Well, this always seems to happen. You're finally getting your life back together after the last big gaming event; you feel like you can just sit down and play your old favourite games and not have anyone bother you for the rest of the year…
What? They what? Already?! But it's not even September yet… *sigh* another time, Baldurs Gate 3, maybe I'll get to play you again over Christmas or at the heat death of the universe. Alright, so the wonderfully efficient people at PAX have announced the winners for this year's Indie Showcase, which is perfect timing, couldn't be better.
Now, just like last year, PAX have picked six video games and six tabletop games in separate categories and just like last year, I'm going to cast my eye over the winners and pick a couple that I think I'll enjoy getting some hands on time with.
Do you enjoy Eastern mythology? How about cursed villages and dungeons? Maybe even some crime-solving? If that sounds up your alley, then you might be excited, like me, about The Rewinder 2 from Misty Mountain Studios. The founder of Misty Mountain Studios, Felix Wei, told PAX that, "Game development is a long and difficult journey, so being recognised in this capacity is a huge encouragement for our small team. Being part of the PAX Aus Indie Showcase also gives us a great opportunity to showcase our project to thousands and potentially millions of audiences. We are truly honoured and thrilled."
For me, I am a bit tired of the typical action adventure games set in Medieval Europe or other Western settings and I'm excited to see more Eastern settings and getting to learn more about the rich culture and lore that is commonly ignored by developers and studios.
A lot of things I enjoy watching on television I'm confident I wouldn't enjoy and/or survive. Exhibit A would be something, say, just off the top of my head, an American-occupied cyberpunk post-apocalyptic Australia full of biker gangs and corporate police… Say that's the exact setting for Queebly Studio's new game Anticitizen - Red; how neat is that!
The game combines bullet time, various movement mechanics, and improvised arsenals to outwit and outgun the enemy all around you. Players will also get a chance to meet a unique cast of Aussie battlers as they delve deep into the lore of the new American empire. It remains to be seen just how deep the lore or unique the characters are on the game's release, but I'm interested to find out more.
From biker gangs and cursed villages, we're settling into a more cosy, comfortable game with Toast Interactive's Max Mustard. The game follows your protagonist (name unknown) on a quest to rescue adorable mudpups (whatever those are?) from the clutches of the devious Stubbins (whoever the hell that is?).
One interesting mention that caught my eye looking at the announcement stated that the game combined first-person powerups with third-person platforming. This seems like a bit of a juggling too many balls scenario, and combining it with unexpected twists and moral dilemmas lends extra weight to that argument. Should be interesting to see if they can pull it off.
From video games, we're shifting back into the physical world with tabletop games. The first board game that caught my eye was Glade, a cozy tabletop game that gives players a little slice of heaven and tasks them with crafting a garden that outscores their opponents. Now, it doesn't describe what it means by outscoring, just that you can grow Bogwanders, Dazzlebushes, Brambledarts and Swaddlevines whatever the hell those are. I'm not a massive board game fan, so I don't know if a game like this already exists, but I'm keen to just roll up and stumble along, figuring out how to play the game with some mates.
In regards to other board games, here are a couple that look interesting as a rookie board gamer:
Have you looking forward to PAX Aus 2024? Are there any indie games you can't wait to try out at the convention? Let us know in the comments below.
