PAX East 2026 Roundup & 9 More Games to Watch

Altered Alma

I knew Altered Alma was around the show, but I’ll be honest: I played it at PAX East 2025, and already knew it was a game that action RPG and metroidvania fans should have on their wishlists. Trying out demos in person or through Steam are so we can get a feel for a game and if it’s worth our time and money. Since I already decided that Altered Alma is worth both, I prioritized games I had yet to play, but I do encourage you to check it out!

Canvas City

I admit, Canvas City is one of the games on this list I most regret missing at PAX East. It has an attitude and visual flair seemingly inspired by the beloved Jet Grind Radio, but in a strategy RPG wrapper. Developers Disc 2 Games describe it as “a turn-based tactics RPG of rebellion on roller skates,” a tale of dancers, artists, musicians, and graffiti artists who form an underground league to fight the oppressive regime that now runs Canvas City. Take back the city through tactical battles, build up your crew, and expand your territory in a game just bursting with color and style. Canvas City doesn’t have a release date yet, but you can learn more on its Steam page.

Fishbowl

One look at the two-person-developed Fishbowl and I got To the Moon vibes, so it’s weird that my beloved 2011 game was also on the PAX East show floor due to recently landing on new platforms. I draw this comparison in the most positive of ways, as few games got as emotional a response from me as TtM. Exploring protagonist Alo’s life as she adapts to a new job in a big city while still coming to terms with the death of her beloved grandmother, I can’t imagine getting through this game without shedding a tear. The pixel art is warm and cozy, the characters have so much personality, and the self-care touches in the game are a brilliant addition, considering the overall narrative. Fishbowl is available now on Steam, and we’ll have a review in the very near future!

Galvatein: Adventurers’ Guild

This is an odd one. Galvetein: Adventurer’s Guild is coming to Steam by way of publisher Gravity and developer BLANBEE. Billed as a “classic fantasy guild reception simulation,” the game drops you in the role of a guild receptionist who reviews adventurers’ quests to ensure they were completed properly. Did they defeat the correct monsters, acquire the intended loot, and, perhaps the most business-like task of all, did they have the correct license to accept this work in the first place?

This is a role that could or should exist in any RPG, but it’s a side we never get to participate in. After all, who really determines if our heroes fulfilled a quest, and by what criteria? We can’t always just take them at their word. Beyond the reception work is running the Guild Tavern, in which you serve up monster cuisine. And like your “day job,” it’s important to use the right knowledge and, uh, parts, to make proper dishes for your patrons.

I love an unexpected perspective in a story, and this is a great twist to let us peek at the other side of familiar RPG questing, with some fun crafting components that can help you get to know the townsfolk.

Lunarium

There is something so atmospheric and calming about Lunarium. Every image of it transports me and makes me want to set foot in this world of subtle tones and elegance. The game places you in control of a knight named Ave and a Starfarer named Lune. The description of the game’s world on Steam is extremely flowery, detailing the game’s setting between the Sea of Chaos and Veil of Stars, and how while all bubbles rise from the Sea, they can never cross the Veil, and thus are in an endless cycle of rising, bursting, and rebirth.

The game takes place via an isometric perspective, with a focus on challenging fights; one look at the game’s trailer, and you’ll see plenty of bosses that require careful dodges and parries to defeat. Lunarium isn’t technically billed as a soulslike, instead just saying it is inspired by “classic games,” but there is certainly some Souls influences from the sounds of things. If you like a challenge and are digging the vibes of Lunarium as much as I am, it is one to keep an eye on!

Mina the Hollower

Much like Altered Alma above, I’ve played Mina the Hollower. Not at PAX East in prior years, but when they released the demo on Switch last year. I was sad that a game like this missed its original Halloween release, but the demo version suggests a game that will live up to Yacht Club Games’ strong reputation following the sublime retro-styled Shovel Knight. That said, I was still happy to see it at PAX East 2026, because the more eyes on this game, the better. But still, I want that new release date, folks!

Never’s End

I remember seeing Never’s End during a Day of the Devs presentation, and I wasn’t expecting to see it show up already at PAX East! On the surface, it seems like a strategy RPG you’d be familiar with, but developers Hypersect are doing some really interesting things within this space that should make it stand apart.

The game world is bleak, with humanity near extinction and only a single village still standing. While you will meet townspeople, your way of “recruiting” them is to possess them, turning them into living weapons. The interactive world sounds like a major component to master as well, as you’ll be able to modify the temperature, wind, water level, and density of the earth itself to gain the upper hand. On top of all this, the evil at the heart of this world, aptly named the Never, grows stronger over time. Spending more time can help you grow stronger, but at the expense of more lives, which lets the Never grow stronger. This mechanic makes it sounds like Never’s End is intended to be a multiple playthrough game, and you can try it out for yourself now with a demo on Steam.

Soulframe

Soulframe is an upcoming fantasy action RPG from Digital Extremes. They make a little something called Warframe; maybe you’ve heard of it? As you can instantly tell from screenshots and trailers, Soulframe takes a decidedly more fantasy approach than we’re used to seeing in Warframe, leaning more on RPG elements to bring its world to life. While the full game doesn’t have a release date yet, Digital Extremes does have a sign-up form on the game’s website and adds players weekly to Soulframe Preludes, which is their name for the current pre-alpha phase. They update their news section frequently with new features and updates, so the game is in very active development, and what’s on offer now seems pretty promising!

Tales of Tuscany

“What on earth is that?” was my first thought when passing by some people playing Tales of Tuscany at PAX East. To be clear, I was referring to the game and not the people! It’s easy to guess some of the game’s influences — if that isn’t the EarthBound dialogue font exactly, it’s pretty close! It’s considered a Choose Your Own Adventure kind of RPG, suggesting you can skip a ton of quests, just go fishing, and so on. Battles feature bullet hell-like sequences (hello, Undertale) in which you can fight, befriend, and have other interactions with your opponents. Tales of Tuscany is packed with characters and things to do, including finding rare, shiny versions of every character in the game.

Built-in Twitch support makes the game ideal streaming fodder, with its challenge modifiers, in-game avatars for chatters, interactive polls, and more. Finally, thanks to Untitled Goose Game, we always need to know when games have a dedicated “animal sound” button, and yes, Lambypoo can “Baaa” to… *checks notes* destroy buildings and explode enemies? That sounds normal!

Tales of Tuscany looks to be taking its wacky and humorous approach as far as it can, with a bold visual style and UI. I deeply respect that level of dedication from people in general, especially if the concept is as off-the-wall as this one. I hope it sticks the landing whenever the game releases! At the moment, it has a 2026 placeholder on Steam.