PAX Australia

PAX Aus is the home away from home – a place to hang with friends and make new ones – a place to uncover that hidden indie gem or that place to play Catan till it gets dark. PAX hits differently – there have been wedding proposals, sweet rolls, ibis infestations, sea shanties, and a whole bunch of kebabs eaten too! It’s that time of year when the Australian gaming community gets together and has a bloody good time!

So at PAX Aus 2025, they will deliver you a PAX with the latest hardware, newest releases, new interactive content areas and a jam-packed three days.

EXPO HALL

You’ll find yourself in the Expo Hall when you first emerge from the Queue Hall.

The Expo Hall is where they bring together a diverse array of developers, publishers, retailers, and more from all over the gaming industry. Here, you can get hands-on demos of upcoming games, experience cutting-edge gaming hardware, and immerse yourself in incredible can’t-get-at-home experiences. From indie developers in PAX Rising with fresh, inventive ideas to major studios unveiling their latest blockbusters, the Expo Hall is a testament to the creativity and ingenuity that define the gaming industry.

But that’s not all – the Expo Hall is a vibrant community space in its own right. It’s a place to forge new connections with fellow gamers, have fun with friends and revel in your shared passion for all things gaming. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just beginning your PAX journey, the Expo Hall promises an experience that will leave you inspired, informed, and eager for what lies on the horizon.

TABLETOP

BOARD GAME LIBRARY
Seriously, they have so many tabletop games you have no idea. Think of a tabletop game, and go to the Tabletop Library. They’ve probably got it. Check out the game. Set up a table. If you’ve come with friends, force them to play with you. It shouldn’t be hard. If you’ve come alone, they’ve got a solution for that too. They’ll have spaces in Discord to set up games. All you need to worry about is rolling them crits.

TABLETOP EXPO HALL
If you’ve ever been to PAX, you know that tabletop is a HUGE part of PAX.

TABLETOP RPG FREEPLAY SESSIONS
Sessions in Tabletop RPG Freeplay are brought to you by the Australian Roleplay Community (ARC).

TABLETOP TOURNAMENTS
If playing for fun sounds like a waste of your incredible talents, you may be interested to know that they also have an absolutely bonkers schedule of Tabletop Tournaments every PAX.

AUS INDIE SHOWCASE

A deep space survival sandbox, a rage-inducing soccer platformer, a sports drama collaborative RPG and a fast-paced sabotage card game are just some of the experiences visitors can enjoy in the PAX 2025 Aus Indie Showcase.

The pinnacle of indie game development, the Aus Indie Showcase area of PAX is always one of the most popular areas, with keen players eager to get their hands on the next big cult game. Creativity is bursting out of the screens and across tables, with six tabletops and six digital games selected as part of this year’s Indie Showcase, all created by independent game developers across Australia.

PAX ARENA

PAX Arena is the official esports stage at PAX Aus. It will also host the exciting finals of tournaments from across the show, giving amateur and rising players their chance to shine. PAX Arena is a true showcase of talent at every level of the gaming community.

The action starts with a creator show match that throws ten Aussie influencers into a 5v5 match with a twist: every round, the stage host spins a wheel to change things up for the competitors, forcing them to play with one hand for a round or eat a spoonful of Vegemite if they lose!

PAX RISING

PAX Rising has been specifically created to provide a platform for the best of the indie development scene locally and internationally. It highlights a selection of exciting independent tabletop and video games for your enjoyment.

Catch a sneak peek at just a handful of the many fantastic independent games making their way to PAX Rising this year, with many more announcements coming soon.

PC FREEPLAY & TOURNAMENT

Have you ever seen a room of several hundred computers boot up at the same time? It’s pretty rad. I guess you probably won’t see that at PAX either, but you will see each of those hundreds of computers, fully loaded with the latest games, available for you to sit down and play free. Please bring your friends, they’ll sit you all together. Or meet some new ones in the room before fragging them into giblets.

They also have a whole array of tournaments in PC for you to show your dominance or, more likely, find a bigger fish to gobble you up whole and spit out the bones.

