Welcome to our next PAX Aus piece for 2026! We spoke to so many talented indie devs at the show that we’ve divided our indie piece into two: Australian and New Zealand devs. Check out the New Zealand devs we spoke to.
Did we miss you at PAX Aus 2026? Unfortunately, with only one reporter at the show, we couldn’t chat to everyone. If you were there (or even if you weren’t) and you’re an indie dev looking for coverage, let us know! We’d love to have a chat, and maybe even feature you on our site, on our podcast, or in our printed magazine.
In the meantime, check out the amazing titles below from across Australia. These are presented in the order we spoke to each dev team. Let us know which game you’re most excited about!
Schrodinger’s Cat Burglar (Qld)
Schrodinger’s Cat Burglar comes from Brisbane-based studio, Abandoned Sheep. We love the name, both of the game and the studio. We spoke to director Martin Binfield about this unique title.
In Schrodinger’s Cat Burglar, you play the role of Mittens the cat. Technically, you play the role of two versions of Mittens. You see, Schrodinger’s Cat Burglar is based on the concept of a cat being in two possible places at once as long as no one sees it. Remember the thought experiment of the cat in the box that’s both alive and dead? Yeah, physics is hard. But Mittens is cool.
The game isn’t a tech demo; it’s available right now. And it shows. This is one polished-looking title. You can play with one or two players. In one-player mode, you control both cats, one with each control stick. With two players, you each control a cat.
The cats move effortlessly through the environment, emulating the movement of real felines. I’m always impressed by developers mimicking animal movement; it’s not an easy thing to do. I’m reminded of titles like Little Kitty, Big City and Stray, both of which we reviewed and enjoyed. And yes, Martin does have a cat at home.
The story follows a cat on the prowl at 3am while the humans are asleep. There are plenty of puzzles to solve, with a neat mechanic allowing the two cats to merge and split in order to solve them. It’s played from a top-down perspective. Oh, and you can collect adorable hats along the way. Who doesn’t love putting hats on cats? It’s honestly the best.
Schrodinger’s Cat Burglar won an AGDA award earlier this year (congrats!). If you’re interested in playing, it’s currently available on Steam with a very positive review rating. For Nintendo fans like us, there’s even better news: the game will be coming to Switch in the future. While we don’t have a release window just yet, the team is working on it as we speak (type? read?). They’d also love to bring it to Switch 2 – if they can get their hands on a dev kit. Let’s hope Nintendo helps them out with that.
Yep, this game is already on a lot of people’s radars. It should also be on yours. And now that it is, we’ll be sure to keep you informed about the Switch release as it progresses.
On the Hearth (Qld)
On the Hearth comes from Earl Grimm Games, a Queensland-based team of four. We spoke to Crystal at PAX Aus 2026. Crystal is the team’s Technical and Environment Artist.
This narrative-driven mystery game sees you play as an apprentice during the height of the witch trials. The game involves decrypting magical research to uncover spells, and exploring the wilds for reagents to help bring these spells to life. Meanwhile, there’s an inquisition afoot, so you’ll need to help out your fellow villagers along the way.
The game has been in development for about a year. We look forward to seeing more of On the Hearth as development continues. It’s an interesting premise with a fun potion-making mechanic on show at PAX Aus. We had fun mixing things together to see what we could create.
On the Hearth is slated for a Steam release sometime in 2027. The team is also hoping for a Switch post in the future.
You can wishlist On the Hearth on Steam.
Terramystra (SA)
Terramystra is an upcoming game from StarSword Games, a relatively new indie studio from South Australia. The team of seven was formed in 2025 by Valeriia Holik, aiming to create whimsical, creative experiences. We spoke with artist Ruby about what makes Terramystra, their first title, so special.
The game is a 3D fantasy puzzle-platformer. You take on the role of an adorable rock golem named Pebble, who teams up with ancient rocks to solve puzzles, defeat bosses, and restore balance to the world.
We love the colorful art style and relaxing 3D platforming of the Terramystra demo. In the game, there are four rock types to collect, along with an enjoyable boss battle at the end.
The game is still in early development, though you can test the Terramystra demo on Itch.io. You can wishlist Terramystra on Steam. The team is also looking to get its hands on a Switch dev kit to bring the game to Nintendo’s portable console in the future.
Lorenz Fries (Tas)
Lorenz Fries comes from a pair of Tasmanian developers who call themselves Faycrest Studios. We spoke to editor and producer Joey about Lorenz Fries, which happens to be the studio’s first game.
Lorenz Fries has been in development for about three years. Described as an action-adventure horror title, it features a neat pixelated art style with top-down gameplay. The premise involves students disappearing at a private school. It’s up to you to solve the mystery while taking on creepy monsters and exploring the school. There’s also resource management and puzzle solving across the game’s seven chapters.
The art style and music are highlights, making this one jump out at us immediately. It reminds us of a top-down version of something like Resident Evil, with terrifying creatures and stealth-based combat. We can’t wait to see more as it develops further.
