PAX West 2026 coverage captures a show floor crowded with horror-focused reveals, from long‑anticipated returns to new indie nightmares. Konami’s first US appearance in years is highlighted, alongside hands-on impressions from a broad slate of demos and experiences.
Belmont’s Curse leans into classic Castlevania lineage
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, in development at Evil Empire (the team behind Dead Cells and Brotato), is described as embracing a more traditional Castlevania feel. After its February announcement, the game does not incorporate Dead Cells‑style roguelike elements and instead favors non‑linear exploration and progression reminiscent of the 2D IGA-era titles. The combat is described as responsive, with a pace slightly faster than classic Castlevania but not as frantic as some modern action roguelikes. The demo booth staged the experience like an ancient, haunted castle, including a replica spinning cross weapon crafted by a real armorer. Belmont’s Curse is noted as one of the roundup’s most anticipated titles, with a full review planned after its launch on October 15.
Silent Hill: Townfall uses an immersive walk-through to evoke St. Amelia
Silent Hill: Townfall was presented as a walk-through experience that transports visitors to St. Amelia, the Scottish town setting for the game. The setup includes backdrops, props, a phone booth for calls to in‑game characters and assorted video devices that play sounds, dialogue and clips. The art direction aims to give the town a distinct feel while aligning with the core Silent Hill atmosphere. An art director explains the intention to keep the town recognizable to fans while foregrounding unique design choices. A review is planned for later in the month, with Townfall scheduled to launch on September 24.
IRL experiences, co‑op horror and narrative-heavy titles fill the show floor
No, I’m Not A Human IRL (NINAH) received attention for a real-life immersive doorway experience inspired by the post‑apocalyptic game premise where monsters imitate humans. Visitors interact with a door peephole to judge visitors on the other side, guided by a full-screen video feed and a light gun for potential action. Ukiyo Studios plans to keep this IRL installation in Tokyo as a permanent feature at a new game bar opening this month. Other notable demos included Voidwood, a four‑player cooperative horror where players must survive and complete a ritual while contending with an indestructible, acoustically sensitive boss that can be drawn away by shouting into a microphone. The press describes a blend of cute and scary aesthetics and promising mechanical variety, with a public playtest planned for the near future and a Steam wishlist available.
Indie titles also featured prominently, including Inkblood (a medieval point‑and‑click with hand‑drawn art and detective‑style puzzles), Cresata (a parry‑based, PS1‑era‑style Metroidvania with 2D sprites and rotating 3D backgrounds), Deperson (a hand‑drawn psychological horror with Fran Bow/Neverending Nightmares vibes), Crowsworn (a Hollow Knight–inspired title from Mongoose Rodeo with tight combat and platforming), Name of the Will (Zeitgeist Studios’ psychological horror mystery about a boy in a cult), Wolfhound (BitKid Games’ WWII‑era, 8‑bit aesthetic with sci‑fi horror elements), and The Final Cut of Lilith Cunningham (Causeway Studios’ live‑action/first‑person hybrid continuation of their haunted‑family premise). Several of these titles are listed on Steam or shown as upcoming, with varied release timelines ranging from 2026 to early 2027, depending on the project.
Remaster spotlight: Thief returns with modernized sight and sound
Thief: The Dark Project Remastered, handled by Nightdive Studios, is highlighted for bringing the stealth classic to modern audiences with updated visuals and binaural audio. The remaster will also mark the first time the game lands on consoles with native controller mapping, improving accessibility while preserving the core light/dark mechanics that defined the original. A release is described as forthcoming later this year, with Steam, PlayStation and Xbox wishlist options mentioned.
With a mix of beloved franchises recalibrated for modern platforms and inventive indie projects, PAX West 2026 showcased a growing landscape of horror‑themed games. The show’s energy and Konami’s US presence underscored continued interest in horror across big and small productions.
