Players looking for something new had plenty to consider in the PAX Aus programme this year. Its range ran from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer to restoring old game cartridges and learning a card game set in the world of League of Legends.
Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event made room for video games and tabletop play. Publisher demos, independent projects and conversations with developers offered several different ways into the programme.
Major games through demos and dedicated showcases
SEGA’s four playable titles covered very different interests. Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 offered three scenarios commanding the Space Marines, while Alien: Isolation 2 catered to survival horror fans. Action game Stranger Than Heaven and Persona 4 Revival, a remake of the RPG Persona 4, completed the lineup.
Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 demo focused on multiplayer. It gave eligible attendees a chance to try a selection of that mode before release, going beyond a trailer presentation.
Square Enix took two different approaches to Final Fantasy. Final Fantasy XIV Online had playable Nintendo Switch 2 gameplay alongside bracelet making and a themed photo opportunity. Final Fantasy VII Revelation received a dedicated showcase exploring the conclusion of the remake project.
Indie games built around distinctive ideas
The Aus Indie Showcase selected 12 projects, split evenly between video games and tabletop titles. The video game selections ranged from restoring a cartridge collection to solving mysteries with a partner.
Parasol Corp’s Cozy Game Restoration centres on cleaning and restoring old game cartridges. Dusty, worn objects become things to care for and bring back into good condition. For anyone who has kept a cartridge collection, that is a particularly recognisable starting point for a relaxing game.
Finch & Archie pairs detective Jack Finch with his police dog Archie in a co-op mystery set during the Great Depression. Finding evidence and questioning suspects sit alongside using Archie’s sense of smell. Each role has a clear contribution to make to the investigation, giving the partnership a purpose within the game.
Polarity Games’ Mission Delta offers a more action-heavy alternative. Players fight up the floors of Delta Corp’s skyscraper, combining weapons and collecting upgrades in a co-op roguelike shooter. A Real Life Party takes another direction entirely, using photographs and live-action footage for an awkward housewarming party. Its protagonist waits for a friend while dealing with the household’s peculiar roommates.
Tabletop sessions for newcomers as well as competitors
PAX described the eBay Tabletop Hall as its largest tabletop area yet. Competitive events shared the programme with introductory sessions, giving newcomers somewhere to learn the rules and try a game.
Magic: The Gathering offered a learn-to-play area and activities around Reality Fracture. Riftbound brought League of Legends champions and regions to the card table with staff helping visitors learn. Bandai’s guided sessions covered One Piece Card Game, Dragon Ball Super Card Game Fusion World, Digimon Card Game and Gundam Card Game.
Among the independent tabletop selections, Aqueducks stood out with a Roman city inhabited by ducks. Players build their decks and develop a riverside settlement through economic, military or architectural choices. Its illustrated duck theme gives those city-building decisions a playful setting.
Developer conversations and activities away from a demo screen
The Final Fantasy XIV panel A Realm Reburned paired development stories with a hot sauce challenge. Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and Toshio “Foxclon” Murouchi were the announced participants, giving the session a more informal setup than a conventional feature presentation.
The programme also included Rainbow Six Siege competition, a Just Dance stage and handheld gaming spaces. Hardware visitors could explore PC and accessory stands or try PowerA’s Meridian Flight Controller. These provided alternatives between game demos and conversations at developer booths.
The AFK Room, supported by Beyond Blue and The Inclusion Project, was another useful provision. It offered a quiet place away from the expo floor, with sensory tools and support from allied health occupational therapists. A space to take a break matters at an event built around busy, noisy exhibition areas.
Sources: PAX Aus – Expo Hall, Aus Indie Showcase, eBay Tabletop Hall. Images: PAX Aus, Parasol Corp and Corkscrew Games.
