PAX West 2025 kicked off with energy and anticipation as the gaming world descended on Seattle to catch an exclusive first glimpse of a dozen standout new titles. From indie surprises to high-profile demos, this year’s showcase offered something for every kind of gamer.
At the forefront, Hollow Knight: Silksong captivated players early with its long-awaited release date announcement: September 4, 2025. Fans of the beloved Metroidvania eagerly flocked to the Nintendo booth to explore Hornet’s fresh and vastly expanded world, complete with acrobatic combat and an enticing quest system.
Not far behind, Borderlands 4 unleashed its trademark anarchic action with a pulse-racing demo. Boasting a bold new alien landscape, chaotic looter-shooter gameplay, and Gearbox’s signature humor, the sequel offered a potent mix of nostalgia and brand-new chaos.
But PAX West wasn’t just about returning franchises. Digimon Story: Time Stranger sparked nostalgia and curiosity alike with its return to classic digital monster adventures—reinvigorating a beloved series eight years after its previous installment. Meanwhile, The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon—a JRPG favorite— finally crossed over from Japan to delight western audiences before its early 2026 release.
The spotlight on tactical brilliance didn’t stop there. At Square Enix’s panel, attendees learned that the revered Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles remake is set to debut on September 30, giving fans hope that this revitalized tactical RPG will hold faithful to its storied legacy.
PAX Rising’s indie selection also brought originality to the forefront. In the innovative Arcane Eats, players embark on a culinary-card game fusion—cooking whimsical meals for fantasy patrons like orcs and goblins in a charming nod to Iron Chef-style chaos. Offbeat yet imaginative, this title exemplified the kind of playful experimentation that shines at PAX.
From Bandai Namco’s lineup came equally compelling entries: Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree revealed a roguelite 2D isometric adventure rooted in forging alliances and fighting back mystical invaders, while Little Nightmares III plunged attendees into a haunting new realm of surreal terror with a co-op demo that lived up to the franchise’s eerie reputation. And for fans of classic platformers, PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re‑PAC offered a nostalgic yet polished take on the beloved arcade original—with revamped controls, fresh levels, and voice acting to boot.
Other notable highlights included dystopian mysteries and genre-bending adventures: God Save Birmingham, a zombie-infested title set during 14th-century England, dared players to survive an uncanny mashup of medieval and undead horror. Meanwhile, the Ys X: Proud Nordics spotlight offered a sweeping action-RPG journey bursting with narrative twists and intense combat, arriving early next year.
All told, PAX West 2025 served as a vibrant snapshot of the gaming landscape ahead. From celebrated sequels to bold indie experiments, this year’s lineup confirmed one thing clearly: the future of gaming will be both familiar and thrillingly unpredictable.
