Seattle’s PAX West 2022 is one of the biggest video game shows in North America, and this year it returned to form after the global lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While PAX West 2021 felt like a soft relaunch, the 2022 edition of PAX West brought convention closer to what it felt like in 2019, and featured several games to try out ahead of their releases over the coming months.
In fact there were this much games at PAX West 2022, we wanted to narrow down to the most notable titles on the show. The convention’s lineup featured games for later in 2022, early 2023, and beyond, including games like lies from P, Goat Simulator 3and Planet of Lana.
Here are our picks for the coolest games at PAX West 2022:
lies from P
Publication date: To be determined 2023
Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X
The following lies from P asks, ‘What happens when you move? Pinocchio in a nightmarish Victorian-era town inspired by FromSoftware’s Bloodborne?’ It’s a strange concept for sure, but actually playing the game proved to us that it’s more than just a standard idea – it turned out to be a very intriguing combination.
To play lies from P felt immensely familiar as someone who has spent countless hours with both Elden Ring and Bloodborne’s challenging and tactical gameplay. However, the twist here is that: lies from P leans heavily into the mythos of Pinocchio – albeit with a darker, Souls-esque twist. This reinterpretation requires many concessions with the childhood fable, but it’s hard to deny lies from P is already a pretty convincing take that has our attention.
umbilical cord
Publication date: To be determined 2023
Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
One of the strangest and most intriguing games of PAX West 2022 was the recently unveiled umbilical cord, a survival horror game that can be played in both single-player and co-op. The idea drives umbilical cord is the union between the character Alicia and her organic drone, and how they need each other to survive.
Managing your precious energy is the key to surviving a run in umbilical cord. Movement and attacking enemies will consume power, and going too deep into the world with little energy will lead to an untimely death. umbilical cordThe world is creepy and combines elements of Ridley Scott’s Prometheus and Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding – the latter is an important touchstone for the team. umbilical cord is still a way out, but there’s a lot to unpack here so far, and hopefully the developers will reveal more of the game soon.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox
Publication date: To be determined 2023
Platforms: Xbox, PC
Unveiled at Microsoft’s Xbox Showcase in June, The Last Case of Benedict Fox is a mesmerizing tribute to both the Metroidvania subgenre and HP Lovecraft’s alien fiction. The evocative and detailed art style resembles the work of filmmaker Henry Selick, the creator of the James and the Big Peach and Coraline movies. To play The Last Case of Benedict Fox was exciting, as exploring environments where Victorian-era mansions mixed with the coarse and organic textures of the underworld made for a bizarre yet curious world to explore. This is a Metroidvania style game to watch in the future.
Shovel Knight Dig
Publication date: September 23, 2022
Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
It has taken many years, but developer Yacht Club Games finally has a Kick Knight game centered around the titular hero’s greatest ability; to dig. What’s fun about it? Shovel Knight Dig is that it’s not just a tribute to the classic game Mr. Bore, but also a unique take on a dungeon crawler.
As you collect gems, defeat enemies, and improve your skills as you descend deep into the Earth, you’ll eventually expand your base of operations to make your journey to the planet less arduous. In my short time, I started to like the faster pace of this game, and it was so satisfying to tear through levels and reach new areas. The Kick Knight series has always been an enjoyable franchise, and Shovel Knight Dig will be a new knockout entry.
Goat Simulator 3
Publication date: Nov 17, 2022
Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
No, you didn’t miss anything Goat Simulator continuation. According to the developers, they originally wanted to name their sequel to the original Goat Simulator 4but their publisher pushed back, so they stuck with it Goat Simulator 3. Like the original, the sequel is a wild parody game that puts you in the role of a seemingly mean goat who can bend the world to his will.
Even in the short PAX demo, there was immense chaos and silly fun to get into, like getting the goat to spit fireballs at cars while they’re track grinding. The game is so bizarre that I couldn’t help but respect it because it was going so fast. I’m really looking forward to seeing more of the action when it releases in the coming months.
Friends vs Friends
Publication date: To be determined 2023
Platform: pc
The recently released neon white showed that fast-paced FPS gameplay and deck-building mechanics make for a smart mix. Another game that follows is Friends vs Friends, which brings that concept into the realm of an arena shooter. Focusing on 2v2 battles or 1v1 duels, Friends vs Friends is a wacky and surprisingly exciting shooter with a slick sense of style borrowed from the low-polygon look of PlayStation 1 and Sega Saturn games.
Armed with a deck of cards that grant weapons and power-ups, such as turning your character into a giant who can throw poison bombs or use bullet time, the battles that take place are surprisingly tense, but still retain a sense of excess. It’s a crazy take on an arena shooter that brings a lot of style, and I can’t wait to play more of it.
WrestleQuest
Publication date: early 2023
Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
WrestleQuest is a creative and satisfying blend of the mythology of pro wrestling with classic SNES role-playing games. Take game cues from Super Mario RPG and earthboundfollow the parallel stories of two emerging wrestlers fighting, wrestling and powerbombing their way through a fantasy world shaped by the legends of wrestling.
Not only is it a game that pays tribute to the fandom and thrill of professional wrestling and classic JRPGs, it’s also a clever adventure through a bizarre world where ‘kayfabe’ is everything.
Tails: The Backbone Preludes
Publication date: To be determined 2023
Platform: pc
2021’s spine was an engaging neo-noir detective game created in the form of classic titles from the LucasArts library. In a surprising move, developer EggNut already has a sequel back in the wings, a prequel that focuses on the early years of spine form. However, this isn’t just a standard prequel. Instead of, tails will focus more on the key choices that shape each of the four playable characters appearing in spine.
According to the developers tails is a shorter game than its predecessors, but still features more than double the amount of writing and storytelling. spine great power was storytelling, and tails‘ open-ended approach is already a nice upgrade from the original.
Planet of Lana
Publication date: Spring 2023
Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
The easiest way to describe: Planet of Lana is that it’s a much happier and more family-friendly version of PlayDead’s adventure game Inside – but that would be a disservice to Planet of Lana’s unique style and approach to 2D adventure gameplay. Planet of Lana is about the connection between a child lost in an alien world and a friendly creature that helps them find their way home. The bond between them is paramount Planet of Lana’s stories and gameplay, with the pair traveling through a beautifully detailed alien terrain with puzzles and dangers to overcome.
The extended demo I played made me feel so invested in watching the pair take their journey, and it made for some satisfying and calming moments that showcased the splendor of the game’s world.
The next PAX event, PAX Aus 2022, will take place in Melbourne, Victoria from October 7-9, 2022 as part of Melbourne International Games Week 2022. Stay tuned to GamesHub for upcoming coverage of the show.
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