Hi there! My name is Dominick Ashtear, and your wonderful editor-in-chief has given me a platform to talk about our experience at PAX West 2026. Lucky you!
Conventions were always my favorite thing to cover as a journalist, so I’m genuinely grateful to have been invited to a show I’d never attended before. My experience with PAX was entirely with the Boston spinoff, so I jumped at the chance to check out the original.
What is PAX?
A little history. PAX (originally the Penny Arcade Expo) is a group of conventions covering video and tabletop games, as well as games that defy classification. It started as a huge LAN party in Seattle organized by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, the team behind the webcomic Penny Arcade, and grew into one of the premier gaming shows worldwide. It spread to Boston, Melbourne, San Antonio (defunct as of 2021), Philadelphia (as PAX Unplugged, focusing on tabletop games), and Houston (also Unplugged, starting in 2027).
PAX’s mission is bringing gamers together. Indeed, their slogan “Welcome Home” feels appropriate for anyone who walks through the doors of the convention center. There’s a massive show floor for videogames and vast spaces for tabletop games. You can find stages, shops, stands, booths, theaters, ARG kiosks, volunteers offering minigames, and more everywhere in the venue.
Games
What do you want to play? PAX is the best place to find new games or relive old favorites. Among many other games, I got to demo Persona 4 Revival and Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse at PAX West, two titles which I was already excited for. I also tried out Gobble and Ladder Lad, neither of which I’d ever heard of before but wound up having a blast with. Arthur and I were among the first people at the show to try Test Your Connection, a board game that rewards knowing your friends well. We jammed a bunch of arcade games in the free play area, failed spectacularly at speedrunning Sonic 2, and almost got to play some Magic: The Gathering. We also managed to get several rounds of Smash Bros. in.
Events
The events at this year’s PAX West, official and unofficial, were fantastic. Dozens of competitions, premieres, and activities were on offer. Rock Band and Jackbox had stages for performances and massive group games. We attended a panel where a bunch of new footage and mechanics were shown off for Final Fantasy VII Revelation. We also got invited to a photo op with the game’s director Naoki Hamaguchi and battle director Teruki Endo. We had a chance to chat with the moderator of the panel, Jess Capricorn. Every PAX also has live TTRPG shows with the events’ founders, tournaments, and ARGs, both officially held by the show and unofficially held by fans.
People
Sure, there are celebrities. Nerd icons like Matt Mercer and Ify Nwadiwe were present; various streamers and content creators plied their trade among the masses; and PAX’s founders, Mike and Jerry, continue to attend each show. But as cool as it can be to come across someone you’ve watched for thousands of hours on the other end of a screen, the real soul of the experience is the people you are enjoying the show with. Everyone is welcome, and it’s a celebration of our shared hobbies and interests. You’ll hang out with VTubers and cosplayers in person, not online. You’ll meet people you can’t wait to chat with on Discord. You will see the most beautiful human beings in the world dropping mac and cheese on their immaculate outfits. Maybe you’ll give directions to a lost nun, and maybe you’ll find that nun again in the PAX Together lounge, the center of diversity and inclusion at the show.
Giving
Finally, I want to talk about gamers and giving. The creators behind Penny Arcade established a charity called Child’s Play in 2003, dedicated to improving the lives of children staying in hospitals by providing games to brighten their stays. It proved beyond a doubt that gaming could be a force for good in this world, and PAX has been a home for Child’s Play and other causes for decades. Among the organizations at PAX West this year, I was introduced to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an order of nuns made up of queer and trans folks who raise money for AIDS and LGBTQ+ causes and organize events to support communities. The National Association of Voice Actors provides assistance and advocacy to professional VA’s and had a set-up in a central corridor. Gamers Outreach, an organization that produces and provides gaming equipment for hospitals, had their best year ever at this show, thanks in part to their limited edition Halo Infinite Pinny Arcade pins (the series of official Penny Arcade pins, yet another thing people love about these shows).
PAX West 2026 was an incredible experience. I got to spend four days in Seattle with your editor-in-chief and my best friend playing games, meeting people, and having amazing experiences. I can’t overstate the importance of events like these that bring communities together and reinforce how much better we are when we are not alone.
