PAX East 2026
One of the titles showcased at PAX Rising Showcase is an arcade exclusive indie game Throwback! Jai-Alai Heroes. For those that do not know, Jai-Alai is a Basque sport where you play in a three-wall court, hurling and bouncing a rubber ball with your cesta—a curved wicker basket that you wear on your hand. It’s incredibly high-speed and considered one of the “fastest” sports in the world. This sport is growing in popularity, especially in the Florida scene, and Astro Crow wants to transplant that into an arcade experience.
I had the pleasure of speaking with the three-person dev team, who gave me the history behind Throwback! Jai-Alai Heroes. One of the most outstanding aspects of this title is the art style. It has a heavy 90s vibe with bright colors and wild geometric shapes plastered in the corners and loading screens. The art style bleeds into play style, which is fast paced, inspired by Sega Genesis titles with a splash of Sonic and Mario Kart. When it comes to audio design, the team wanted to create a lively, playful atmosphere, similarly to MBA Jam.
Astro Crow is planning to release their title exclusively on arcade machines. To date, they have ten machines spread across four states, and the game has been translated into seven languages. One day, they also hope to go international. They’ve even challenged themselves to leave PAX East withOUT their arcade cabinet.
So, I had to ask: why arcade only? Although I’m personally a fan arcades, I’ve been jaded with how gaming is perceived by the younger generations; however, the team informed me that arcades have been steadily growing in popularity since COVID. Arcades are becoming “third spaces”, a place that isn’t work or home, and yet a stable go-to for recreation and relaxation. It can be a form of low-stim entertainment (compared to these wild and fast slop titles the youth get hooked on easily), allowing screens to be associated less at home, if desired.
That’s where Throwback! Jai-Alai Heroes comes in; it’s a game that answers why play in person with others? It is also a labor of love. Throwback! Jai-Alai Heroes has been in development upwards to 15 years, started initially as a mobile game. As it’s evolved, the Astro Crow team has partnered with organizations like the World Jai-Alai League. People can gather and play the sport IRL or on this arcade cabinet.
Interested in learning more? Check out their website: Astro Crows. Maybe someday you’ll see this cabinet make an appearance at your local arcade!
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Featured Image Source: Astro Crow
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