12 Cool Games We Saw At PAX East 2025

The Boston games convention didn’t have as many big names, but the indies were cooking

By Kenneth Shepard Published May 14, 2025 |

Image: Denkiworks / Polyhedra Games / Playdigious / Kotaku

Start Slideshow

This year’s PAX East felt small. There were a few big names on the show floor, like Bandai Namco which was there showing off Elden Ring: Nightreign and Larian Studios making its annual appearance with a Baldur’s Gate 3 booth, but many of the big industry movers and shakers who’ve appeared at the Boston games convention in years past were absent. Perhaps this was because many companies are gearing up for Summer Game Fest next month and this show got bitten in the ass by its move from March to May, or it’s just an extension of the tailspin the video game industry is dealing with right now. Whatever the reason, the result is the same: PAX East was a weird show for heavy hitters, but for those interested in seeing indie teams with small games and big ideas, being there felt like running around in a candy shop. Here are a handful of the coolest games we played and saw on the show floor.