The top games we experienced at PAX East 2025.

      PAX EAST made its return to Boston this year with almost three hundred exhibitors for a four-day celebration of video games and gamer culture. With over 100,000 visitors, the event was packed with games to experience, people to connect with, and impressive cosplays to admire. Digital Trends was present at this year’s event and tried out several upcoming games that should capture your attention. From an RPG focused on navigating the digital afterlife to a roguelite set on trains, here are the standout games we explored at PAX East 2025.

      Fresh Tracks

      Buffalo Buffalo

      Fresh Tracks, created by developer Buffalo Buffalo, is one game I found myself raving about. At first glance, it appears to be a rhythm-based skiing roguelite, but after observing for just a few minutes, it’s clear there’s much more to it. Set against stunning Nordic skies, with skis on your feet and a sword in hand, your mission is to confront Mar, the Queen of Terror. As you move, jump, lean, and slash to the rhythm of original tracks, it’s easy to get lost in its beauty, though the challenging gameplay kept me engaged. As a roguelite, it offers multiple runs, and mastering the patterns feels as rewarding as being an expert Guitar Hero player. The blend of a rich mythological narrative with beautifully integrated visuals and sound made me feel like it combines the best aspects of Hades and Sayonara Wild Hearts, solidifying its place on my Steam Wishlist. ~ Justin Koreis

      Battle Train

      Bandai Namco

      Battle Train is a turn-based deck-building roguelite from Nerd Ninjas and Terrible Posture Games, where players construct their ultimate train while competing on a game show to become the Supreme Conductor. In a conversation with Digital Trends, Jessica Woodard, producer at Terrible Posture Games, summed it up well: “Have you ever felt the intense and persistent urge to take a super-powered steam train, fill it with explosives, and speed it into something or someone?” That’s the essence of Battle Train. Throughout each run, players need to manage resources to play their cards, strategically lay tracks to destroy opponents, and save enough money for upgrades. Additionally, each map contains specific cards unique to that level, ensuring an element of surprise in every game. ~ Luis Gutierrez

      Tunnels

      Nomad Monkey

      I generally don't enjoy horror games, but I have my reasons: they terrify me. However, the concept of Tunnels—a deeply immersive VR experience set in claustrophobic caves haunted by monsters—was too compelling to ignore. The demonstration began with a descent into some caves, and I climbed down hand-over-hand with the Meta Quest 3. After a brief tutorial on running, crawling, and using my flashlight, I soon found myself navigating narrow pathways in darkness. When a bizarre snarling creature darted out of sight, it sent shivers down my spine. What followed was a tense game of cat and mouse as I tried to elude the creature. My flashlight was my only defense, and even now, recalling the echoes in the distance fills me with anxiety, wondering if it was right behind me. For those who can handle such experiences, Tunnels will feature a full single-player story mode alongside a free-to-play multiplayer option. If you're facing monsters in an abandoned mine, it's better to have friends by your side, right? Tunnels will launch exclusively for the Meta Quest 2 and 3 on May 15th. ~ Justin Koreis

      Let Them Trade

      ByteRockers’ Games

      You can't go wrong with a relaxing city builder, and Let Them Trade from Byterockers is brimming with charm. It resembles a cute and simplified Civilization, where you develop towns and industries for your kingdom. Everything is laid out on hexagonal tiles with an adorable woodcraft style, and zooming out to see it all unfold on a kitchen table adds a delightful touch. As you work for the king, each city you create develops its economy, which can either be left to run independently or finely managed if you prefer a detailed approach.

      My initial goal was to build a couple of basic townships—one centered around a potato farm and the other focused on lumber—while linking them for trade. I enjoyed watching the little units transport goods between towns, and upgrading tree resources to access new structures like sawmills opened up various strategies without overwhelming complexity seen in hardcore titles of the genre. Another scenario had me tasked with establishing a fishing village, only to be unexpectedly given an additional construction project for a mysterious tower, complete with a list of required materials but no clear instructions. This created a pleasant but manageable puzzle to solve for progress. Let Them Trade is charming, with a demo available now and a full release planned for later this year. ~ Justin Koreis

      VILE: Exhumed

      Final Girl Games

      I'm uncertain if a video game can authentically