From roaming the halls as Johnny Silverhand to testing the most funded game in Kickstarter history, PAX East 2026 was a wild ride. We go hands-on with the record-breaking Cyberpunk TCG and the brutal medieval survival of God Save Birmingham to see if these high-stakes titles live up to the hype.
Friday at PAX East 2026 shifted the energy from "quiet discovery" to full-throttle excitement. Between roaming the halls in Cyberpunk 2077 cosplay and dodging bullets in a high-tech Time Crisis revival, the day was defined by immersive experiences. From the meticulously themed Red Bull Tabletop Tavern to the surprisingly fluid "snack 'n' slash" combat of Disgaea Mayhem, here are the standout moments from day two on the Expo floor.
From the melancholic, world-ending streets of '90s Tokyo in Rain98 to the post-nuclear, demon-infested waters of Dreadmoor, this year's PAX East delivered some truly haunting indie standouts. We dive deep into the immersive audio of a "psycho-romance" thriller and the survival mechanics of a sunken nautical apocalypse to see why these two titles were the talk of the show floor.
While the massive Nintendo booth drew the crowds with Pokémon Pokopia and Super Mario Wonder, the true magic of PAX East 2026 was found in the unexpected. From a cooperative Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles twist on the Magic: The Gathering formula to the tactical skating rebellion of Canvas City, this year proved that the best convention experiences often happen away from the main stage. Dive into our hands-on impressions of the titles that made Day 1 unforgettable.
Aether & Iron is a stylish, gravity-defying triumph that reimagines 1930s New York as a vertical metropolis fueled by mysterious tech. While the turn-based vehicle combat offers a steady challenge, the real star is the narrative—a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling, wisecracking protagonists, and high-stakes dice rolls that make every conversation feel like a gamble.
Fifteen years after the last chapter, Queen Avyanna returns to a kingdom in chaos. Developer Artefacts Studio brings a fresh look to the Disciples series, blending intense turn-based combat with a unique throne-room management sim. While the story presentation is a bit static, the tactical depth and faction-based upgrades make Disciples: Domination a compelling journey for strategy fans—even if the difficulty spikes occasionally bite.
Space-time FBI agents, a "Rick and Morty" style genius living as a jacket patch, and a cross-dimensional girlfriend named Juliet. Suda51 and Grasshopper Manufacture are back with Romeo is a Dead Man, a fast, frantic, and completely bonkers experience that might just be their best work yet. Despite some technical hiccups, this is an addictive, stylish trip you don't want to miss.
Discover if Myrkur Games’ Echoes of the End: Enhanced Edition fixes the original's flaws. Read our review of Ryn’s journey through Aema’s stunning landscapes.
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