20 Games Presented at PAX East 2026

PAX East 2026 may not be as large as it has been in the years before COVID, but it is still a happening place for all those who love video games. For the lovers of gaming, the expo hall floor was filled with a variety of exciting games to play, from deep strategy to heavy metal action. There's no way to play absolutely everything there is at a PAX, but it is possible to play a lot.

Below is a list of all the games I played at PAX East 2026. Some games will be released as of this writing, while others have launches set for May and later this year. I strongly encourage wishlisting and playing any demos that are available on Steam.

GNAW

Reminiscent of old-fashioned platformers like Earthworm Jim, GNAW puts you into the role of a T-Rex detective in a pre-apocalyptic saurian city. A strange meteor from space has fallen and has begun infecting the citizens, transforming them into feral cannibals. Using your smarts, teeth, and some experimentation, you set off to save the city and end this intergalactic threat

I played GNAW on a Steam Deck at the PAX Rising booth, and the game is shaping up to be an amazing Metroidvania that will delight fans of the genre and people who like dinosaurs. The world feels organic and lived-in, and the combat was fun. I fought several enemies and bosses during my time and appreciated the wild science behind the gameplay. I ate enemies and used their DNA to become stronger. Look for this one to come out in 2027, with a demo available now on Steam.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe™: Dragon Pearl of Destruction

It's been a long time since He-Man and the Masters of the Universe have seen any kind of spotlight. With a brand new movie coming out this Summer, now is as good a time as any for a new video game. Leave it to Limited Run Games and Bitmap Bureau to drop a brand new game just in time for the new movie. Coming from the same team that made Xeno Crisis and the recently released Terminator 2D: No Fate, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction is shaping up to be an excellent side-scrolling brawler.

The game has a pixel-perfect look and feel, as if the action figures have come to life. There is vibrant color and music. Playing as He-Man felt great! Playing alongside another player forged memories that'd span the universe. It isn't easy, as the foes of Skeletor are very powerful and tough to crack. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction is set for release on April 28th 2026. For those who grew up with He-Man, the game is going to be a great way to make new memories for a new generation.

REPLACED

I know we are getting a little sick of the AI boom, and rightfully so. Still, transhuman ideas fascinate me. We've talked about humans becoming cyborgs and uploading themselves into computers. What happens when an AI finds itself in a human body? That is the question of REPLACED, coming April 14, 2026. REPLACED puts players in a post-nuclear war 1980's America, a setting pulled from the pages of apocalyptic imagination.

Playing the game felt fantastic, with its combination of platforming and combat. The platforming has a sense of heft and weight, but the combat is clearly inspired by the likes of Batman: Arkham Asylum, with brutal counters and hard-hitting punches. The visuals felt like a graphic novel come to life, and the synth soundtrack felt amazing! REPLACED poses the notion that everything has a price, from AI to humanity. What price are you willing to pay?

Bubsy 4D

We can all admit it. Bubsy is not a great series. He's a character that tried very hard to be the likes of Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog, but could never even get within the orbit of those franchises. However, an opportunity comes by that cannot be passed up. A wild idea sparks in the darkest reaches of the mind. What if Bubsy was good? What if Bubsy were an enjoyable platformer? It seems very likely that Bubsy could have the very best platformer of the year.

Filled with full-voice work, a ton of color, and a tremendous amount of love and care put into the platforming, my time with Bubsy 4D was incredible! Bubsy 4D featured running, jumping, rolling, fighting enemies, and overcoming obstacles. Bubsy poked fun at his VR predicament and the absurdity of his objectives. It was a short time I had with the demo, but a barrel of fun. The team behind Bubsy 4D, Fabraz, has worked on the likes of Slime-San and Demon Turf. This looks like the team's best game yet! Bubsy launches May 22nd 2026.

Fading Echo

Tucked in a corner at PAX East was Fading Echo from Emeteria and New Tales. With a retro 70's space sci-fi look, I was intrigued about the game, first hearing about it on the PlayStation YouTube channel. After some time with the game, I came away excited for the future of the game! With a stellar cast, exciting combat, and a unique water-transformation mechanic, Fading Echo is looking sharp!

Fading Echo takes place in a world with fractured realities. A powerful force of corruption is distorting the very fabric of reality, changing the landscape every moment. It's a tremendous imagination, and the combat felt great. I really enjoyed turning into a living sphere of water and negotiating certain objectives, too. With full voice work and a mystery story, Fading Echo is bound to be an incredible journey when it launches in Q3 2026.

Backyard Baseball

It's not often you see a sports game on the PAX East Expo hall floor. It is certainly more special when the game in question is being revived after being dormant for some time. Backyard Baseball may look like a kids' first video game on the surface, but deep down, this is a franchise that was lauded for its gameplay, representation, and overall easy-going style. Having played the demo, I had a very good time.

While the demo only had a homerun derby mode available, I enjoyed the enthusiasm for the game of baseball, from the voicework to the different characters to gameplay. I was able to crack some balls into orbit, and the announcer was clearly having a good time. I even tried the different characters to test their abilities (Go Pablo!), and found that this changes up the gameplay significantly. It's important to make memories with video games, and Backyard Baseball is sure to make many when it launches July 8th, 2026.