CONSOLE FREEPLAY

When they say Console Freeplay, it’s worth noting that, yes, they’re talking about Console Freeplay… a place where you can check out a console game from the library of hundreds and hundreds of available titles, sit down at one of the hundreds of consoles available, and play.

That’s not all; they also have a console tourney nearby, where you can play many of those same games in a more competitive atmosphere against other like-minded and, frankly, bloodthirsty opponents.

While the Console Freeplay department specialises in current consoles, they also have a Classic Console Freeplay department featuring the best titles of the good old days. If there has ever been a console game in the history of console games you’ve had fun with, you should come on by.

CouchWarriors Console Tournament area
CouchWarriors are your friendly gateway to the fighting game community! They hold regular local events in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane, as well as online tournaments, and they’re cohosts of Australia’s largest FGC gaming tournament, BAM. They have a 17+ year history of welcoming players from beginner to pro in Street Fighter, Tekken, Smash Bros and all your fighting favourites.

Join the vibrant community and get a taste of exciting competition at PAX

TOURNAMENTS

Want to join in on a game? PAX is loaded with a full catalogue of games you can compete in and/or relax with. Most tournaments are built for participants of all skills and interests to enjoy the thrill and challenge of competition in a friendly environment.

Whether your bag is competitive FPS games, fighting games, sporting games or racing games, they’ve got something for everyone! Check out the PC Freeplay & Console Freeplay tournament schedules in the PAX app closer to the show, and sign up for the events of your choice on the day.

CLASSIC GAMING

Classic Gaming is an homage to the history of gaming systems. Experience the history of consoles they know and love in this love letter to gaming’s journey to the modern era. From the Atari 2600 to the Sony PlayStation and everything in between, you’ll find just about everyone’s childhood in Classic Gaming.

Classic Gaming didn’t start on the couch – it began in arcades. That’s why the Classic Gaming space is also home to some classic Pinball machines, thanks to the friends at Reality Games – no quarters, coins, or dollarydoos necessary!

COLLABORATORY

If you’re a fan of tabletop games looking for something new to try at the show, head straight over to Collaboratory!

Collaboratory is a selection of in-development tabletop games that homegrown talent brings to PAX. Chat with the designers, playtest their in-progress games, and take part in the future of the Australian tabletop scene.

PAX Collaboratory is made possible through the support of Tabletop Game Designers Australia – https://tgda.org.au/.

COSPLAY CENTRAL

If cosplay is your game, Cosplay Central is your new home base at PAX Aus. Check out these fantastic cosplay features and activities taking place at the show.

Cosplay Central Crown Championships
PAX Aus hosts the Australian leg of the Cosplay Central Crown Championships of Cosplay.

The Cosplay Central Crown Championships of Cosplay is ReedPop’s annual global Cosplay Championships. It was formed in 2021 by the merger of the EuroCosplay Championships, whose final has been held at MCM London Comic Con since October 2010, and the Crown Championships of Cosplay, traditionally held at C2E2.

Cosplay Meetups
Strike a pose and take a photo at one of the many cosplay photo backdrops at the show! Would you prefer a group experience? Join a cosplay group photo op where everyone from your favourite fandom or franchise can meet!

Cospitality Lounge
Have you been standing too long, and your feet hurt? They’ve got you. Need somewhere to take off your helmet and eat in private? They’ve got you. Feeling overwhelmed and needing a place to relax? They’ve. Got. You!

Come and hang out in the new Cospitality Lounge. They have everything you need to decompress, hang out with friends, and get ready to show off your latest cosplay. The Cospitality Lounge features seating, cosplay changing rooms, mirrors, hair/makeup stations and much more!

Cosplay Repair Station
Is your cosplay bent out of shape? Do you need professional help getting it fixed and back on the show floor? Cosplay Central has a dedicated Cosplay Repair Station led by incredible cosplay community members. They’ll sort you out!

