PAX East 2023 was an absolute whirlwind of awesome indie games and over the course of four jam-packed days, the the entire Duel Screens team played a whole mess of them. While it’s always difficult to single out our favorites – because we really can’t get enough of indie games and want to amplify each and every one of them, we narrowed down a list of twelve amazing titles that you need to wishlist right now.
WrestleQuest
OOOO YEAH!! WrestleQuest was one of the best games of PAX East 2022, and now a year later it’s better than we ever could have hoped for. WrestleQuest, for those who have been dozing off under the ring, is an RPG where professional wrestling and fantasy collide. Wrestling mechanics layered on top of Legend of Dragoon-style timing mechanics make for a ridiculously fun experience. There is even a Hype Meter that can turn the tide in the blink of an eye. Developer Mega Cat Studios brought an entire host of upgrades to its PAX East 2023 build including improvements to the UI and the overall presentation. While the audio design/mixing could use a bit more work (the soundtrack often overpowered the game’s incredible voice work), we could not be more hyped for WrestleQuest.
Wishlist WrestleQuest on Steam.
Extremely Powerful Capybaras
In the last 18 months or so, a metric ton of ‘enemy hell‘ survivor games have taken over the indie-sphere. Studio Bravada has taken on the daunting task of adding yet another entry into the crowded space…and the result is AWESOME! Enter Extremely Powerful Capybaras, a bullet-hell roguelike that is setting itself apart from the pack with the addition of frantic 4-player co-op action! The chaos gets dialed up all the way to 11…or…44 when four friends are blasting away an through hordes of brightly-colored baddies. Speaking of bright colors, the visuals are cute, adorably animated, and pop off the screen with the highest of quality. But for as incredible as it looks, the game’s real strength lies in its diverse powers and character classes. If the queue at PAX East was any indication (it was always PACKED), then Studio Bravada has something really special – and really addictive – on its hands. Expect to drop a ton of hours into and bond with your buddies when Extremely Powerful Capybaras arrives later this year.
Wishlist Extremely Powerful Capybaras on Steam.
Undisputed
Back in the early-to-mid 2000’s, Fight Night was the one boxing game to rule them all. It was able to appeal to boxing-beginners with its simple mechanics and also draw in the most hardcore boxing fans with its deeply satisfying gameplay. It’s been well over a decade since a new challenger entered the ring but that is all about to change with Undisputed. Inspired by iconic boxing sims like Fight Night and a necessity to squash beef among your friends by virtually beating the shit out of them, Undisputed looks to be the most authentic boxing game to date. Our very own Stephen and Matt took on the roles of Joe Frasier and Rocky Marciano respectively and slugged it out in 12 brutal rounds. The simulation aspects like a stamina, boxer fluidity and speed, even damage indicators for each individual body part, were on full display. While all these stats are important to keep track of, it never distracted from the overall fun. Punches have a genuine weight to them, and every aspect of this fighter felt natural and authentic. You can see for yourself as Undisputed is currently in Early Access.
Fun Fact: It should be known that Stephen won his agonizing 12-rounder with Matt in a split decision after he realized he can throw Power Punches sometime during Round 7. Also, suck it, Matt.
Get Undisputed now on Early Access.
Demonschool
If you are a fan of Shin Megami Tensei or Persona, you are going to love the butt off of Demonschool. This new-style tactics RPG is aiming to be the ‘most accessible’ entry in the genre by minimizing the amount of clicks and offering you the ability to rewind the action in case you mess up and need a fast do-over. Taking the role of Faye and her misfit companions, you must navigate the horrors of university life and demon battling on a mysterious island. During combat, you have eight moves to work with, during which you are encouraged to utilize every party member. Doing so will allow you to chain combos for maximum damage. And trust us, you’ll want to deal as much damage as possible as larger-than-life, otherworldly monstrosities can take our your entire party in an instant. Developer Necrosoft is offering a more streamlined tactics experience and the result spectacular. Keep close watch on this one when it launches later this year.
Wishlist Demonschool on Steam.
Pizza Possum
Described as an “adorable arcade-style hide-and-seek action game”, Pizza Possum puts you in control of a ravenous possum who eats junk food and garbage, and it may be one of the best games ever made. Equal parts Fat Princess and Metal Gear Solid, this chaotic roguelike has you sneaking around and devouring everything in sight all while evading detection from a puppy police squad. Eating a ton has its downsides though; if you consume too much at once, you bloat and become fat, making it harder to walk around and easier to catch by the canine cops. It’s hilarious, but it also leans an instant Game Over. Should the paw patrol catch you being a filthy dumpster diver, you can distract them by throwing bones, tossing smoke bombs, or even disguising yourself as one of them. When all else fails you can also hop into a big ol’ bush and hope it’s enough to keep them off your tail. It’s simple, ridiculous fun and it is most definitely worth your attention.
Wishlist Pizza Possum on Steam.
Toxic Crusaders
This has to be the most unexpected IP revival and we are 100% here for it. Toxic Crusaders is back in an all-new, side scrolling beat’em-up for one to four players, and it’s every bit as wacky as you would expect it to be. Players will be able to pick from a bunch of iconic franchise characters, including the mop-wielding, tutu-wearing Toxie, No-Zone, Junkyard, Major Disaster, and Headbange. You can also play as Toxie’s musically “gifted” girlfriend Yvonne and Mrs. Junko, Toxie’s mom. Like any retro beat-em-up, you move around while pummeling your opponents in the face. If you are too overwhelmed, you can make use of a Special Attack which comes at the cost of a sliver of health. Toxie, example, performs a devastating spinning kick which is excellent for crowd control. While the moment-to-moment gameplay wasn’t deep as TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, the action was fast-paced, fun, and full of laughs. Speaking of TMNT, we even spotted a giant discarded Technodrome eye in the background on the streets of Tromaville. The soundtrack is also as gnarly as the roster of playable characters. Need we say more?
