Claire's Top 5 Games of PAX West 2022
Attending PAX West 2022 this year was such a delight! Luke and I had the opportunity to play so many different games, ranging from puzzle-solving platformers to shop-running sims to epic RPGs and everything in between. There were so many games that resonated with me and incorporated some of my favorite gameplay mechanics - and not to mention cats! It's hard to narrow down the most exciting and memorable experiences to a Top Five list, but there were some games that truly stood out above the rest. Here is a closer look at my five favorite gaming experiences from PAX, as well as a few honorable mentions.
5. Wavetale
Developed by Zoink Games and published by Thunderful Games. Wavetale is an action-adventure game with a striking traversal mechanic. Playing as the young protagonist Sigrid, you "surf" barefoot across the ocean that sprawls over the map. The traversal feels so engaging and gratifying. The fluidity and kineticism of the player's movement as Sigrid reminded me of swinging from building to building in Insomniac's Spiderman. Sigrid acquires the power to glide across water from a shadowy underwater figure who represents part of the mystery that unfolds throughout the game. The world and the characters are charming, and the music really immerses the player in the story. I can't wait to uncover more of the mystery at play in the story. Wavetale released on October 11, 2021 on Stadia, but for those of us waiting for the PC and console release, we don't have to wait much longer. Wavetale is slated to come to PC and consoles in 2022.
4. Planet of Lana
Also published by Thunderful games, Planet of Lana is developed by Wishfully and is coming to Xbox and PC in Spring 2023. It is a cinematic adventure game in the style of a 2D puzzle-solving platformer. The beautiful world and stunning yet sparse score are what really struck me about my time with this game. The hand-painted landscapes that you platform across as the young protagonist and her creature friend strike such a balance of peaceful yet eerie. In my short time playing this game's demo, I felt truly immersed in the world and the impetus behind the game - that something is off in this world, and that it is a world worth saving. I love a puzzle-solving game, and while the puzzles started off very simplistic, by the end of the demo they were challenging enough that I had to stop and think. This indicates that the puzzles in the final game will be approachable but not too easy to solve. I also appreciated hearing the protagonist's spoken communication with her creature companion, and seeing their interactions. It was just another aspect of the game that sucked me into the world. I am so excited to play the full version of this game when it releases next spring.
3. Terra Nil
Developed by Free Lives and published by Devolver Digital, Terra Nil was the first game I played at PAX. Exploring the show floor during the Media Hour on Friday was both exciting and a little overwhelming. I was making a mental list of which games I wanted to play as we got the lay of the land, but Terra Nil was the first game I saw that drew me in immediately. I sat down to play this ecosystem-based city builder-style game and I could not put it down. The game starts you off with a barren wasteland, a basic amount of currency, and a small inventory of structures you can build to restore the wasteland to a vibrant natural paradise. Your currency is tied to the amount of greenery you can restore, so strategic building-placement is essential. I was surprised by the depth of this game. Once the landscape is sufficiently restored, new gameplay elements are introduced. Described as a "reverse city-builder," Terra Nil is all about returning the land to nature and leaving no trace of human intervention, eventually leaving the restored environment to thrive on its own. I find this approach to the genre so refreshing, and I think it is a game everyone should experience.
2. Spirit of Midnight
Developed and published by Good Badger. Spirit of Midnight is an incredibly charming, 90s-inspired point and click-style adventure game. I was itching to play this game all weekend, but didn't get the chance until the last day of the show. It was so worth the wait. I sat down on a toadstool next to a mural of the game's art that was outlined by plushies of the feline protagonist, Midnight, and was instantly drawn into the world of Spirit of Midnight. Playing as a housecat who is granted the ability to leave the house after encountering a mysterious spirit, you explore the nocturnal world of zany talking animals, solve inventory-based puzzles, and uncover the supernatural mystery. The characters and the world ooze charm. Midnight's deadpan, 4th wall-breaking humor just hits, and his interactions with the other characters are playfully humorous in a way that was really striking. One of my favorite moments happened when I tried to interact with a firefly, and Midnight looked straight at the camera and said something to the effect of "these are neat, but probably not very useful in this demo." Another favorite moment had to do with the animal characters wearing clothes. I loved the self-awareness in the dialogue and Midnight's commentary on the world and characters around him. While Spirit of Midnight doesn't yet have an official release date (it is listed as "coming soon" on Steam), the representative running the demo booth said that it is planned to release sometime next year, and will be available on all consoles in addition to PC. Even without a release date, I am counting down the days until I can play the full game.
1. Mineko's Night Market
Developed by Meowza Games and published by Humble Games. There have been so many incredible games on this list, and so many more that didn't make it, that the fact that Mineko's Night Market stole the show for me is really a testament to how much I love this game. The world of Mineko's Night Market is pure delight. The characters are adorable, to say nothing of the cats. Described as "a game about crafting crafts, eating eats, and catting cats" (press kit fact sheet), Mineko's Night Market appeals to my gaming sensibilities as much as any game can, and then some. From the trailer and screenshots available on the game's website, it looks like the demo I played only scratched the surface of all the fun and wholesome experiences this game has to offer. Very self-aware of its audience, this game leans into its quirky-yet-cute sense of humor, expressed through the characters, the story, and the gameplay. This game is set on a struggling Japanese-inspired island in the shadow of Mount Fugu, and through the titular Night Market you help the community by growing the economy, drawing more people to the island, and learning more about the strange mystery of the island. I am very excited to explore the night market aspect of this game, as well as the special seasonal events throughout the game's year that were not part of the demo I played. I want to eat the eats! I did craft some crafts in the demo, with a unique crafting minigame and a stamina-based gathering mechanic that really drew me in. I also catted many cats. The cats are very cute. Need I say more? If you like games that involve building relationships with other characters, scavenging for resources, crafting, shop-running, puzzle-solving, story-based mysteries waiting to be solved, or cats, then this is the game for you. Mineko's Night Market is releasing in 2023 on Switch, PC, and Mac.
In addition to these show-stealing (and decidedly nature-centric) games, I also played many more games that didn't make the list. There are a few Honorable Mentions I want to include here, because they feel too special to leave out: It's A Wrap, March March, and Bare Butt Boxing.
It's A Wrap (developed by Chanko Studios and published by AMC Games) is a unique puzzle-solving platformer that Luke and I played together. I know Luke will be talking about this one more, so I'll just say that I found the puzzle-solving quite enjoyable and it was a really striking gameplay experience. March March (developed and published by Lepka Games) is a strategy-based roguelike where you command your army across a map that is full of combat areas and opportunities for strategic growth. I don't normally gravitate towards strategy games with turn-based combat, but this is a strong exception, and I can't wait to play March March when it comes out in March 2023. Lastly, Luke and I played multiplayer brawler Bare Butt Boxing (Tuatara Games) and were pleasantly surprised by how fun and engaging the gameplay loop was. The game physics feel unique and zany, and the objective of hitting other players through the rings rather than simply knocking them out of the arena, combined with the different metrics for earning points, made the gameplay loop feel interesting and fresh. You can check it out for yourself when it releases sometime in 2023.
There really were so many unique gaming experiences at PAX West 2022. I am eagerly anticipating the full releases of all of these games and many more. In the meantime, there are quite a few games we played at PAX that are out now! For more, check out our coverage of PAX West on the LukeWarmGames Podcast.
