Games Team Deku Played at PAX West 2023
Team Deku went to PAX West in Seattle last weekend, and we played demos of a number of upcoming games. Here's a handful that stood out as noteworthy to us.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Andrew: Front and center at Nintendo's massive Nintendo Live 2023, which was running (sprinting?) alongside this year's PAX West, was Super Mario Bros. Wonder. We spent an entire play session in psychedelic three-player co-op chaos, stomping around as Elephant Mario and drilling through obstacles as Drill Toadette. Absolutely bursting at the seams with creativity and character, this installment feels fresh and fun. Safe to say we're all looking forward to this releasing later this year.
Scott: Did this make me queasy? Yes. Was there so much happening that I died without realizing it for a few seconds? Repeatedly. Was it a fun experience that I expect will play well at nearly any player count? Definitely. I have no idea if this will rank amongst Mario's greatest, but it will certainly be amongst the most memorable.
Releases October 20, 2023. Wishlist on Deku Deals
Rift of the NecroDancer
Michael: As a huge fan of Crypt of the NecroDancer, I was skeptical of the early trailers for this Guitar Hero-esque spinoff. I love how much thinking you do in Crypt, compared to most other rhythm games that are 100% about execution, and superficially, Rift looks like that more traditional style. After 5 minutes hands-on though, I was completely sold (and then played for another 15). It's a perfect marriage of Crypt's thinking and Guitar Hero's execution. On top of that, the music is a blast to play to, and the yoga minigame is surprisingly solid.
Scott: Michael is extremely good at this. It is breathtaking to behold. Just, wow.
Release TBA. Wishlist on Deku Deals or Steam
Animal Well
Michael: An atmospheric, combat-free Metroidvania, full of puzzles, exploration, platforming, and secrets. That description alone made this an insta-wishlist for me, and it felt/looked/sounded great to actually play. The dark-yet-colorful screenshots don't do it justice.
Release TBA. Wishlist on Deku Deals or Steam
Cobalt Core
Scott: If you're as into roguelike deckbuilders as I am, you may think the genre is getting stale. While Cobalt Core will look familiar to Slayers of Spires or master Inscryptors, it features a few great & surprising twists. Piloting a ship creates a fascinating 1D battleground that allows for daring maneuvers and puzzle-ish dilemmas without drowning the player in complexity like many lesser deckbuilders.
The game is filled with smaller impressive touches as well. The art & writing oozes personality without overstaying its welcome. While many Slay-likes have players choosing from fixed archetypes, Cobalt Core asks players to mix & match critters and their unique cards. Very eager to see more of this.
Andrew: All I can say is, when my ship's main weapon was 'adjusted' in exchange for a small upgrade, and the Brace Yourself Games folks quickly replied "oh no... that's the worst possible outcome" – I was hooked.
Release TBA. Wishlist on Steam
30XX
Scott: I'll confess that I liked but didn't love 20XX. The core concept – a roguelike love letter to Mega Man – is a stellar elevator pitch but the art, level design, and pacing didn't work for me.
When talking to the team at PAX, it was clear they shared some of those concerns and aimed to address them in 30XX. The result is a bigger, more beautiful, and tighter experience that feels very special. The art is distinctive, the levels far more interesting, and the action frantic while still requiring care & forethought. It especially shined in co-op, giving each player unique abilities and rewarding teamwork.
Available now. See more on Deku Deals or Steam
Demonschool
Andrew: Ysbryd Games set up a fun little booth at PAX West complete with classroom-style chairs and desks to help set the scene. What's the scene? Oh, just things like punching demonic businessmen until they explode into clouds of red mist. And trying (unsuccessfully) to convince a teenager that his very obviously possessed father is... very obviously possessed. Fans of the genre will feel right at home in Necrosoft Games' upcoming school life tactics RPG Demonschool. Watch for it to release on all major platforms later this year.
Release TBA. Wishlist on Deku Deals or Steam
Arco
Scott: A charming and very controller-friendly strategy game. I really enjoyed how battles were free of hexes or squares, allowing for some unique maneuvers. Enemy intents are telegraphed before they act, but the freedom of movement made for very engaging conflicts. I need to spend more time with this one before I'm sold on the bits between battles, but I really enjoyed what I saw.
Releases 2024. Wishlist on Deku Deals or Steam
Mina the Hollower
Michael: A modern Soulslike with strong nods to 8-bit favorites of yesteryear. The combat required careful approach, but was never unfair. An array of interesting weapon choices allowed each of us to try out a different play style. Secrets around every corner kept me busy, even outside of combat. And beautiful pixel art and intricate world design were a feast for the eyes.
Andrew: I was told that everyone's favorite video game donkey Dunkey played through his demo time with ease. I'm more donkey than Dunkey in this case, failing to complete my demo play-through and struggling along the way, but I found Mina the Hollower charming nonetheless. Basically everything I've come to expect from a Yacht Club Games title: lots of attention to detail, just the right amount of challenge for those who enjoy it, and a down right adorable protagonist. Yeah, you read that right, I think Shovel Knight is as cute as Mina.
Release TBA. Wishlist on Deku Deals or Steam
GigaBash
Scott: The PowerStone 2 vibes are strong in this manic free-for-all monster fighting game. You can play as an angry sentient building, an option that would vastly improve most games. It gave me fun "Smash Bros" vibes without being one of the many straight-up clones of that series. If I had a 3-4 person crew that I regular gamed with in-person, this would be an instabuy. If you have a time machine and can help me send this to my college-aged self, please get in touch.
Available Now. See more on Deku Deals or Steam
Beastieball
Scott: I love sports games but I'm on the sidelines once they go deep into real-world strategies and twitch reflexes. So you can keep your FIFAs and Maddens of the world – give me the bright, whimsical, turn-based strategies of something like Beastieball.
I'm no journalist so I won't bother to fact-check this but it feels true – Wishes Unlimited has created the world's first volleyball-meets-Pokémon-meets-XCOM strategy game. If any two of those three catch your interest, this is worth keeping an eye on.
Release 2024. Wishlist on Steam
Thank Goodness You're Here!
Michael: This game is full of character: the hand-drawn art, the Yorkshire-accent dialogue, and the bizarre quests from the townsfolk you meet kept a smile on my face the entire time I was playing.
Releases 2024. Wishlist on Deku Deals or Steam