Poly Fighter

Fighting games these days stick to the Guilty Gear and Mortal Kombat. There's even a Mortal Kombat movie coming out in May, Mortal Kombat II. So it was refreshing to see a game that is a fighter, but also is shaping up to be a game that combines roguelike game mechanics into its formula. The result is Poly Fighter, a game that wears its inspiration and memories on its sleeve while also giving a new approach to fighting games.

Inspired by the memories of playing SEGA's Virtua Fighter, Poly Fighter encourages players to fight and choose different moves after each successful round. Choose wisely, as this affects how you will fight. With a plethora of moves to choose from, several fighters to fight with, and many enemies to fight, Poly Fighter could be a game-changer when it is ready for launch. Keep an eye on this one. A demo is now available on Steam, and I strongly recommend it, as I had a good time with this one.

Reclaim! Azhe-giiwewining

I respect developers who take the craft of making a game and use it to tell of something poignant and important. Native American representation is essential to understanding American history and the First Peoples who live here. Reclaim! Azhe-giiwewining is a point-and-click adventure game that centers around the Ojibwe culture and has an interesting mechanic. What you take from nature, you must give back. Reclaim! Azhe-giiwewining is a game built by Native Americans and focuses on education for the player.

Reclaim! Azhe-giiwewining is a relaxing adventure game that challenges players to reclaim their identity, while also interacting with the natural world. I had a good time playing the demo as I learned about the Ojibwe culture and the land. I wish I had more time with my demo at the show. Reclaim! Azhe-giiwewining is out now on itch.io and Steam.

Cosminers

As of this writing, the Artemis II astronauts have just returned to Earth, and the people are dreaming of life on another world. The moon is a good start, but the team at Cosminers wants to go a step further. Dig, craft, and fight your way on another planet as an engineer determined to establish humanity's foothold on another planet. Cosminers is in early Alpha, but it is shaping up very well.

I dug through mines for ore. I crafted weapon turrets. I fought off aliens. It's an interesting combination of gameplay styles for this ambitious game, and while it was early in development, I can easily see the foundation being built for a strongly engaging game when it is ready. I had a good time playing Cosminers at the Polish game booth, and I encourage those who appreciate hybrid gameplay styles to put this one on your wishlist.

Spook-A-Boo

When there's something strange in the neighborhood, who are you going to call? Not the Ghostbusters. Not He-Man. You're going to call your fellow video gamers. Combining the ideas established in Ghostbusters with the multiplayer couch co-op game Overcooked, Spook-A-Boo puts players in a chaotic rush to grab ghosts and trap them, all set to a timer. It's chaotic, it's intense, it's a whole lot of fun.

My demo put me with several attendees and the developer, and we were having a great time. We trashed the place and scanned relentlessly for ghosts. Some were harmless, but some trapped us, including one that wrapped me up like a mummy in money! With different characters, ghosts, and even boss fights teased, there's bound to be a ghoulish good time with Spook-A-Boo.

Bylina

You don't always see a game based on Slavic folklore, save for one of the biggest games in the world with The Witcher series. Occasionally, you get interesting ideas based on Slavic peoples, like Yaga. Bylina is set to make its mark by putting players into the roles of a hero who must save not just the kingdom but their very soul itself. It's bloody and action-packed, with plenty of magic and monsters to fight. Bylina is shaping up to be a strong action RPG.

My time with Bylina wasn't without a few bugs, which I am sure they will iron out by its April 20th release date. However, Bylina impressed me with its gameplay, visuals, and art direction, especially fighting in a castle made of blood. With many monsters, weapons, and a deep story, Bylina left an impression on me that I haven't forgotten. I can't wait to see what more the game has in store for players when it arrives.

DREADMOOR

Fishing is greatly underrated in games. It's a cornerstone of video games, especially RPGs. DREADMOOR takes the idea of fighting and transforms it, literally. The fish are lovecratian monsters, with big eyes, big teeth, and a hideous appearance. The few inhabitants in this bayou are macabre and grotesque. With a small boat and a fishing line, now is the perfect time to cast off, put the line in, and fish.

DREADMOOR is strange, creepy, and engrossing. Once I got the hang of navigation and fishing, I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to find more monstrous fish. I wanted to upgrade my vessel. There was plenty of depth to the gameplay, too, from crushing fish into guts to making my own bait to catch bigger fish. DREADMOOR is still in active development, and it'll definitely be a go-to game for those who want to relax with a game of fishing, even if the world is nightmarish.

Order Automatica

Auto-battlers are somewhat of a niche genre, but Order Automatica is set to do something different. Featuring a pixelated presentation and a dark tale of the occult, Order Automatica takes great inspiration from the award-winning Balatro and puts it into a 3x3 tile grid. Battles are fought automatically, but it is still up to you to assemble and organize your forces.

