a webcam or a pair of AirPods, the game recognises every body weight squat you execute and converts your burnt calories into movement for Hart, the game’s protagonist.
This is definitely one to look out for if you’re hoping to tone your legs and ass while getting your game on.
Speaking of that ass, get it over here to wishlist.
Me, You and Kaiju?
There’s nothing more fun than frantically flailing your arms in a VR headset, so why not destroy a city while you do it! Developed by Sleepy Coast Games, the game allows you to take the reins of a giant kaiju throwing cars, trees and anything not bolted down at a team of four military opponents whose main goal is to blow you up.
With helicopters, tanks and tactical vehicles, take down the kaiju before time is up in order to save the city from destruction.
Wishlist here.
Box Knight
Corporate life is a major drainer. I know, I’ve been there. But when your toxic workplace has turned the average employee into a creature set to wreak havoc, it’s your job to put them back in their place.
A roguelike developed by We Made A Thing Studios, you’ll don armour and weapons made of the finest cardboard as you delve deeper into the office as you seek the CEO, attempting to dethrone them and restore order to your mundane workplace.
Not only can you wishlist here, there’s a demo for you to try out right now.
Beyond These Stars
Almost reminiscent of Terry Pratchett’s DiscWorld, you land on the back of a majestic Space Whale, seeking a symbiotic relationship as you build a city and travel through the endless void of space.
You’ll seek to manage the needs of your ‘Peeps’ while maintaining your relationship with Kewa, constructing living spaces and seeking out more resources as your population expands. You’ll also meet strange new lifeforms along your journey, who will open up opportunities for advanced technology and abilities to trade.
Your co-existence with Kewa is key to continuing both of your journeys through space.
Wishlist here.
The Drifter
If John Carpenter, Michael Crichton and George Miller got together in the 80s and made a point-and-click game, you’d end up with The Drifter, a thrilling experience developed by Powerhoof.
As the drifter Mick, you bear witness to a violent murder and then pursued into your death, only to reawaken moments before you are killed. As you seek to clear yourself from being framed for murder, you’ll be haunted by your past and by the sense that something from the other side returned with you when you came back to life.
Wishlist and give the game a go right here.