The team is hoping to bring Lorenz Fries to Nintendo and other consoles in the future. In the meantime, you can download the Lorenz Fries demo on Itch.io.
Nuko (Vic)
Nuko is a card game from Loaded Deck Games in Victoria. We spoke to developer Dave about his game, which is available on mobile devices now.
Nuko is based on the classic game of Cheat. The goal is to be the first to discard all your cards. Each turn involves dropping up to four cards from your hand. The tricky part is that you have to discard cards of a number one higher or lower than the previous person. So, if someone drops two 7s, you can drop 8s or 6s. That’s fine if you have those cards; what if you don’t? Well,, you lie of course. Drop a 10 or a queen instead; but can you convince the other players they’re actually 8s or 6s?
Players can call you out; if they’re right, you take all cards from the central discard pile. If they’re wrong, they take the cards. It’s super fun.
Nuko features cute animal characters to play against, making it even more appealing to kids. The game is aiming for a Steam release in mid-2027. While the current roadmap doesn’t include a Switch or other console release, we think this would perfectly on Nintendo’s handheld console. In the meantime, this reporter went back to the hotel after PAX with a pack of real-life Nuko cards and played with her kids for hours. We had an absolute blast. Thanks again, Dave!
Penguin Colony (Vic)
We walked past Penguin Colony several times before we could even get close enough to chat to the team from Origame Digital. This was a popular title at PAX Aus 2026. It features an antarctic landscape set in the late 1930s. The best part? You play the role of several penguins.
The game is described as a lovecraftian adaptation, and has been in development for about two years. The plot involves various groups of humans invading your colony to seek out an ancient being. It’s dubbed as historical fiction. You can play as one of seven different penguins, swapping between them at the tap of a button. Each with its own ability, allowing you to explore further depending on which penguin you’re controlling.
We spoke to Tali, director and creator of Penguin Colony at PAX Aus recently. He told us that the original idea behind Penguin Colony was sparked from watching the animated film Happy Feet. Seeing penguins sliding down a snowy mountain seemed like a fun game mechanic. And after testing it at PAX Aus, we can testify that it certainly is.
Penguin Colony was released on Steam just after the PAX Aus event. Congratulations to Tali and the team! It’s also heading to Switch, with development of the Switch port currently in development. The team has experience with Switch ports. Check out their previous title Umurangi Generation on the Switch eShop.
Bravecart (NSW)
Remember The Godfeather: A Mafia Pigeon Saga? We covered this game at PAX 2023 and prior to its Switch release in 2024. Well, developer Hojo Studio is back with its next quirky title, Brave Cart. And things are looking great.
Color us impressed with Rick and Yola from Hojo. This team of two works part-time on their games while juggling full-time jobs, yet has managed to create a brand-new entry that’s almost ready for release since we last spoke to them.
And Brave Cart isn’t a small game. It features 100 levels split across five chapters. The premise is particularly neat and noteworthy. You play the role of an abandoned shopping trolley (or cart depending on your region; here in Australia, they’re known as trolleys).
You team up with a receipt known as Scrappy, who helps you on your path to freedom. We loved the little details like the sound of the receipt being printed. Nice attention to detail!
The goal of each level is to escape without being caught by one of the corporate workers patrolling the area. Along the way are puzzles to solve, items to collect, and other abandoned trolleys to rescue. Completing each level in a certain number of moves and collecting the objects results in a star rating. Looks like there will be plenty of replayability with this one.
What’s more, the team at Hojo Studios is using this quirky concept of an abandoned trolley to make a difference. It’s not just a funny premise; 10% of sales will be donated to supporting sustainable treatment of corporate waste. Additionally – and this is super cool – the game features an in-built tool to report wayward trolleys in their neighborhood. We’re not certain if this feature will translate to the Switch or even to overseas markets, but it will certainly help keep Australia beautiful.
The full game will also feature a level editor. This fits perfectly with the one-screen approach to each level, allowing players to unlock their creativity and share levels with friends and the world. We can’t wait to get our hands on it.
Brave Cart is looking to release on Steam and mobile mid-2027 with a Switch release later in the year. Sign us up for day one, please!
In the meantime, check out Brave Cart details on Steam.
Multi-Merge Mayhem (NSW)
Multi-Merge Mayhem could very well be the next big thing in chaotic multiplayer gaming. It combines arena-based combat with minigames in an all-out brawl for up to eight players. Imagine Smash Bros. crossed with Wario Ware and you’ll have some idea of what to expect.
The game comes from Party Bomb Studio, a team of eight based in NSW. The simple premise involves selecting from a bunch of cute avatars before setting off to bash them silly. Each level is a standalone screen à la Smash Bros. While duking it out for supremacy, you also have to factor in various minigames. These could be anything from lasers chasing you across the screen, missiles chasing you, or math problems to be solved before a timer runs out. It’s pure chaos. And it’s glorious fun.
