12 Cool Indie Games Rising At PAX East

Embark on a medieval journey as Bogdan, a humble shepherd rising through the ranks of the Templar Order in this third-person action-adventure. The player will journey through stylized worlds, solve environmental puzzles, and confront moral dilemmas that determine Bogdan’s destiny.

Bytebond (DVD Unicorns)

This co-op puzzle game drops you and a buddy into the digital insides of a malfunctioning CPU, where you’ll repair split-screen puzzles to reboot a failed system. Bytebond includes local and online multiplayer support, blending Portal-style logic challenges with a zany, techno-fantasy aesthetic.

Cappy & Tappy: Temples of Peril (First Pancake Studios)

A side-scrolling platformer is navigated by one player as the other spills Tetris-style blocks to create secure routes, co-op imagination combines with trap-filled temples. Physics-based block puzzles and a lovely hand-drawn art style contribute to a new take on the platformer genre.

CYBRLICH and the Death Cult of Labor (Polyhedra Games)

Boomer-shooter salute with a humorous spin, CYBRLICH has you as a barbarian hacker smashing through corporate security grunts. Lo-fi sketch visuals and high-octane fighting capture the look of the classic DOOM but with modern roguelite gameplay!

Don’t Wake the Beast (Artificial Disasters)

This roguelite stealth game involves you looting more and more variable dungeons without waking a sleeping dragon. The more loot you loot, the more you’re putting it in danger, perfect for risk vs. reward enthusiasts on procedurally variable levels!

Electro Bop Boxing League (Developer Dob Games)

Giant robots clash in auto-battler rhythm-based matches. Customize your mech loadout, punch the beat with timed attacks, and climb ranks in this wacky sports sim-rhythm game mashup.

Nocturne (Pracy Studios)

A classic RPG in rhythm-combat style: time attacks and defensive moves to the beat as you journey through a world under attack by a wayward AI. Nocturne’s hybrid of turn-based strategy and music sets it apart.

ON ANY JOURNEY (FUNBREW Games)

Co-op play and guide Mateo and Kai through a hand-painted 2D world. Bullet-hell boss fights, platforming, and a poignant coming-of-age story of friendship make this game both challenging and adorable.

Oneway.exe (Disordered Media)

One-player horror game blending internet culture with psychological horror. As you wander through creepy websites and glitching UIs, every click may spawn new horrors; you’ve been warned.

Perfect Tides: Station to Station (Three Bees)

Sequel to the cult point-and-click cult favorite, Station to Station brings back the fans with Mara on a train-based quest. Old-school inventory puzzle-solving and an engaging story are the ticket in this underrated indie gem.

We Harvest Shadows (David Wehle)

From the creator of The First Tree comes a contemplative farming sim haunted by powers unseen. Plant seeds in the daylight and discover a quietly unsettling narrative by moonlight. We Harvest Shadows marries rural peacefulness with subtle horror.

Whirlight – No Time To Trip (imaginarylab)

Explore 100+ dreamlike locations in this point-and-click adventure. Break cryptic puzzles, collect absurd objects, and follow your curiosity in a world that will never add up.

Why You Should See The Showcase

• Experience Tomorrow’s Hits: Past PAX Rising winners such as Slay the Princess, Peglin, and Art of Rally are games that went on to become critical hits.
• Play Exclusive Demos: More than half the showcase games have live demos on Steam, but the expo floor is the only place to try them out before launch.
• Meet the Makers: Get to chat with devs, get swag, and learn about development pipelines and upcoming roadmap announcements, networking gold for up-and-coming creators.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re hunting for your next favorite indie or just love experiencing fresh ideas in game design, the PAX East Rising Showcase at PAX East 2025 is not to be missed. Even if you’re not looking for indie games (which, you got this far in the article, so that’d be a little odd) and you’re just a fan of PAX East, make sure to stay informed on what’s to come!

This is only a handful of many indie games in PAX East, so grab your badge, head to the Zenni booth in the Expo Hall, and be among the first to play these rising stars of indie games! Or just keep an eye out for your favorite gaming platform that’ll work too.