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

author image 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.

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

author image 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.

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

author image 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.

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

author image 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.

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

author image 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.

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

author image 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.

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

author image 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.

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Win PAX East 2026 Tickets!

author image by SmashPad Staff | Articles Events | 0 Comments | 27 Feb 2026

PAX East 2026 is right around the corner, and we’re working with our Penny Arcade friends to give away five (5) tickets to the show in Boston! Find out how!

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[TGS 2025] “Pragmata” Hands-On

author image by Danreb Victorio | PC PlayStation 5 Previews Tokyo Games Show Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 27 Sep 2025

During our recent visit to Capcom to try out their TGS 2025 lineup, they had yet another demo of Pragmata to play, and this build brought us closer to figuring out what this game might actually end up being.

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[TGS 2025] Monster Hunter Wilds’ upcoming FFXIV collab should be a treat to veteran Hunters

author image by Danreb Victorio | PC PlayStation 5 Previews Tokyo Games Show Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 24 Sep 2025

As overdone as they are today, Monster Hunter and Final Fantasy XIV Online is as ideal a match as you can have when it comes to video game crossovers. While Monster Hunter doesn’t have the buzzing world that Final Fantasy…

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[TGS 2025] “Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection” Hands-On

author image by Danreb Victorio | Events Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Previews Tokyo Games Show Xbox One Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 24 Sep 2025

While we can’t be at Tokyo Game Show this year, Capcom was nice enough to invite us to their U.S. office in the Bay Area to get our hands on a bunch of the games they’re featuring at the event….

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[TGS 2025] “Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection” Hands-On

author image by Danreb Victorio | Events Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 5 Previews Tokyo Games Show | 0 Comments | 24 Sep 2025

When we were invited to Capcom to check out their Tokyo Game Show 2025 lineup, we were able to be one of the first people to get our hands on a demo for Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, and…

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