Wishlist Toxic Crusaders on Steam.
Strayed Lights
If Sekiro and Ikaruga had a child, it would be Strayed Lights. You play a teeny tiny humanoid ember baby. After coming into contact with a reflective crystal wall, you spontaneously evolve and don a black armor. You reflection also grows in size and decides to attack you, so there’s that. Combat centers heavily around parrying enemy attacks – a la Sekiro ,and swapping between orange and blue color states and matching your color to your enemy’s color to make your parry even more effective – a la Ikaruga. The game’s lighting and design create a very detailed, yet featureless world that feels very surreal and dream-like. You won’t have wait long for this one as Strayed Lights drops on Steam and consoles on April 25th.
Wishlist Strayed Lights on Steam.
Fabledom
Fabledom is a robust city-builder with an emphasis on romance over rampage. After you pick a prince/princess and territory to call home, you then proceed to build your majestic kingdom. The hook here is that there are no nerve-wracking ‘dangers’ or instant ‘game over’ situations. You simply build while preparing for season changes and working towards expanding your kingdom. Instead of going to war to take over territories, there is a large focus on romancing other kingdoms to join forces. While you can also go to war – because who doesn’t love some good old fashioned bloodshed every now and then, that really isn’t what Fabledom is all about. It’s world has a wonderfully imaginative, fairytale-like charm to it that had us grinning throughout the entire demo. Where most games in the genre anchor the gameplay to domination, Fabledom crafts a cozy and overtly chill experiences as you watch your relationships with neighboring kingdoms blossom or whither. If that sounds like a good time – and it should – then this should be at the top of your Wishlist. Fabledom will enter Early Access on April 13th. Until then, feel free to enjoy the demo and take this city-builder for a spin.
Wishlist Fabledom on Steam. AND PLAY THE DEMO!
Nocturnal
Finally, a game that teaches you that it’s okay to play with fire. For those that are of a certain age, Nocturnal may conjure up fond memories of the original Prince of Persia. The latest title from indie developer Sunnyside Game is an ultra-slick, high-concept action platformer, and it instantly wowed us PAX East. The interaction between fire and shadow(what the game refers to as ‘Mist’) is what makes Nocturnal a must-play experience. As you dart around the game’s dimly lit world, you must constantly set your sword ablaze on ornamental sconces and other flame-bearing decorations. Doing so allows you to cut a narrow path through the mist to give yourself just enough wiggle room to not be entirely swallowed by it. From enemy encounters to environmental puzzles, every bit of Nocturnal utilizes this fire-based gameplay mechanic. While it has no firm release date, Nocturnal aims to light up our lives in Q2 2023.
The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story
So let’s get this out of the way right quick: we know absolutely nothing about League of Legends. Zero. Ziltch. Nada. But we do know Digital Sun, creators of indie darling Moonlighter and trust us when we say that the team’s next title The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story, has all the markings of the next big indie game sensation. In The Mageseeker you play as Sylas, a mage who’s just broken free from Magejail™(Patent Pending) on a quest to liberate your homeland Demacia from the Mageseekers’ tyranny. Using the chains that are tethered to your wrists, Sylas is able unleash brutal melee attacks and sling spell-stealing magic by copying enemy abilities. It makes for a feverish, frenetic gameplay loop that is as flashy as it is fun. Fortunately you won’t have too wait long as The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story is out on April 18th.
Wishlist The Mageseekers on Steam.
Born of Bread
Born of Bread is a game that demands your attention on name alone. But if you need more convincing, let us tell you what it’s all about. In this Paper Mario-style RPG, you play as a sentient flour golem named Loaf who has the most loveable face you have ever seen. As Loaf, you go around partnering up with a cast of fascinating characters and engage in quirky turn-based combat. In order to successfully strike an opponent, you must mash the required button prompt while also being mindful of your enemy’s weaknesses. On the defensive side of things, you can skip an enemy’s turn using proper timing. Expect plenty of bread-based puns as you become the hero that everyone kneads. Still not convinced? Well then move your buns and download the demo!
Wishlist Born of Bread on Steam. AND PLAY THE DEMO!
Trinity Fusion
Trinity Fusion is a slick action platformer with clear inspiration from Dead Cells , and we absolutely fell in with it at PAX East 2023. This STUNNING sci-fi action rogue-lite features three unique playable characters with very different playstyles, with our favorite being the mobile ranged attacker. The gameplay is fast-paced and the precision-based combat was very intuitive and satisfying. We had a blast sliding, dashing, and dodging enemy attacks while utilizing a badass arsenal of special weapons and abilities. With an upcoming release date of April 13th, rogue-lite fans won’t have to wait too long to play this high-intensity action game. But if you’re as impatient as we are, you can try out the demo right now!
Wishlist Trinity Fusion on Steam. AND PLAY THE DEMO!
And there you have it; twelve awesome games from PAX East 2023 that rocked our world. Please kindly do the thing and wishlist all of these beauties. You won’t regret it!
