Games
On screen, on tables, wherever play is possible
Watching folks wander around in cosplay is a huge part of the joy of PAX Aus. I particularly love the meet ups between squads of folks all attending as the same characters and getting big group photos out on the lawn.
But there's general cosplay fun and then there's the serious stuff: the Cosplay Central Crown Championships. If you want to compete for trophies, flights and accommodation to the global finals in London, and more, you need to apply here by September 21.
Last year's Australian winner, Henchwench, went on to become the global champion! So this year she's on the judging panel along with Anaelic and Kayla Jean. If you just want to enjoy the show the competition is live on stage on Sunday, October 12.
Wavelength is a great formula for a party guessing game with minimal fuss
The concept gives maximum replayability and a lot of debates - and laughs
PAX has always led with videogames as a focus, but the tabletop zone has steadily grown to become the heart of the action for many fans. This year PAX Australia has announced it is expanding tabletop even further, with a Warhammer 'debut' along with all the usual space for board games, card games, and RPGs.
It feels weird to think of it as a debut? But to date a lot of the minatures fun at the show has been the painting areas, not in the zones of play. So it'll be interesting to roam the space anew with armies around the halls.
There are rumblings that this means the shopping areas in that same tabletop hall area will be smaller than past years, but hopefully we'll still find sexy dice and ways to buy the board games we've just fallen in love with through the PAX game library.
Flip7 review: fast flipping fun
Gorgeous card design and simple play are a great combination
Can Sunderfolk thread the needle to make RPG strategy fun for the whole family?
It's pretty, it's friendly, and you play it with your phone – but not 'on' your phone. Sunderfolk is shooting for an interesting Goldilocks zone for couch co-op we haven't really seen before.
Which Way Up is full of fresh gravity bending mayhem
Australia's own Turtle Flip has just released its Galaxy meets Party game and it's a real treat.
Byteside gift guide 2024: fun, weird, wonderful, nerdy gift ideas
Lets skip the obvious and explore some clever ideas, shall we?
11 great panels to hit at PAX Aus 2024
So many panels, so little time. Here's a few highlights to fit in your schedule at this year's PAX in Melbourne.
Druidic Dualities: Bringing the Cenarion family to Warcraft Rumble
The Warcraft Rumble team explains what goes into planning a whole new faction for the mobile strategy game.
Exploding Kittens makes offline games for terminally online families
Making games is hard, but the Exploding Kittens company is nailing simple rules with super fun concepts that give great reasons for spending time together around the table.
Catan Nationals are underway: There's events all around Australia this winter for hardcore Settlers of Catan players to prove their stuff. Winners will meet at the National Championships in Canberra later in the year to fight for a place at World Championships next year. All the details here.
Elder Scrolls Online is celebrating 10 years in 2024, and in May you can snag an absolutely stunning house for free as part of their daily login rewards. It'll take just three days of logins to get it and it includes everything you see in this picture and more – there's a whole underground cavern hidden away here too. Even if you don't play often, scoring Sword Swinger's Redoubt will make you feel like royalty whenever you visit again.
If you're unsure whether this footage from POOLS is relaxing or horrifying, join the club. Liminal spaces are a game genre now.
Last year Xbox had some fun with controller shaped BBQ Shapes largely for media promo purposes, but enough people wanted it that they're hitting stores. The word is they'll be appearing at Coles stores so check the savoury snacks aisle to get your hands on a pack. "From early May until sold out." Good luck.
Fly Arrakis Airways: There are a lot of games getting totally carried away with IP tie-ins. There's plenty I like, there's plenty more that are real head scratchers on why they exist. One of the best I've ever seen has to be this new update for Microsoft Flight Simulator, giving players the option to fly Royal Atreides Ornithopters across the surface of Arrakis. The precision engineering of Flight Simulator applied to a gorgeously rendered fictional world feels like a win for fans of both.
Geometry Survivor is out now: A "rogue-lite auto-shooter" that looks super fun. Seemingly a blend of the Xbox classic Geometry Wars and Vampire Survivors, take a look at the trailer and you'll know if it's for you or not. It's on Xbox, Playstation, Switch and Steam now.
The very particular purpose of a PlayStation Portal
At first glance I wasn't sure what problem a PlayStation Portal solves. But after a bit more thinking it's going to be exactly what a specific kind of household needs.
Immersive Gamebox review: a genuinely fun alternative to movies or arcades
The photos look weird, but they just don't do it justice. Immersive Gamebox is a nice new option for some interactive fun in the heart of Sydney.
Xbox adds vaporous new styles to its custom controller Design Lab
Electric, Fire, Cyber, Dream, Nocturnal, and Stormcloud. Can you guess which colour is which in the new Vapour style range on the Xbox Design Lab?
Destiny 2 is having some fun with a Mass Effect crossover event, letting players nab some armor sets inspired by some of our fave friends from the Normandy Crew. Titans can get a Commander Shepard style N7 set, for Hunters there's a Garrus style Vakarian set, and Warlocks can go a Liara style Shadow Broker look. They hit the Eververse store in-game on February 14, just in time to show your love to the crew member of your dreams.
