Labor Day weekend in Seattle was unforgettable—my first-ever PAX West (and my first time in Washington state!), and I was struck by just how huge and full of energy the event was. From wandering the vendor booths to checking out demos, there was something exciting around every corner. One of the biggest surprises was the number of retro games on the vendor floor—NES, SNES, N64, Genesis carts and consoles filled three large booths. I even came across a few rarities I never expected to see at a show like this, making it feel like a collector’s dream. A short walk away, near the tabletop and retro console sections, the free-play arcade was buzzing with Japanese candy cabs, pinball, and classic machines that instantly brought the nostalgia flooding back.
The showroom floor itself was nonstop—rows of booths filled with indie experiments and AAA heavy-hitters side by side, including a forthcoming Masters of the Universe game I’m excited about. I picked up three titles from Limited Run Games (couldn’t resist!) and showed them off in my video recap, which you can watch HERE. Still, the highlight of the whole trip was Nintendo’s enormous setup. Their two massive booths showed off the brand-new Nintendo Switch 2, with playable demos of big titles like Kirby Air Riders, Pokémon Legends: Z-A – NS2 Edition, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Borderlands 4, and more. Kirby Air Riders was the real standout for me—it was the first time the game had been playable in the U.S., and it’s already shaping up to be something special ahead of its November release. Entry even required a “Warp Pipe Pass,” which added a fun, exclusive feel. Getting hands-on time with the Switch 2 and catching a glimpse of what’s coming next was easily the most memorable part of the weekend. Aside from seeing friends, of course.
