The Seattle edition of the 2018 Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) is almost upon us. What would a community gathering of tens of thousands of your closest gaming friends and game developers be without a healthy dose of events and parties to celebrate the experience? That’s what PAX West 2018 will be bringing to the Seattle, Washington area — and hey, that’s what this handy-dandy list is for!
Like our GDC 2018 event and party list from a few months ago, this list is curating only the publically listed and searchable events out there. But if you are hosting an event at PAX West you want added (or removed) to the list, let us know.
Keep an eye out for further updates, as the list is made as current as possible just before PAX West 2018 kicks off.
Thursday, August 30th:
Event: Pre-PAX ID@Xbox Open House
Time: 5-9 PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location: Microsoft Building 33, 16070 Northeast 36th Way, Redmond, WA 98052
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/idatxbox-pre-pax-open-house-2018-tickets-48818632845
Description: “Once again, we’re throwing open the doors at the Microsoft campus to kick off PAX West weekend with the latest ID@Xbox games, hundreds of gamers, and a special hands-on opportunity with guest titles: Forza Horizon 4 and The MISSING: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories!”
Event: Extra Life Seattle Pre-PAX Hang-out!
Time: 6:30 PM-9:30 AM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: No
Location: xFlatstick Pub 240 2nd Avenue South Seattle, WA 98104
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/extra-life-seattle-pre-pax-hang-out-tickets-49043839444?
Description: “Let’s hang out and play some mini-golf and “Duffleboard” before the madness of PAX West 2018 begins! Enjoy 1/2 priced games at Flatstick Pub while connecting with each other, celebrating Seattle’s amazing Extra Life accomplishments! Space is limited to be sure to reserve accordingly!” Also, note this event is for folks 21 and over.
Event: Brace Yourself for PAX featuring Kero Kero Bonito
Time: 7 PM-12 AM (8/31)
Cost: Free
Tickets available: No
Location: The Showbox, 1426 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brace-yourself-for-pax-featuring-kero-kero-bonito-tickets-48287611546
Description: For folks over 21 (and subject to capacity, of course), PAX-goers can check out “Brace Yourself Games … throwing an epic FREE party! Hosted by Elspeth Eastman, with exclusive swag, world premieres of two new Brace Yourself Games trailers, performances by your favorite NecroDancer musicians, and headliner Kero Kero Bonito!”
Event: GarciaBellamy presents: PAX Countdown 2018
Time: 8 PM-1 AM (8/31)
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location: Neighbours Nightclub and Lounge, 1509 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/garciabellamy-presents-pax-countdown-2018-tickets-49581757371
Description: “Join us for the 4th annual and largest night before PAX party, and dance away to some geeky tunes. We got Facebook Gaming in the house along with a lot of really cool industry people hanging out before PAX starts. Free drinks until our budget runs out, so get there early. Also some free pizza. Admission is absolutely free! 21+”
Event: The Triwizard Drinking Tournament – The Cocktails of Grindelwald
Time: 8:30 PM-3:30 AM (8/31)
Cost: Free
Tickets available: No
Location: Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-triwizard-drinking-tournament-the-cocktails-of-grindelwald-tickets-47575610933
Description: “The Triwizard Drinking Tournament is a yearly charity pub crawl hosted by the Penny Arcade community in which the four houses of Hogwarts are split into two teams of fifty and unleashed upon Capitol Hill for a night of merrymaking and fundraising. In 2017 we raised $4666.50 in just a few short hours with all that cash going to Child’s Play and securing bragging rights to the team that raises the most! For seven years the crawl roughly followed the Harry Potter books followed by a short break so that we could get horrible things involving chrome spray paint out of our system. Now the alumni of Hogwarts have returned to celebrate their time at the school with The Triwizard Drinking Tournament! Assembling themselves into teams based on the houses they grew up in they gather to celebrate all things witchy and wizardly!”
Event: Voyeuristic Flix Music Video Night – Pre PAX Edition
Time: 9 PM-2 AM (8/31)
Cost: $4 cover
Tickets available: Yes
Location: The Mercury @ MachineWerks, 1009 E Union St, Seattle, WA 98122
Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/553013685134021
Description: Goth, industrial, dance, club, 80’s, 90’s music, this place throws out a lot of tunes from different eras. On the logistics side, “$4 cover, must be 21+ with ID, $2 vodka wells until midnight, Not a dress code night; come as you are or dress to impress.
The Mercury is a cash only bar.” But don’t forget to bing that tipping money for the folks working the bar.
Friday, August 31st:
Event: Oculus Stormland Pop-Up during PAX West
Time: 11 AM-9 PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: None needed
Location: 1927 Events, 1927 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/648634392186973/
Description: “Join us at the Oculus Stormland Pop-Up on August 31 (open one day only!) to explore the game’s ever-changing cloudscape and expansive world. Bound up cliffs, glide across chasms, and fly through the slipstream. Detonate explosives, harness electricity, and wield makeshift weapons to overcome titanium sentries and monolithic guardians. Demos are open to the public, not just PAX badge holders. Limited-edition swag available for those who demo, while supplies last.”
Event: Bethesda Gameplay Days
Time: 1:30-9 PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: None needed
Location: Hard Rock Cafe, 116 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101
Link: https://bethesda.net/en/article/4BzA5CUFO8kk0AGoOae4eQ/bethesda-gameplay-days-coming-to-pax-west
Description: This event is basically day one of PAX West’s Bethesda-Fest. Playable for the event is Elder Scrolls Online: Murkmire, Prey: Mooncrash, and The Elder Scrolls: Legends DLC packs. Attendees can also check out the iPhone’s The Elder Scrolls: Blades, Quake Champions and more. The E3 2018 demo of RAGE 2 is also on tap. Mix in fellow Bethesda fans, developers, chances to win prizes, and you have a party. The event will also be available on livestream over various channels.
