Room Escape Artist

Over Labor Day Weekend, I visited the Seattle Convention Center for the annual PAX West game convention. PAX is a fan-focused event that caters to all things gaming with an emphasis on console, PC, and tabletop games. It draws over 100,000 attendees and also has events in Boston, Philadelphia (PAX Unplugged), and Melbourne, Australia.

This year was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had at PAX West, thanks to the fact that the organizers had simplified how it was laid out. Previously, panels were scattered between three or four different hotels surrounding the Convention Center. This year, while the massive show floor of video games still took place in the main building (now called “The Arch”), all of the panels and other events were centralized at a beautiful, brand-new building called “The Summit,” just a few minutes walk away.

Finding pure puzzle-based video games at PAX is always a challenge, but with some diligent digging I found a handful that I felt would appeal to Room Escape Artist readers.

Wilmot Works It Out

Developer: Hollow Ponds & Richard Hogg
Publisher: Finji

I was pleasantly surprised to find a demo for Wilmot Works It Out, a follow-up to Wilmot’s Warehouse, which has been part of the rotation in my game library for quite some time. While Wilmot’s Warehouse was a heart-pounding juggling act of warehouse organization, Wilmot Works It Out was a low-stress take on jigsaw puzzles using the same delightful art style. The game will be released in October 2024.

Desktop Explorer

Developer & Publisher: Recurring Dream

In Desktop Explorer, I had inherited a PC from my uncle that was running a long-forgotten operating system. My task was to navigate the browser to unravel the mystery he left for me. Inspired by indie favorites such as Her Story, this PAX Rising selection was an intriguing take on the mystery/ adventure-game genre. The free demo is available now on Steam.

The Occultist

Developer: DALOAR
Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment

The Occultist was a first-person narrative horror game with escape room elements. As Alan Rebels, I found myself exploring the cursed island of Godstone, using my occult abilities and artifacts to investigate my father’s disappearance. The game is planned for release in 2025.

My Adventures at PAX

You can see my experience over on the Room Escape Artist Instagram!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Room Escape Arist 🔑 (@roomescapeartist)