AUS INDIE SHOWCASE

A hilarious mud-crab Dungeon Master, an anthropomorphic wombat, a lonely stray cat and an alien species leading a world invasion are just a selection of characters that visitors will be able to interact with at the PAX Aus 2023 Indie Showcase. 

Creativity is bursting out of the screens and across tables with four tabletop and six digital games selected as part of this year's Indie Showcase, all of which have been created by independent game developers from across Australia. 

The pinnacle of indie game development, the Indie Showcase area of PAX Aus is always one of the most popular areas with keen players eager to get their hands on the next big cult game. 

Without further ado and with all necessary drum rolling, here is our PAX Aus Indie Showcase class of 2023, proudly supported by GamesHub.com

About GamesHub.com

GamesHub.com is a video game news, reviews, and features site dedicated to creating approachable games coverage for everyone.

With a focus on recognising games as creative works first and foremost, and a commitment to comprehensive coverage of the Australian industry, GamesHub wants to expand how people think about and appreciate games from all over the world.

Most importantly, GamesHub aims to promote the talents of Australian writers, and foster new voices and perspectives.

GamesHub is a Metacritic and OpenCritic-certified publication. You can find GamesHub on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram.

Digital - Aus Indie Showcase

Copycat

Developed by: Spoonful of Wonder
Genre: Narrative-driven, Heartfelt, Adventure
Platform: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, Mac

Copycat is a narrative-driven indie game about rejection, belonging and the meaning of home. This game can be described as ‘Stray’ (BlueTwelve Studio, 2022) meets ‘Life Is Strange’ (Square Enix, 2015) in ‘The Stanley Parable’ (Galactic Cafe, 2013) universe. Copycat follows the story of a newly adopted shelter cat who becomes the victim of an elaborate plan when a jealous, stray copycat steals her place in the household.

Crash Course Builder

Developed by: Wombat Brawler
Genre: Arcade, Rhythm, Racer
Platform: PC via Steam, Switch, Xbox, Playstation, Mobile

Crash Course Builder is an intense, quick twitch, rhythm racer filled with screen rattling explosions and hilarious rag doll physics. Crash your kart through insane obstacle courses uploaded from around the globe or build your own to challenge your friends!

darkwebSTREAMER

Developed by: We Have Always Lived In The Forest
Genre: RPG, Simulation, Horror
Platform: PC

darkwebSTREAMER is a psychological horror RPG streaming simulation game. Play as an occult streamer on the dark web, exploring the internet for the weirdest and creepiest things you can find in order to bring them back to your stream and impress your audience enough to gain those sweet, sweet likes and subscribers.

Unfortunately for you, the supernatural is real -- the more you engage with the darkness of the web, the more it will engage with you. Survive your increasingly haunted apartment - as well as your deranged fans - on your mission to become the #1 ranked streamer... or die trying.

Hailed as one of their most anticipated indie games by outlets such as IGN, Kotaku and PCGamer, darkwebSTREAMER is completely procedurally generated, meaning every time you play you'll encounter a different world, different characters, different internet and a different story every time.

The Drifter    

Developed by: Powerhoof
Genre: Adventure
Platform: PC, Switch

A Pulp Adventure Thriller from the makers of Crawl - A drifter, murdered, finds himself alive again seconds before his death. Struggling to maintain his sanity, can he unravel the conspiracy surrounding his condition and those hunting him?

The Drifter is a fast-paced take on the point and click adventure. Optimised for gamepad with unique twin-stick controls.

The Dungeon Experience

Developed by: Bone Assembly
Genre: First Person Comedy Narrative
Platform: PC

Visit The Dungeon Experience! A thrilling world of high fantasy run by me, a level 1 mud-crab turned entrepreneur. Put your real world responsibilities on hold with a first-person guided adventure to achieve financial freedom and uncover the secrets of the mindhole.

Primordials Legends: Hollow Hero

Developed by: Toybox Games Studios
Genre: Action/Adventure
Platform: PC via Steam

Primordials Legends: Hollow Hero tells the tale of Brunt, an anthropomorphic combat wombat on her first adventure in the fantasy world, Eridal. Embark on this epic 3rd person action-filled adventure, uncover how this world came to be, and meet new legends that will help shape the future of Eridal!

Tabletop - Aus Indie Showcase

Alien Frenzy

Developed by: Comet Squid
Genre: Card Game, Sci-Fi
Platform: Tabletop

Alien Frenzy is a wildly chaotic and competitive card game that plunges players head first into an alien invasion. The game unfolds in two thrilling phases with gameplay designed for 2-4 players.

The game begins in the Preparation phase, before the Aliens have invaded. Here, players take turns playing and drawing cards to improve their hand and mess with opponents. However, the tension builds as players desperately try to avoid drawing a dreaded UFO card, as this triggers the invasion, and places that unlucky player at the forefront of the action.

During the Invasion phase, players take turns playing cards, and revealing Invasion cards. Here players come face to face with the Aliens and must fend off their attacks with Character cards. Once a player has no Character cards left, they are eliminated from the game. Who will be the last player standing amidst the frenzy of the Alien Invasion? Only the most strategic and resilient will emerge victorious.

Boba Master

Developed by: Quokka Games
Genre: Family, Party, Casual, Memory
Platform: Tabletop

Boba Master is a very engaging card game about making bubble tea. It’s full of action, easy to pick up and gets rowdy very quickly. Steal from your opponents, force them to make mistakes. Stir up the game by swapping hands or even swapping bubble teas. Be the first to complete your bubble teas and become the Boba Master!

Kingless: Festival of Explosions

Developed by: Two19
Genre: Take That, Party Game
Platform: Tabletop

Once a year, Surge RumbleBoom's Festival of Explosions draws the dwarves from the Hammer and Crown, trading indoor quarrels for festive fun. A wild extravaganza, the Festival of Explosions is the perfect cover for plotting in the shadows to win the crown, but even the best laid plans can falter amidst the merry chaos of feasting, fireworks, and games.

The Festival of Explosions marks the first expansion to Kingless. Allowing players to combine tried-and-true schemes with 52 new cards packed with fresh mechanics, characters, items, events, and something truly different to win the crown!

Saltfish & Almanacs

Developed by: Storybrewers Roleplaying
Genre: Indie RPG; Storytelling; Merchants; Slice-of-Life
Platform: Tabletop

Sell your wares on a seasonal journey full of wonder and self-discovery.

Saltfish & Almanacs is a storytelling RPG about a merchant company embarking on their yearly journey through new and familiar places. You and your fellow merchants travel your trade route, experiencing life on the road, before visiting bustling port towns and quaint inland villages.

As you buy and sell goods, you’ll craft your own story of discovery, love, passion, and what it means to be parted. How will your journey change you?

Aus Indie Showcase Winners Archive

So you wanna know more about the history of the Aus Indie Showcase, do ya? The Kings and Queens of PAX's past? Well look no further than the Indie Showcase winners archive. Learn more about every Indie Showcase winner dating back to our first show back in 2013! Let us take you on a journey...