Event: Red Bull Challenge Mode
Time: 5-10 PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location: Block 41, 115 Bell St, Seattle, WA 98121
Link: https://redbullchallengemode.splashthat.com/
Description: Here we have a cornucopia of indie game-focused events wrapped in one sweet little package that takes place not just one day, but two days: “Red Bull invites pop culture lovers and those with a competitive spirit to Red Bull Challenge Mode, a two-day event during PAX West 2018 that will spotlight popular independent games – StudioMDHR’s Cuphead, Boneloaf and Double Fine Productions’ Gang Beasts, as well as the upcoming Due Process from local Seattle developer Giant Enemy Crab and Annapurna Interactive”
Event: DigiPen Alumni PAX West Reception
Time: 5:30-8:30 PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location: Tap House Grill, 1506 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/digipen-alumni-pax-west-reception-tickets-48675616078
Description: If you’re among the merry band of DigiPen alumni, this meetup hosted by the game development school at a Seattle taphouse at PAX is just for you.
Event: Life is Strange 2 Fan Meet Up Party with What’s Good Games
Time: 6-9 PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: None needed
Location: Unicorn 1118 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122
Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2262543377365494/
Description: This party, based on the hit game, looks like it will be lit up. “Thanks to our friends at Square Enix we are once again partnering up to celebrate Life is Strange. Last year we had a line around the block, so this year we are taking over the WHOLE venue at the Unicorn … Entry is free for all but the first 100 people in line will get free drink tickets. It’s open to anyone 21+ in the Seattle area, no PAX badge required.”
Event: Night of Gaming for Good on Top of the World, PAX Edition! 2018
Time: 6 PM-1 AM (9/1)
Cost: $89-$250
Tickets available: Yes
Location: Columbia Tower Club, 701 5th Avenue, Floor 76, Seattle, WA, 98104
Link: http://pax2018.shindigg.com/
Description: “Join us for an evening with the gaming community to celebrate and play games we love, partake in fine dining, enjoy Top of the World views, and win gaming raffle prizes. All to support a great cause: our beneficiary, the Imagine Guild, supports the Seattle Children’s Hospital, Uncompensated Care program.”
Event: Enter The Grid: 3rd Annual Unofficial PAX Party!
Time: 6 PM-2 AM (9/1)
Cost: Free ($5 cover charge after 9 PM)
Tickets available: Yes
Location: Club Contour, 807 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Seattle-Game-Developers/events/253658192/
Description: A showcase of chiptunes musicians is what this party, now in its third year, is all about. From 6-9 it’s industry/PAX-badged folks only, and the doors open to all after 9 PM.
Event: The VR Social at PAX West 2018
Time: 7 PM-10 PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location: First & Bell, 2218 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-vr-social-at-pax-west-2018-tickets-49298365739
Description: Scope out some new VR games, enjoy food and chances to win some swag. Bonus: no PAX West badge required and a Lyft code will be offered to attendees to help make transportation a bit easier if needed.
Event: Screenwave Media PAX Party ft Minibosses, Kirby Krackle, & Professor Shyguy
Time: 7 PM-2 AM (9/1)
Cost: Free-$10
Tickets available: Yes
Location: Re-bar, 1114 Howell Street Seattle, WA 98101
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screenwave-media-pax-party-ft-minibosses-kirby-krackle-professor-shyguy-tickets-48919887701
Description: “Sponsored by Eagle Island, Screenwave Media is holding the hottest party to kickoff the PAX West festivities. Musical acts performing include The Minibosses, Kirby Krackle, and Professor Shyguy. Doors open at 7:00 and bands will start playing at 9:00. Free VIP tickets available for Screenwave Media partners/developers/media/content creators, Apply here for VIP pass consideration https://t.co/yoGsTfYt37
Event: DMC5 SSStylish Pizza Party
Time: 8-11:59 PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: None needed
Location: SPiN Seattle, 1511 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/712567869093042/
Description: What is Dante’s (from Devil May Cry 5) favorite pizza? You might find out by attending this pizza party, hosted by Capcom and SONICBOOMBOX. Top it off with cosplay, DJing and a p[hotobooth, and this could be one colorful party. 21+ only, no PAX West badge required, and first come first served.
Event: Legion Lounge @ PAX West 2018
Time: 9 PM-2 AM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location: Showbox SoDo, 1700 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
Link: https://future.ticketleap.com/legion-pax-west-2018/
Description: “Join us for a Fortnite™ dance competition, meet livestreamers Sequisha and BurkeBlack, play the most popular FPS games on Legion by Lenovo gaming systems, strike a pose in our custom photo booth, become an FPS quiz champion, and more as Legion by Lenovo showcases its latest hardware as well as Intel’s® Optane™ technology.
Plus, get first dibs on up to $350 in savings on Lenovo Legion gaming PCs, grab free swag, and enter to win a Legion by Lenovo gaming system!”
Event: Predator Gaming After Party
Time: 9 PM-2 AM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location: The Showbox, 1426 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
Link: https://future.ticketleap.com/predator-gaming-after-party/
Description: “…head over to the Predator Gaming After Party at The Showbox on Friday, August 31 starting at 9 pm. You can get your hands-on the latest Predator gaming hardware powered by Intel, watch an epic musical performance by A-Trak, pick up exclusive swag, play games, and grab a few drinks. Hang out throughout the night for the Play like the Pro’s gaming competition, exciting giveaways, and more!”
On the next page see more PAX West 2018 events heading into the weekend, from Saturday, September 1st to Sunday, September 2nd!
