PAX East 2022 is now firmly in the books, but there were many indie games showcased that are so exciting that they’ve left an impression on con-goers. People waited in line for upwards of three or four hours just to try some of these gems, and they were rewarded with some of the finest experiences that indie studios have to offer.
Every game shown off at PAX represents the hard work, dedication, hopes, and dreams of the developers. In that respect, every game is worthy of our attention and support, but there were some that stood out from the rest.
McPixel 3
So many hours were lost to the original McPixel game. It was a parody of Saturday Night Live’s MacGruber, itself a parody of the hit show MacGyver. It starred a pixelated guy who had to use tools from his environment and unconventional techniques to get out of wacky situations.
McPixel 3 takes up the baton and puts McPixel into even wilder predicaments. Players get achievements whether they complete the objective or not, and the rapid-fire nature of the game keeps it fresh and exciting. It’s a point-and-click adventure game that can sit proudly next to any WarioWare title, and will have players laughing hysterically from beginning to end. McPixel 3 is being developed by Sos Sosowski and published by Devolver Digital. It’s coming in 2022 exclusively to Steam.
SpiderHeck
Everyone loves a good party game, and it so happens that SpiderHeck is a great party game. Two to four players each control a spider, with the ability to crawl along the game’s 2D surfaces, jump, web sling, and wield weapons. The objective is to use the stage’s arsenal to take out the other spiders.
There are bombs, lightsabers, guns, guns that shoot out lightsabers, and dozens more. The neon aesthetic and the bass-heavy club music keep players’ attention, and the varied level design keeps matches exciting. This game is a must for enthusiasts of TowerFall, and even Super Smash Bros. fans will find something to love here. SpiderHeck is being developed by Neverjam and published by tinyBuild. It’s coming soon to the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows.
Evil West
Evil West takes cowboys and smashes them against undead monstrosities looking to eradicate humanity. Members of a top-secret vampire-hunting agency strive to keep the forces of darkness at bay in this third-person action game. Players can upgrade their character with abilities and perks, and they can even play with a friend in couch co-op mode. This is a blood-soaked, lore-filled quest to save the United States of America that fans of Red Dead Redemption and the Walking Dead should enjoy.
Evil West is being developed by Flying Wild Hog and published by Focus Entertainment. It’s coming in 2022 to the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows.
Keylocker
Keylocker was one of the most exciting games at PAX Rising this year, a showcase of the projects Kickstarter selected to be shown at PAX East. It is a Japanese-style RPG with a top-down 2D isometric view. It owns its neon cyberpunk visuals and dark storyline while also being absolutely hilarious. Players take the role of BOBO, a musician trying to reform Saturn’s authoritarian regime through the power of music. Rhythm is incredibly important to gameplay, with timed attacks inspired by the Mario & Luigi series of games. There’s also an aspect of field control in the battle strategy, like an upgraded version of the system in Chrono Trigger.
Keylocker is being developed and published by Moonana. It’s estimated to release in August 2023 for the Switch, PS4, PS5, Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Superfuse
The Boys is an incredibly popular show for Amazon, and Superfuse looks to play in that same space, with corporate-sponsored superheroes, morally ambiguous decisions, and gritty comic book style slathered across everything. This is a world where the wealthy have given themselves superpowers and immortality, and use their enforcers to keep peace in the solar system. Players take the role of said enforcers and can customize their abilities by fusing them together. This procedurally-generated Diablo-inspired game is sure to capture the attention of anyone who loved comics back in the 90s and 00s.
Superfuse is being developed by Stitch Heads Entertainment and published by Raw Fury. It has an early access demo coming later this year, with a full release in 2023 exclusively for Windows.
The Big Con
When loan sharks come after a local video store, the owner’s plucky teenage daughter Ali decides to raise the money necessary to bail her mom out. Instead of taking a summer job, however, Ali learns to pickpocket, run cons, and become a master of disguise. The Big Con pays homage to 90s animation in its environments, music, squiggle line visual style, and amazing theme song. Fans of 90s cartoon mainstays, especially Nicktoons like Doug and Rocko’s Modern Life, will love the aesthetics of this game.
The Big Con is developed by Mighty Yell Studios and published by Skybound Games. It’s already available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Steam, with new content and a Switch version coming Summer 2022.
The Last Hero of Nostalgaia
When the world of video games starts losing its fidelity, it falls upon a pixelated stick figure protagonist to save the day. The Last Hero of Nostalgaia satirizes and celebrates Souls-like games, and gives fans of games like Elden Ring something a bit more light-hearted to cleanse their palate in between playthroughs. Rich in lore and battle mechanics, players loved how hilarious and inventive the game was. The sarcastic narrator only helps the whole experience, giving everything a Bastion kind of vibe.
The Last Hero of Nostalgaia is being developed by Over the Moon Games and published by Coatsink. It’s coming in 2022 and will be released for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows.
WrestleQuest
Gamers of a certain age will remember how massive licensed wrestling games, especially from the WWF/WWE, were in the SNES and N64 era. WrestleQuest takes those memories of laying the smackdown on friends and adds a new, decidedly "mathy" twist to the formula. This is a pro wrestling RPG, complete with experience points, a deep story, lore, and equippable moves. The nostalgia is strong here, using a 16-bit style to portray characters that look like toys. The writing is clever, the story is entertaining, and fans of RPGs and wrestling games will find something to love here.
WrestleQuest is being developed by Mega Cat Studios and published by Skybound Games. It’s coming soon to the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows.
Cult Of The Lamb
Cult of the Lamb was Devolver Digital’s premier showcase at PAX East this year – taking up a gigantic screen in the center of their booth – and for good reason. Players take control of a lamb that’s saved from execution by a demonic entity that demands a mighty cult be built-in exchange. From there, the lamb builds their flock by indoctrinating other woodland creatures. The gameplay is split between battling through randomly generated rooms in segments that are very much like Enter the Gungeon, and ensuring the followers are worshiping properly at home and not being taken in by false prophets. There’s an adorable aesthetic reminiscent of the board game Root, with strategy and town-building elements that would make ActRaiser proud.
Cult of the Lamb is being developed by Massive Monster and published by Devolver Digital. It’s coming in 2022 to the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
The TMNT never go out of style, it seems, but Shredder’s Revenge takes love for the Turtles to a new high. This arcade-style beat-’em-up is a love letter to the '80s cartoon and all of its tie-ins. It’s a high-energy experience, with satisfying combos, hilarious set-pieces, countless references, and the ability to play as April O’Neil and Master Splinter. They’ve even brought back the original voice actors, including Cam Clarke and Rob Paulsen.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is being developed by Tribute Games and published by DotEmu. It’s coming Summer 2022 to the Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Windows.