Saturdays at PAX East are a whirlwind of energy, but they also hold the best surprises. One of the greatest highlights for me was discovering the highly anticipated REPLACED game quietly being demoed at the Atari booth.

I spoke with the staff about why the title was featured there; they confirmed that Atari’s recent acquisition of the original publisher, Thunderful, led to the game’s last-minute addition to the demo space. It was a lucky break for fans wanting a look at this stunning dystopian thriller.

REPLACED: A Cinematic Dystopian Masterpiece

Developed by Sad Cat Studios, REPLACED is a cinematic 2.5D action-platformer set in an alternate-history 1980s America. Following a nuclear catastrophe, the country has become a wasteland where human life is treated as a commodity.

The Story of R.E.A.C.H.

You play as R.E.A.C.H., an artificial intelligence unwillingly trapped in a human body. Navigating the walled-off Phoenix City, a sanctuary for the elite built on the exploitation of the poor, you must uncover the sinister secrets of the Phoenix Corporation while grappling with unfamiliar human emotions.

Key Gameplay Features

• Cinematic 2.5D Visuals: A “retro-futuristic” style blending hand-crafted pixel art with modern 3D depth and lighting.
• Free-Flow “Arkham-Style” Combat: Intentional melee strikes and parries combined with powerful ranged attacks.
• Fluid Movement: Platforming inspired by Prince of Persia and Inside, featuring realistic, hand-animated environmental interaction.
• World-Building: Explorable hub areas where you can interact with NPCs and uncover lore via a retro tablet device.

Hands-On Impressions: Playing through the demo was an absolute blast. Navigating R.E.A.C.H. through the desolate, violent cityscape involved scaling obstacles, dodging snipers, and weaving through robotic sentinels while battling waves of deviants. While the combat required a brief learning curve to truly master, I was quickly mesmerized by the fluid on-screen action once everything clicked.

The mechanical depth is centered around R.E.A.C.H.’s powerful firearm, which must be charged by successfully landing attacks, dodging, or parrying. Much like the Arkham series, perfectly timed parries trigger devastating counter-attacks, and once your weapon is fully charged, you can unleash precise long-distance shots or spectacular finishers.

Beyond the combat, the demo featured light puzzle mechanics that required careful navigation through crumbling buildings to avoid sentries that could end a run in an instant. I really appreciated the balance of the character’s power; while R.E.A.C.H. is formidable in his movements and strikes, he remains vulnerable to quick damage, heightening the tension as you attempt to escape the city.

For me, this was the standout video game experience of PAX East the art style, animations, and scenario simply hit all the right notes. After a few delays, REPLACED is finally set to launch on April 14, 2026 for PC via Steam, GoG and Epic Games Store, as well as Xbox Series X|S.

Poly Fighter: The Solo Roguelike Brawler

Another standout experience was Poly Fighter, a single-player roguelike fighting game from Montreal-based Heartloop Games. By stripping away the pressure of online ranked ladders, it offers a pure “solo arcade” experience centered on player agency.

League Progression and Combat

Step into the ring in an escalating league-based competition where every victory transforms your fighter.

• “Virtua Fighter” Meets Roguelike: Every win rewards you with a new move, allowing you to transition your style mid-run into a zoning tactician, a grappling powerhouse, or a rushdown menace.
• Endless Build Potential: Featuring over 40 unlockable characters, each with unique perks, there are thousands of synergies to discover.
• Solo-Centric Design: The game encourages finding “broken” combinations that wouldn’t be possible in balanced multiplayer.

Hands-On Impressions: After jumping into a few runs, I left feeling incredibly excited about the potential of this title. In true roguelike fashion, you select your fighter and a path, with each subsequent encounter offering rewards to bolster your current run. While most upgrades are temporary, the sense of progression is anchored by persistent unlocks—primarily in the form of new fighters added to your roster.

The variety in how you expand that roster keeps things interesting; some fighters are unlocked by defeating them in the ring, while others require you to meet specific gameplay milestones. Throughout each run, you’re constantly weighing the value of new perks, moves, and bonuses that fundamentally shift your strategy.

Visually and mechanically, the game hits a sweet spot. The combat feels very Street Fighter in its execution and weight, but it’s wrapped in the distinct visual flair of a modern-day Virtua Fighter. Poly Fighter was easily one of the standout experiences of my time at PAX East and has earned a high spot on my personal wishlist. While there is no firm release date just yet, there is an evolving demo available on Steam that I strongly encourage you to check out.