From werewolves to wizards, Order Automatica is all about the preparation and letting the game take over. It's still a tough battle as the goal is to extinguish your opponents' candles before they extinguish yours. The pixelated presentation and music were solid, and the gameplay kept me wanting to come back. I had a good time playing Order Automatica, and it might be the next big auto-battler when it is ready for launch.

Valor Mortis

Challenging, difficult, and yet full of depth, Valor Mortis was easily one of the most crowded and popular demos played at PAX East 2026. The game is more than a first-person Dark Souls as it combines shooting and Bioshock-like superpowers to fight back against an enemy worse than Hell itself. From a fearsome and grotesque boss to various barbaric enemies, Valor Mortis is shaping up to be one of the strongest games coming out of the show.

While my time with Valor Mortis was short, I lit enemies on fire, clashed with them with my sword, and shot at them with a special revolver. There was blood and chaos, including a sniper trying to pin me down. This game is not easy and will undoubtedly test both your skill and patience. For those that dare, you won't have to wait for long as Valor Mortis launches Fall 2026.

PIGFACE

PIGFACE starts with you having a pretty bad day. You've been abducted, and when you come to, you discover that you've been implanted with a small explosive in your head. Additionally, the abductor keeps calling you Exit, as if that's your name. You are then tasked with going on various missions, taking down various enemies, lest your brain become a modern art painting.

PIGFACE is a fast-paced, ultra-violent horror shooter. While the demo only put me in 2 missions, the shooting was fast, intense, and brutal. The eerie atmosphere kept me guessing, and the acting was hardcore. I had a good time playing this game, and I left craving more. PIGFACE is currently in Early Access on Steam, with plenty of content having been added as of this writing.

Paranormal Activity: Threshold

The Paranormal Activity franchise has, if you can believe it, seven movies with an 8th on the way. There hasn't been much in terms of video games, but the team over at Darkstone Digital, the makers of The Mortuary Assistant, is hoping to change that. Using a special engine and an immersive style of storytelling, PAranoraml Activity: threshold made its debut at PAX East 2026.

The game was incredibly immersive, using puzzle-solving, demon-summoning, and old-fashioned investigative work to find out what happened, as well as the grisly secrets inside the Stewart residence. It definitely gave me a few jump scares, and I got stumped a few times with its puzzles. For those who are big fans of the franchise or appreciate immersive horror games, Paranormal Activity: Threshold is one you don't want to miss.

Gallipoli

Blackmill Games has been the leader in WWI first-person shooters for a while now, with their own "WWI" series. This started with Verdun and continued with Tannenberg and Isonzo. Now, the team is heading for the Ottoman Front at Gallipoli. This latest entry is the culmination of everything learned before, creating the best WWI experience yet. For seasoned players, Gallipoli features urban combat, rugged terrain, and dust.

While my time with Gallipoli featured bots, the game was incredible in its early state. The Battlefield-style gameplay featured plenty of opportunities and different classes, making the game perfect for a variety of players. Dust from artillery obscured my field of fire, and it felt great to be able to shoot the weapons. If players are tired of modern military gameplay, they should definitely check out Gallipoli when it launches in 2026.

Grim Trials

You have died, but it turns out, Death has many Reapers. Welcome to the Reaper Academy, where you'll go through trials and tribulations to become the best reaper, but also rediscover the life you had before your death. Grim Trails was another game tucked within the many booths at PAX East, but I'm glad I was able to find it and enjoy this promising action rogue-like.

Grim Trials features vibrant cartoon visuals and heavy metal, along with razor-sharp action and exciting upgrades. My demo was quick but very enjoyable. In such a crowded genre, you have to be able to stand out, and I feel that Grim Trials can stand out with its heavy metal aesthetic. Grim Trials is in active development, with a demo out now on Steam.

Disgaea: Mayhem

Disgaea has always been an extraordinarily fun and bombastic strategy RPG series that can give gamers hundreds of hours of gameplay, as well as a humorous story. Now, Disgaea is entering the action-focused musou genre with Disgaea: Mayem. This colorful and chaotic action game takes the vein of games like Dynasty Warriors and plunges it into the Disgaea universe.

Playing Disgaea: Mayhem was wonderful. Plenty of options for combat made playing Disgaea: Mayhem a lot of fun. Guns? I could use those. Swords? Yup, I could use those too. There are absurd enemies from scantily clad Catwoman to massive beasts. It's a cunundrum of fun to be had. For fans of the genre and the Disgaea series, Disgaea: Mayhem is looking to be a wonderful spinoff.

BRIGANDINE ABYSS

It's one thing to win a battle. It's another thing to win a war. Is it possible to conquer an entire empire? BRIGANDINE ABYSS challenges players with deep strategy, in a world of humans and monsters. This is a title with real weight behind it, as the talent behind the game's development includes those who worked on Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Bayonetta.

There is a lot happening in this hexagonal-based strategy game. While I ultimately lost the battle, I was intrigued by how many units were on the field, as well as the various attacks the units could do. The art style was also breathtaking as well. This feels like a triumphant strategy game for and by strategy fans. Players won't have to wait long as BRIGANDINE ABYSS is slated for launch in 2026.