Farmbotic, a game that mixes the community building of Stardew Valley and the automation of factory games, I had to try this game out and see if it could truly scratch both itches.

Starting as a company focused on game mats, GameHead has expanded into board games, creating some of the most interesting concepts I’ve seen in a while. Their games are easy to learn, quick to set up, and fast to play, which I really appreciate. Lately, a lot of the games I’ve been playing seem to spend thirty minutes or more just explaining rules and getting everything ready. That’s not the case with GameHead games.

One of the most beautiful games I played at PAX East was Memoria Wake. It’s an isometric action game where you control a cat-like creature exploring a world that feels inspired by games like Tunic and more recent Zelda titles. While the art is stunning, the mechanics still felt a bit rough, leaving me with some apprehension.

Where this game truly shines and earned one of our Best of PAX 2026 awards was in the accessibility of the drawings.

when the fall Six One Indie showcase showed off this little isometric game called Moldwasher I knew I had to play this game, then I was lucky enough to be invited to Anshar Publishing’s booth at PAX to try it out.

One of my favorite things I got to do at PAX East was play Godzilla the Roleplaying Game from IDW Games. It’s rare that I get to be a player in TTRPGs, since I’m usually the one running the game, so this was a refreshing change of pace.

I love my Nitro Deck from CRKD for my Nintendo Switch. It’s saved me from plenty of hand cramps, and features like remappable buttons and turbo functionality make it feel great to use. So when CRKD announced the Nitro Deck 2 for the Switch 2, I was immediately interested. I had a chance to check it out PAX East 2026, and after getting some hands-on time with it, I’m already looking forward to the finished product.

I loved Virtua Fighter growing up. It was the first fighting game I played where the characters felt like they had truly distinct movesets, like Shun Di, the drunken kung fu master (yes, I watched Drunk Master a lot). I’m also a big fan of roguelikes, so when I heard about Poly Fighter, a new roguelike fighting game that takes inspiration from games like Virtua Fighter, I knew I had to check it out.

I’m fairly new to auto-battlers, and I wasn’t sure if the genre would really appeal to me. From what I’ve played, a lot of them tend to feel pretty similar. That’s where Order Automatica stands out. While it is an auto-battler, there’s a surprising amount of strategy during the prep phase before each battle begins. I got to go hands on with the game at PAX East.

In ShantyTown, I play as a surveyor sent to different areas to design homes and businesses. What starts as simply placing objects quickly turns into a fun, relaxing experience where my creativity can really run wild.