Panels & Workshops
The Cosplay Theatre features three full days of panels and workshops tailored to the Cosplay community. Check the full show schedule closer to the show for more information on what’s happening at the Cosplay Theatre.

PAX TOGETHER

They believe that anyone should make games, and they should be made for everyone. Together, they can make that a reality. Whether you’re here to meet old friends or find new faves, they aim to have something for everybody. PAX Together is the curated selection of games and groups meant to celebrate various backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences within gaming, especially from marginalized or minority groups.

PAX Together Lounge, located in the upper halls of the Convention Center, hosts games (board, card, console, and computer games) all weekend long. Sign-ups for their learn-to-play Dungeons and Dragons sessions are available from the start of each day. For everything else, just come on in! If you don’t know how to play the game or have accessibility needs, people are happy to help you get the best PAX ever. Everyone is welcome to participate in all events in PAX Together – the more, the merrier!

Check the schedule for all the goings-on in the PAX Together Lounge.

HANDHELD LOUNGE

This is one of the most relaxed, chill parts of PAX. PAX is a lot of great things, but it isn’t easy on the feet. Enter Handheld Lounge, a place to kick up the heels and recharge your batteries while draining your Switch.

But this area isn’t just for relaxing and taking in the ambiance of PAX while trying to stay awake (or not). They also have tournaments where you can test your mettle against other handheld champions.

PIN TRADING

Every year, they release the Pin Quest, a list of all the exclusive Pinny Arcade pins you can find at PAX. Some can be purchased at the Official PAX Merch Store, some are offered by exhibitors on the show floor, and some can only be obtained by trading with a Penny Arcade staff member (or by visiting official pin trading boards at the merch booth.)

SPEEDRUNNING

Speedruns are basically game playthroughs all about one thing – Speed.

If that’s your thing, the friends at AusSpeedruns are proud to host AusSpeedruns @ PAX (ASAP) 2025 speedrun races and exhibitions on the Speedrunning Stage. Ironically, it runs for three full days, so they need to find many games to fill it.

This speedrunning event features exhibitions of talent from all across Australia, as their runners try to complete some of your favourite gamers as quickly as possible. The speedrun stage will be running for all the show’s opening hours, to be viewed in person and live on Twitch.

OMEGATHON

The Omegathon is a Mega Tournament spanning the entire length of PAX, featuring games of all platforms and genres.

The Chief Omegatech seeks out 24 competitors known as ‘Omeganauts’ to face off in this prestigious annual tournament at the show. These competitors are predominantly selected from the pool of registered 3-Day badge holders, so be sure to enter the Omegathon when you purchase your badge!

The Omeganauts compete over six rounds in a knockout elimination format, culminating in a well-kept secret final round hosted at the end of Sunday in the Main Theatre to serve as the closing ceremony of every PAX.

The prize for the victor? A trip to the PAX of their choice. For their opponent? A one-way ticket to next year’s Omegathon. The wheel keeps turning.

SOCIAL GAMES

You got a phone? Then you got a game! Check out the lists of easy-to-play browser and mobile games, get a group together, or if you’re really lucky, jump into a session. From classics like Jackbox Games & Codenames to newer favourites like Gartic Phone, there is something for everyone – drop by for hilarious shenanigans!

PAINT & TAKE

Paint & Take is the uniquely creative space adjacent to the Tabletop area where you can unleash your artistic side. Whether you’re a seasoned miniatures painter or trying it out for the first time, this area is perfect for everyone. Choose from a selection of miniature figurines, grab your brushes, and let your imagination run wild.

They provide everything you need, so you only have to bring your creativity. Best of all, you can take home your personalised creation as a memento of your time at the show.

Come by, relax, and enjoy a hands-on experience that’s as fun as rewarding.

Getting There

The easiest way to get to the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre is by tram. Catch the number 96, 109 or 12 tram and get off at Clarendon Street. Alternatively, you can walk just 10 minutes along the Yarra from Flinders Street Station. If you are driving, five car parks are available in or near the complex. Check individual carparks for pricing details.