Saturdays are the busiest day for cons, but it comes with delightful cosplays and unforgettable memories. This was no exception for day two at PAX West with the Boss Rush Network crew. From mind-blowing demos and interviews to insightful panels, see what we’ve been up to today in Seattle!

The Boss Rush Network team attendance at PAX West 2026: Corey (Founder and President), Ed (Vice President), David (Editor In Chief), Sofi (Associate Writer) and Andre (AV assistant). Each day, we’ll share our highlights from all the action at PAX West.

Corey

Day two of PAX West was packed with familiar faces and new connections. We interviewed a great mix of developers, publishers, and creators for our Boss Rush at PAX series, giving them a platform to share the passion they pour into their work.

Our morning began with several panels of creators alongside Andre, Sofi, me, and other members of the Boss Rush team. I always enjoy learning what drives creators, brainstorming new ideas, and connecting over a shared love for video games.

Later, Andre and I explored the Indie Incubator area, where we interviewed Nabil Oueida, co-creator of The Box is Alive. The game offers a unique take on physics-based platformers, with clear inspiration from titles like I Am Bread, Baby Steps, and Octodad. Watching Andre attempt these tense, high-stakes jumps across pits, broken planks, and water was equal parts anxiety inducing and satisfying.

The highlight of the day was my interview with Joe Telesk, the Executive Director of Guardians Mental Health. We discussed their new set of tools and support systems, including their new Neurodivergent package and Co-Lab initiative. Their dedication proves once again why they are leaders in supporting people seeking help with mental health.

I am extremely proud of everything our team accomplished today, from covering panels and interviews to playing games and excellent cosplay. We are carrying this momentum into day three, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Stephanie

Today’s theme for me was balance. In the morning, I spent some time behind closed doors, checking out a game preview that I will cover in an article in the future. After some engaging discussion with the devs, I made my way back to the Media room and changed into my Tifa Lockhart cosplay. Generally, I don’t dress up during my time covering conventions, but today’s occasion called for it—the From Reunion to Resolve: Designing the FFVII Remake Trilogy panel was today! I sat in with Sofi, listening to both Naoki Hamaguchi (Game Director) and Teruki Endo (Battle Director) talk about their journey in the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy project. Stay tuned for full coverage on that.

Outside that, I spent much of my time exploring the Expo Hall. I met some incredible artists such as Andrea Brogunier, who creates both original and Legend of Zelda fan art. I also spoke with Xanthe Bouma, an illustrator for the D&D Dungeon Club comic series. I also caught up with Mackenzie and also played the demo for Super Cucumber. It was a delightful 2-D action platformer. Tomorrow, I hope to retrace my steps and play more demos that were preoccupied today!

Lastly, the Boss Rush Network team gathered for a team dinner. We shared lots of laughs as we sat in ambient lighting. It painted the scene of a group of amazing friends from around the country and Canada, united by our love for video games. Boss Rush Network is my family.

Ed

Day 2 of PAX West may have been the highlight for me at the expo. Not only did I get to interview some amazing developers, but I got to have an astounding discussion with the developers at NIS America. Truly, it feels like one of the best interviews I’ve ever had.

Before I get into that, I got to visit Melon Sandbox and play its mixture of gameplay ideas that truly work. With five million concurrent players every day, this physics-based game not only teaches kids how to make levels and see how science works with its cause-and-effect design, but many players can learn coding within this free-to-play game that’s available on mobile. Melon Sandbox isn’t violent; it’s sweet, funny, and educational for all players.

After a great and hilarious lunch with my friend, I went to see Mad Mushroom with Sofi and play Mouseward (there is a demo in Steam). An action-adventure 3-D souls-like with mice coming alive by the fallen stars in the sky. As bonkers as it sounds, the tight gameplay and light challenge had me thinking if this is an easier souls game that players can play, learn, and time their attacks without worry of harsh punishments.

After that demo, I went to NIS America to interview Brigandine Abyss Producer Masura Saito about the release of the game, how Japanese and American players view the game, and why the feedback is important to the developers. I couldn’t stop laughing at times, and I felt educated and reassured as to why the work these devs create means so much.

That’s not all, because when I got to talk to Village in The Shade devs, we spent a full hour just learning about each other’s cultures, how we approach games, and the genres we help become popular. We even talked about art, Studio Ghibli, and why Village in The Shade will become a hit with players around the world. 

I got to check out Piroker, and its twist on poker. The great thing about this interview was that we connected on so much in gaming culture and how StarCraft still resonates with players and communities to this day.

Last but not least, Game Over Productions were displaying their latest build of Lucha Loka, a four-player beat ’em up. It’s still in its early stages, but people were loving their time with it. I got to catch up and learn about the progress in the development of the game and some huge changes that is happening soon.

With a meaningful and fun dinner, with Corey showing his love and appreciation for the team, today was a day to take things in and made me happy to be around incredible people that I call best friends. What will Day three bring? We will see.

David

The second day of PAX West was full of surprises. I started the morning by walking the convention floor, killing time before an appointment when suddenly the greatest monster in film history, the Xenomorph, appeared on the main stage video screen: Daybreak Games was holding a gameplay showcase for Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2. If you follow me or my gaming coverage, you likely know that AFE is one of my all-time-favorite gaming video game franchises, and with the second game out for less than two weeks, I was floored to stumble on this show. I grabbed a seat and soon found myself with a set of limited edition AFE2 pins and trading cards.

Another highlight of day two was getting to meet with the developer of T.W.I.R.L., an indie-horror game that’s part walking-sim and full parts cinematic experience. I’ll be doing a full writeup of my experience with the game, so I’ll just say that this game hit me on a profound level and left me feeling emotional for some time after playing. The developer Ben Escobar started his career as a film producer and writer in Hollywood; he has definitely brought his craft to the medium of video games in a unique way.

Finally, we finished the day with a team dinner at Purple Bar and Grill. Getting to laugh together around good food and drinks was a special experience and left me feeling more connected to my colleagues and friends. What a fantastic day.

Sofi

I wanted to make a goal to play as many indie games as possible today to compensate for yesterday. I hit up the Mad Mushroom booth and felt the time fly by. Mouseward and Ignition were the spotlight indie titles of my day, both from Mad Mushroom. After the session I happily attended the Final Fantasy VII panel where we learned a lot more about the development process of the upcoming Final Fantasy VII: Revelation. I then wrapped up my day with the demo of Persona 4, and I honestly couldn’t feel more accomplished. This event wouldn’t be the same without the lovely team here at Boss Rush Network, and I’m more than grateful that it’s now such a big part of my life.

Andre

 Day two was an absolute blast—from meeting content creators whom I follow to getting out of my shell and interviewing people. It was awesome getting to play games that I am looking forward to as well. I can’t wait to see what day three brings me.

Stay tuned for more PAX West coverage! See you tomorrow.

Boss Rush Gamescast – A Gameplay Deep Dive Discussion Podcast & Part of Boss Rush Podcast Plus

Boss Rush Gamescast is the gameplay deep dive discussion podcast from Boss Rush Network. Every other week, a panel of hosts and friends from across the internet take a deeper dive into the games they’ve been playing, featuring light spoilers, fun segments, and great conversations. New episodes drop every other week as part of Boss Rush Podcast Plus, with Patreon members getting early access one week in advance.

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