PAX East 2025: Three Games to Add to Your Must Play List

It didn’t take long to discover three games to add to your must-play list at PAX East 2025

1. Desktop Survivors 98

Do you want to revisit the nostalgia of Windows 98 with a unique, fast-paced, and ever-changing roguelike? Look no further than Desktop Survivors 98!

In this game, your desktop becomes the battleground and your cursor your weapon. The apps and programs of Windows 98 are all of a sudden tactical tools for you to level up as you take on an increasing number of monsters.

As you progress, you will have the chance to unlock different weapons like the solitaire deck that fires a high-damaging projectile or the shotgun-like trash bin that fires off trashed documents.

The more weapons you get, the further you enhance your run against the swarm of monsters. The game officially comes out on May 20th, but you can already try out the demo at PAX and on Steam. Additionally, you can pick up an “oh so retro” PAX exclusive physical CD copy that comes with a digital Steam key and an old school CD of the game.

As if the game’s style wasn’t immersive enough, the entire booth at PAX feels like a blast from the past, with Windows-98 appropriate peripherals for their demo alongside 90s decor. Sitting down and playing there was such a unique experience and really made this game stand out as a must-visit demo this year at PAX East.

2. White Knuckle

Are you up for a unique parkour-horror game that’ll keep you on your toes? Make sure to check out White Knuckle over at the DreadXP booth.

In White Knuckle, you climb your way out of the mysterious, decaying depths of SUB-STRUCTURE 17 using nothing but your hands and the tools you find on your ascent. In this game, you’ll have to manage resources like pitons to aid in your climb, all while making sure your hands don’t run out of strength, leaving you to fall to your death.

This game is an experience in itself, immersing you into an old, forgotten environment as you climb layer after layer of uniquely designed chambers.

I strongly recommend you head over to DreadXP and experience this game for yourself and discover what just might be lurking in its depths.

3. CYBRLICH and the Death Cult of Labor

Part of PAX’s curated rising showcase, CYBRLICH is a doomlike 2.5D shooter with hand-drawn animations unlike any other.

In this game, you take on the Evil Cyberlich and his waves of demon and skeleton minions in this satirical take on corporate culture.

With its incredible animation and killer soundtrack, CYBRLICH really makes you feel like you can take on the forces of literal corpo-hell with nothing more than a sword, some burgers, and a little weed.

Turn this office into a living hell—as if it wasn’t one already—with blood, guts, and soda when you visit PAX Rising this year.