PAX Rising - The Indie Games of PAX AUS 2025

PAX Rising - The Indie Games of PAX AUS 2025

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Another PAX AUS, another chance to see what the Australian and New Zealand Indies have to offer. We at Hooked Gamers unleashed William and James into the sea of indies in the PAX Rising section at this year's PAX AUS to see what gems they could find. And they came back with some high praise. We're not sure how it is possible, but the quality of the Indie games at PAX AUS continues to grow. Although they weren't able to check out all the games in the PAX Rising section, William and James came back with some of their favourites (in no particular order).

If any of these games sound like they're for you, please Wishlist them on Steam. There is a Steam Sale going on now for all the games on show at PAX AUS, so please check it out and support the little guys.


Tingus Goose - Sweaty Chair



Based on the absurdist visual designs of artist Tingus, Tingus Goose tasks players with growing their surreal Goose so that it spawns babies for profit. Once babies are grown, they will fall to the ground. Each time a baby hits the goose on the way down, players will earn money that they can invest to water their baby-spawning goose, growing it and adding other absurd body parts to this animalistic beanstalk. The Rube Goldberg machine continues until you grow your goose tall enough that it can mate with another goose propagating down from the sky.

Sounds weird...and it is weird - in a fun way? Tingus Goose is a relaxing game with some strategy involved, with the purchase and placement of the growing parts. Already released as a mobile game, Tingus Goose is set to be released on Steam shortly.

Play the Demo or Wishlist Tingus Goose on Steam.


Teeto - Eat Pant Games



Inspired by the golden-age of 3D platformers from the N64/PS1 era including Banjo Kazooie, Spyro the Dragon and Kirby along with some A Hat in Time sprinkled in for good measure, Teeto has you running and jumping as the duo of Teeto and Nory. Change forms in solo or co-op to fight shadows and grapple to new heights as you explore and collect Baby Michaels, including Overstimulated Michael, First Day of School Michael and Cat Michael.

In development since the start of 2024, the team at Eat Pant Games wanted to make a game that they wanted to play, and with experience doing adjacent work in AR & VR, the Teeto team are developing this colourful and fun-loving platformer for release on PC and Switch

Download the Demo or Wishlist Teeto on Steam.


Killing Things With your Friends - Flightless



Killing Things With Your Friends is a hilarious puzzle action game that has you and your team awakening in a brutalist underground lab. Players in this online co-op game (two players works fine, but works best with three or four players) must work together as they walk around the levels and attempt to reach the exit. Puzzle elements require allies to work together to escape, whilst they are being attacked by a range of enemies such as zombies, squid monsters, crab like creatures and bees that fire lasers.

Although there were inspirations from games such as Portal, Killing With Your Friends differs in that players can rip limbs off themselves, friends or off fallen enemies to swing at enemies like a baseball bat. With the option of playing with either a controller or a keyboard and mouse (with each mouse button controlling each limb), the game has some dry humour, with puzzles often requiring players to pass limbs through grinders or sacrificing themselves to solve the room's puzzles.

Killing Things With Your Friends is hopefully looking at an Early Access release in 2026, but you can Wishlist on Steam now.


Pro Jank Footy - Powerbomb Games



Pro Jank Footy is an over-the-top AFL game that utilises the Mario Kart style rubber-banding philosophy. If players score a goal, their opponent gets to choose a power-up, essentially ensuring that games remain reasonably close for gamers of various skill. The team has honed down the button mapping and simplified the controls to make the Australian indigenous game more accessible to those not familiar with the local game.

Inspired by games such as Untitled Goose Game and NBA Jam, Pro Jank Footy embraces the Aussie culture surrounding the popular winter sport. The retro inspired visuals, the zany power-ups and the simple controls ensure that the game is fun to play with friends, but also has a single-player season mode.

Wishlist Pro Jank Footy on Steam.


Enfant - Zebrar Games

PAX Rising - The Indie Games of PAX AUS 2025

Set in a world with six diverse biomes and a connecting hub world, Enfant has players exploring a vibrant decaying environment through the lens of a 3D Metroidvania action-adventure, taking inspiration from classic platformers such as Jak & Daxter and Crash Bandicoot, players take on the role of a baby elephant looking for his herd whilst uncovering remnants of humanity in the post apocalyptic setting.

Already in development for around 18 months (with a hopeful 2027 release), the game features gorgeous settings and cute characters which will be sure to please most gamers. With a mixture of exploration and puzzles telling a story of how life could be after humans are gone. In our time with Enfant we enjoyed that the backpack on the elephant's back actually showed the items you are carrying as you explore in a diegetic way, whilst our elephant protagonist has several abilities that utilise the strength of the powerful animal.

Wishlist Enfant on Steam.