Cyber Paradise | PAX Australia 2026 Preview

Cyber Paradise is another game I returned to after PAX Aus 2026. I managed to play for around ten minutes on the show floor but decided to move on once the line behind me got too long. I spent around another hour with it once I got home. I was glad to have the option as I didn’t feel like I had enough time with the game on the day.

Movement in the game is fast-paced yet controlled, making the action side of the game quite enjoyable. The dog-inspired elements gave the combat some interesting ideas, with a card that gave the character the scary bag upgrade, which gave a swirling set of bags that damaged enemies. Patting the dog also deflected projectiles as well as parrying attacks; it was a fun interaction with Mini during play.

Card upgrades were straightforward, and I felt like they fluidly added to the game, with the hold-up just being deciding which one to take. Getting a new pack often meant choosing to upgrade an existing skill or choosing to add or change another. These choices gave me something else to think about during the speedy combat. There is a decent pro and con to all the choices.  

The story drew me in from the get-go; I always love a game that includes a pet. This one is a decent twist on it and leans towards how hard it is when losing a pet; we have all wished we could bring them back. Recovering the dogs’ memories from cyberspace through hacking is a new one to me, and an interesting and thought-provoking concept.

Visually, the pixel style works well for this game; it is quite beautiful. The artwork was a pleasure to look at, and it plays quite well. The music helps reflect the game’s fast pace during combat, and its more melodious sounds help when back at the café.

There is a great rogue-like appeal to the game: playing through, being beaten and trying again, improving as you go. Once home, I really got the chance to get more comfortable with the systems and had quite a bit of fun trying different builds. I can’t wait for the full release to see where the story goes and what other things will be added.

Cyber Paradise has a demo available on Steam, where you can also Wishlist the full game. A release date is yet to be announced.

[Explosion Network attended PAX Australia 2026 with a provided Media Pass.]