Multi-Merge Mayhem is aiming for a Steam and Switch release towards the end of 2027. We’re excited to see this one come to Nintendo’s hybrid console and can see ourselves enjoying a PN game night. We’ll keep you posted.
In the meantime, you can wishlist Multi-Merge Mayhem on Steam.
My Arms are Longer Now (Vic)
My Arms are Longer Now has to be one of the craziest, quirkiest, and downright funniest titles we’ve ever seen. We chatted with the team from Victoria’s Toot Games at PAX Aus last year. Things have come a long way since then.
We spoke to Millie and Matthew from Toot Games, who have been working on the game for about five years now. The team has now signed on with publisher Jackbox Games. Their presence at this year’s PAX was significantly bigger, too, with a large stand in the central indie area.
The game itself features a long, twisting arm that snakes its way through five levels to create as much mischief as possible. It’s all about causing chaos in the funniest way possible. Think of it as Mr. Tickle if he gave up tickling and decided to just nick things.
The game features no time limit, giving players the freedom to explore as much as they like. The titular arm can be fully customized, too, making it truly your own. There’s also something about a strange goblin man, but that’s a surprise we’ll have to wait for in the full game.
If this outrageous title sounds appealing to you, we have good news. My Arms are Longer Now is aiming for a release on Steam, Switch, and Switch 2 during the first quarter of 2027.
If you want to try it sooner, you can try the My Arms are Longer Now demo on Steam.
Tank Society (NSW)
Tank Society was one of the simplest yet most addictive titles we tried this year. It comes from indie dev Bradley Lin, an electrical engineer who graduated from UNSW and represented the university on their PAX Aus stand this year.
Bradley’s game is designed like an arcade classic. You control a tank in a top-down environment and eliminate all enemy tanks. You only get one life, so make it count. It’s insanely fun to fire on foes, using walls to ricochet your bullets into. The simple design belies the addictive gameplay, with a strong “just one more” feeling.
The PAX Aus demo had three levels, but Bradley is aiming to build 100 for the final game. That’s quite ambitious, but honestly, we can’t wait to try more. Bradley also had the coolest keepsake on the showroom floor. Once you tried the demo, a small printer spat out your times on a little sticker, which Bradley affixed to a credit-card-sized keepsake. There’s even room for other stickers if you run into Bradley and his game at other expos. Very neat.
Whether it comes to a Nintendo console remains to be seen. This reporter thinks it would fit the Switch’s portable nature perfectly. For now, Bradley is aiming for a demo to launch on Steam in 2027, with a full game possible by the end of the year. We’ll keep an eye on things in the meantime.
You can wishlist Tank Society on Steam.
Ranger (NSW)
Alongside Bradley was Guy, another student from UNSW. Guy’s title at PAX Aus 2026 was known as simply Ranger, a game that sees players navigate an isometric open world in search of treasure and enemies.
The standout feature of Ranger is its neat visual style. It’s inspired by the 1980 game, Rogue, and sports a colorful, pixelated world. The game started out under a different title. Originally known as Soulful, it didn’t fit with the feel of the game as development progressed.
Other features include permadeath, along with a lack of on-screen instructions. It’s all about exploring and surviving, and the longer you spend in the world, the better you understand it.
While no official release date is currently planned, you can wishlist Ranger on Steam.
Dungeons and Dining Tables (SA)
We saw Dungeons and Dining Tables at PAX Aus in 2024. While the clever team at Catalyst Games wasn’t present last year, they returned with a vengeance in 2026. And wow has this game come a long way since we last saw them.
We chatted with Aiden from Catalyst Games about the game. He’s the Creative Director and works on this game in his spare time. Talk about dedication! Aiden describes Dungeons and Dining Tables as a cross between Animal Crossing and Diablo. It’s a terrific mashup that allows players to battle their way through procedurally generated dungeons to earn crafting materials and other loot. Then it’s time to use these items to furnish and decorate your home.
We’re simply in love with the protagonist, a gender-neutral axolotl. You can customize this character to your heart’s content, making it your own. And it’s super adorable. The game’s original protagonist was a fox. They also went through other iterations, like a badger, raccoon, and even a rat, before settling on the cutest creature in the world. We asked if the original fox might turn up somewhere in the game, and it’s definitely possible. So keep an eye out!
One of the neatest things we learned about Dungeons and Dining Tables this year is that the music is glorious. When asked about this, it was revealed that there was some special help on hand from composer Nathan Cummins. Nathan handled the music production, orchestration, and typesetting for Hollow Knight: Silksong. To put it mildly, Silksong features one of the best gaming soundtracks out there.
Sadly, there’s no news on a Switch version of Dungeons and Dining Tables just yet, but we’ll keep bugging Aiden until it happens. The team is looking to bring the game to Steam in the next year or so. In the meantime, you can play the Dungeons and Dining Tables Steam demo.
That’s a wrap for this year. Were you at PAX Aus 2026? What were your highlights? Be sure to check out our thoughts on what Nintendo and SEGA were showcasing this year, as well as the New Zealand devs we spoke to.
