Nothing Lost | PAX Australia 2026 Preview

Nothing Lost is an action roguelike that sends successive warriors into the Tower of Souls. When one of these warriors falls, their spirit remains for another character to find, carrying their powers so that they may be used in a future attempt. This is an interesting twist on the familiar cycle of fighting, death and rebirth.

I was able to play the demo of the game for around fifteen minutes at PAX Aus 2026 due to time constraints; I felt like I got a decent grasp of the game but would have loved some more time with it. My first run in the game ended quickly as I was still getting used to the controls. The second run went better, and the third lasted the longest of the three. This gave me a great look into how the game worked with the previous spirits and how those plays connected to one another.  

The combat controls were smooth and precise; however, I found the walking speed to be too slow. I found myself utilising the dodge roll to speed up my movement throughout the stages. The combat reminded me of Hades with its weak and strong attacks and the dodging mechanics. The dodging movement I used instead of walking made it feel closer to the combat speeds.

The spirit system of the game also stood out to me during these repeated runs. After each of my deaths, my previous avatar became a spirit and was able to be captured and used in my subsequent runs. Once they were discovered, I was able to use them in combat, with up to three being able to be equipped at a time. I enjoyed how it gave the roguelike style of game a good foundation and how it improved the gameplay over time.

Visually, Nothing Lost was beautiful, with the Tower, foes, and character all having an interesting and consistent aesthetic. Along with the combat, it made the game resonate with me and made me wish I had gotten more hands-on time with the game to fully appreciate it.

Although my time with Nothing Lost was brief, it left a positive and lasting impression. The slower walking speed was negated by the quick dodge rolling, and the combat was easy to understand. The powers and spirit made the combat feel rewarding, while the design and aesthetics of the world made it shine brightly.

Nothing Lost has yet to announce a release date; however, it can be wishlisted on Steam.

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