Previews – Page 2

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “Fractured Blooms” is the perfect mix of cozy and creepy

by Myles Obenza | PAX East Previews | 0 Comments | 03 Apr 2026

I was able to get about half an hour with Fractured Blooms, and came away quite impressed. I’m not typically the biggest farming sim gamer, but I am SmashPad’s resident horror guy, and the spooky vibes here were immaculate. From what I’ve played, the farming sim mechanics are as crucial to the game’s overall loop as the esoteric, psychological horror themes, and the blend of genres works well in a way I wasn’t expecting.

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On + Interview: “Rain98” holds mysteries we can’t wait to solve

by Danreb Victorio | PAX East PC Previews | 0 Comments | 03 Apr 2026

While it was also available to play on the show floor, the only offsite demo appointment I had during PAX East this year was to play Rain98, and it was more than deserving of it. It was a good thing I had time to chat with the game’s director, because boy, did I have questions! Luckily, the director of C#4R4CT3R, the indie studio responsible for developing the game, was there on-hand to chat after I completed the demo.

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “Cat Secretary” Paws Its Way Into The Work Sim Genre

by Adriana Rodriguez | PAX East PC Previews Steam | 0 Comments | 03 Apr 2026

Good Story Guild returned to PAX East with a new demo for Cat Secretary, a game I’ve been highly anticipating since I first tried it last year. Cat Secretary is a cozy 3D job sim that has you working for a massive corporation, and it’s your duty to uncover the secrets work wouldn’t want the world to know while keeping everyone happy… but as a cat, of course.

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “Grave Seasons” has Cultivated a New and Fascinating Type of Farming Sim

by Michael Fertitta | PAX East PC PlayStation 5 Previews Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 02 Apr 2026

During PAX East, I was given the opportunity to sit down and play through a demo of Grave Seasons and talk with Emmett Nahil, the game’s Narrative Director. While the demo was a bit shorter than I would have liked, I absolutely came away with positive impressions of this title ahead of its August release. Grave Seasons takes the tried and true relationship building and farming elements of the genre and adds a new layer of narrative-driven complexity to keep players invested in the world around them.

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “High Times” brings the vibes one donut at a time

by Danreb Victorio | PAX East Previews | 0 Comments | 01 Apr 2026

At its core, High Times is a visual novel where all you really have to do is make donuts for your customers. It definitely has vibes similar to Coffee Talk, but the main difference is Coffee Talk is really all about you playing your role as a café barista while listening to everything your clientele has to tell you. In High Times, your customers expect you to make them feel better with the donuts you serve them.

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “GNAW” packs a prehistoric punch!

by Michael Fertitta | PAX East PC Previews | 0 Comments | 31 Mar 2026

PAX East never ceases to impress me with the sheer amount of indie titles on the show floor, and one of those that caught my attention was a dinosaur-themed Metroidvania called GNAW from Redstart Interactive. I was fortunate enough to play the demo for a half hour and talk with the developers about what compelled them to create this prehistoric adventure, and in the process, I was quickly taught how rusty I am with the genre.

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “Backyard Baseball” has the stuff for an epic comeback

by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch PAX East PC PlayStation 5 Previews Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 30 Mar 2026

Backyard Baseball was easily one of the standouts at the PAX East 2026 convention floor.

Hands-On: “Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream – Welcome Version”

by Kayla Merritt | Nintendo Switch Previews | 0 Comments | 25 Mar 2026

omodachi Life: Living the Dream Welcome Version is a demo of the upcoming Nintendo Switch life simulator that gives you a little sample of what the game is like. It’s about an hour long and starts you out with creating your Mii, getting your island set up, and starting relationships with other Miis on your island. It doesn’t get too in-depth into what makes this game special, but it gives audiences a little taste of what’s to come.

[GDC 2026] Hands-On: “Nomori” is what you get when you make Portal cozy

by Danreb Victorio | GDC PC Previews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 24 Mar 2026

One of my favorite media events during GDC is the Xbox Play Anywhere Showcase, formerly known as the ID@Xbox Showcase (but something makes me think they’ll go back to the old name next year, assuming they’re back). On top of the awesome games on the floor, normally with a developer or two alongside them, there’s a bunch of food, an open bar, and it presents an opportunity to network with other people in games media. It’s a reunion of sorts with unreleased games and great vibes, but once you get through all that, the real joy is uncovering a gem here and there. That’s what I think I might have done with Nomori.

[GDC 2026] Hands-On: “A Week in the Life of Asocial Giraffe” is the Perfect Game for Cozy Gaming

by Adriana Rodriguez | GDC PC Previews Steam | 0 Comments | 23 Mar 2026

SmashPad attended The MIX + Kinda Funny’s Spring Game Showcase during GDC. To be honest, while walking around the venue, I was very overwhelmed and didn’t know what to play and almost didn’t play anything. It was technically day two…

[GDC 2026] Hands-On: “Talaka” represents Brazilian folklore in both approachable and hardcore ways

by Danreb Victorio | GDC PC Previews | 0 Comments | 20 Mar 2026

Last week I set up an appointment with Brazil Games to see four fun-looking titles being made by Brazilian developers, and while they all had some neat aspects, Talaka stood out to me the most.

[GDC 2026] Hands-On: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City” really makes you a ninja turtle, dude!

by Danreb Victorio | GDC PC Previews VR | 0 Comments | 19 Mar 2026

I’m not the biggest VR guy. I think the last time I messed with anything in VR was when I first got my PlayStation VR. But to be fair, I enjoyed a lot of the games I got, especially Beat Saber, Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, and Batman Arkham VR. When I was asked if I wanted to take a GDC offsite appointment to play a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game, I was all the way down. Say less.

Category: Previews

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “Fractured Blooms” is the perfect mix of cozy and creepy

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On + Interview: “Rain98” holds mysteries we can’t wait to solve

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “Cat Secretary” Paws Its Way Into The Work Sim Genre

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “Grave Seasons” has Cultivated a New and Fascinating Type of Farming Sim

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “High Times” brings the vibes one donut at a time

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “GNAW” packs a prehistoric punch!

[PAX East 2026] Hands-On: “Backyard Baseball” has the stuff for an epic comeback

Hands-On: “Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream – Welcome Version”

[GDC 2026] Hands-On: “Nomori” is what you get when you make Portal cozy

[GDC 2026] Hands-On: “A Week in the Life of Asocial Giraffe” is the Perfect Game for Cozy Gaming

[GDC 2026] Hands-On: “Talaka” represents Brazilian folklore in both approachable and hardcore ways

[GDC 2026] Hands-On: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City” really makes you a ninja turtle, dude!

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