It’s a new year, which means a slew of upcoming events, and chief among them is PAX Aus, returning to Melbourne again this October. The biggest gaming event in the Southern Hemisphere will take place from October 10th to 12th at the Melbourne Convention Centre, and I’m already looking forward to it. And you know things are truly picking up when the PAX badges go on sale! Badges are currently available for purchase, but you’ll need to act quickly, as the three-day badge is already 70% sold out. To help you make the all-important decision on whether or not you should snap up your PAX Aus ticket, here are a few reasons why PAX Aus is well worth the money.
One of the biggest parts of PAX Aus is getting hands-on time with games before anyone else. You’ll be able to try the best upcoming games from major publishers to find your next obsession. An example from last year is when I played Sonic X Shadow Generations a whole month before release, which was a magical experience. Being able to whet my Sonic appetite before release primed me to hop right into the full game when it dropped a month later. It's not just games from big publishers; you’ll also be able to sample a wide variety of indie games developed in Australia. Fellow contributor Rohan did a deep dive into some of his favourites from last year, so if you want to see the types of games you can experience at PAX Aus, be sure to check that article out.
Before I started attending PAX Aus, I wasn't into tabletop games much. They didn’t grab my attention, and I never bothered with them. Even in the first few years that I attended PAX Aus, I didn’t interact with it much. More recently, I’ve dipped my toe into the realm of tabletop games and TCGs, and my eyes have been opened. The wide breadth of tabletop games available to play at PAX Aus is overwhelming in the best possible way. You’ll have no trouble finding one of these games to enjoy with your friends. Finding new games and playing them with friends until the event closes is one of my favourite things to do at PAX Aus.
If you need further convincing on why PAX Aus is worth it, let me tell you about the classic consoles and all the panels. Classic gaming is the section of PAX Aus you go to if you’re looking for your daily dose of nostalgia. This section is filled with consoles and accessories from every era of gaming, from pinball to the PS4; there’s something for everyone!
If you (somehow) need a break from reliving your childhood, you can check out one of the many panels on offer throughout the weekend. There’s the always-entertaining Penny Arcade Q&A, discussions about which Baldur's Gate 3 character is the best for romance, and even the occasional metal show (for those into that type of thing). There’s always something happening over the weekend with no limits on how crazy shit can get (there was a wedding last year).
By this point, you must also be hyped for PAX Aus and rushing to get your tickets now. Three-day Badges are selling out quickly, but there are also single-day badges available. You'll have to be quick, or you might miss out. So get those badges, and we’ll see you at PAX Aus 2025.
