Category: Previews

[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.

[GDC 2026] First Look: “My Arms Are Longer Now” is set to be the best kind of bother

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

Jackbox is getting into the publishing game with their first wacky project, My Arms Are Longer Now.

We took a look at the game at GDC.

[GDC 2026] Hands-On: Climb the Corporate Ladder in “Worming From Home” 

by Adriana Rodriguez | GDC PC Previews Steam | 0 Comments | 19 Mar 2026

Day of the Devs had a delightful surprise for us called Worming From Home. The first ever worm-life simulator about working from home as a worm.

[GDC 2026] Hands-On: Don’t sleep on “Bubsy 4D”

by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch 2 PlayStation 5 Previews Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 18 Mar 2026

Bubsy is a meme for all the wrong reasons. Nearly every game in the series is arguably terrible, and the self-deprecating jokes are often just as bad.

Well, Bubsy is back.

Again.

But all of a sudden it looks like he has the sauce. Out of the 30 game demos I played during GDC, Bubsy 4D is in my top three, and it’s not number three.

[GDC 2026] Hands-On: Smoke with “Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch” when it comes out on 4/20

by Danreb Victorio | GDC Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 5 Previews Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 18 Mar 2026

Yeah, I know. This stupid headline writes itself, and I’m going to keep it that way because I find it funny.

I wrapped up my Atari meetings at GDC with a 30-minute session with the latest Jay and Silent Bob game, and I left with roughly the same opinion I have about the movies.