10 Exciting Indies from PAX Aus 2026
We do love us a good indie or 10
Melbourne International Games Week has come and gone, and that means two things for me: PAX Aus and a whole bunch of indies to check out. Aside from the Australian indies in Rising, there was a New Zealand and Japanese Exchange showcase. So here I have compiled a list of indies that are on or are coming to the Nintendo Switch!
Cozy Game Restoration
If you enjoy meticulously restoring old items to their original state and video games, then you’ll probably enjoy Cozy Game Restoration. Buy pre-loved games, including stickers and things written on the cartridge from their previous lives, and transform them back to their original state before displaying the collection.
Releasing on Steam in November, Parasol Corp has plans to bring the game to Nintendo Switch 1&2 in the future.
Toya
Toya has players controlling a small cube in a minimalist puzzle adventure game. As a small cube, you need to collect additional cubes to unlock the switch that allows the cube to advance. These switches allow the map to grow larger and unlock another section of the puzzle with more areas to climb. Join up with an incomplete cube to grow in size and explore more of the area.
Coming soon to Nintendo Switch, with no release date announced yet.
AFK
An interesting concept where the player needs to move the level around a stationary character to complete it. This requires a different way of thinking to complete each of the puzzles that are presented to the player with a variety of tools at their disposal, including springs, conveyor belts, bubbles and even gravity!
Coming soon to Nintendo Switch with no release date announced yet.
Soup Weather
If you’re interested in Soup Weather, we already have a review available (by yours truly!). The premise is that after a family death, Bean, an unemployed young man, finds that the grief causes unresolved trauma to resurface and begins to struggle with his mental health.
Soup Weather is out now on Nintendo Switch.
Atlanta TD
A tower defence game with procedurally generated levels, Atlanta TD is a different take on the Gods of Olympus. Zeus has fallen, and Ares is marching his army towards Mount Olympus. He has created distortions in time to do so, and the remaining gods have decided to use that to their advantage, allowing them to place multiple of them in an area at once. Use this loophole to prevent the invasion.
Coming soon to Nintendo Switch, with no release date announced yet.
Bumper Bout
Are you ready for competitive pinball on Switch? Bumper Bout lets two players go head-to-head on wacky stages and with characters, plus a ridiculous power called Super Ball that can instantly turn the tide of battle. Aside from PVP, which includes online and local multiplayer, there is also a challenge mode where players can test their pinball skills.
Releasing on October 30 for Nintendo Switch.
Moonbrella
A platformer game where there is no jump button seems impossible, but Moonbrella does it with the help of its umbrella! Jab the tip of the umbrella into the terrain for a boost; use the hook to swing on items or pull yourself up a ledge or just open the umbrella and float down gently. There’re many ways to approach the obstacles in front of you, as well as optional upgrades allowing for more creative manoeuvres.
Coming soon to Nintendo Switch, with no release date announced yet.
Canvas City
An interesting cross between the Jet Set and XCOM series, Canvas City sees a group of skating artists, dancers and musicians take on the corporation that has essentially outlawed culture. Skate through the map and pull off sick tricks before claiming territory via tagging. Artists, Dancers and Musicians each have their own unique attributes; use these to dominate the battlefield, defeat your rivals and come out as the top skate crew!
Coming to Nintendo Switch with no release date announced yet.
Dungeon Baller
What if, instead of pinballing with a ball, it was an adventurer? And what if the dungeon was a pinball board? That’s the case in Dungeon Baller! Hit the adventurers around the boss and rack up big numbers to defeat them, but don’t worry if you fail; you can always hit up Grubfoot to win better items and try again.
Coming to Nintendo Switch with no release date announced yet.
Shape Sender Deluxe
In Shape Sender Deluxe, players need to help shapes get from entry point A to exit point B with a variety of tools with modifying effects. The player is introduced to Sendy, your brand new best friend, who will help you on your journey to solve all the puzzles that are given to you. Sendy will helpfully explain how the tools will work, but it’ll be up to you to find the ultimate solution.
Coming to Nintendo Switch, with no release date announced yet.
While Switch offerings are usually slim on the indies due to many reasons, that doesn’t make them any less varied! Each of these games is different in its own way and will add to the already robust lineup that Switch has. A few might even find their way onto Switch 2, but with only one confirmed at this stage, I won’t get anyone's hopes up. Any of these caught your eye? I reckon I’ll end up getting about half of them.
