🍪 PAX West Survival — Seattle Showdown Edition
Hello there, badge jugglers and swag hoarders,
PAX West isn’t just a convention — it’s Seattle’s four-day boss fight. The questline includes 100k+ gamers, two convention halls, and lines so long you’ll question your life choices. But fear not: we packed Reddit, Inc. wisdom, field-tested tips, and Kiki’s sharp tongue to help you survive.
1️⃣ Reddit-Rounded Survival Tips (Because Others Already Suffered)
💧 “Bring a reusable water bottle. The convention center will rob you blind.” — r/PAX 🦊🍪 Kiki’s Take: “$6 water in Seattle isn’t artisanal — it’s theft.”
🪑 “A foldable stool is a life-saver in the expo hall queues.” 🦊🍪 Kiki’s Take: “Yes, sit like a champ while others perfect the Standing Zombie pose.”
👟 “Break in your shoes before PAX. Seriously.” 🦊🍪 Kiki’s Take: “New sneakers unlock the ‘Blister% Speedrun’ category.”
🔋 “Power banks are your best friend — outlets are scarce.” 🦊🍪 Kiki’s Take: “If your phone dies in line, you become an NPC.”
2️⃣ Tactical Gear & Comfort Strategies
Hydration: Tap water in Seattle = free refills, just ask at food stalls.
Shoes: Armor for your feet. Don’t underestimate 10k steps/day.
Snacks: Food inside is pricey. Pack granola bars or sandwiches.
Sanitary wipes: Demo controllers = germ factories.
Queue smart: Line up early for Nintendo, Capcom, or Square Enix demos.
🦊🍪 Kiki’s Take: “Skipping wipes is how you speedrun con-flu.”
3️⃣ Don’t-Miss Loot & Demos
🎮 Hollow Knight: Silksong – Finally playable before launch.
💥 Borderlands 4 – Gearbox chaos returns.
🎲 Final Fantasy Tactics: Ivalice Chronicles – Tactical nostalgia.
👾 Digimon Story: Time Stranger – The long-awaited RPG comeback.
🧟 God Save Birmingham – Zombies meet medieval England.
🦊🍪 Kiki’s Take: “Lines will be long, but hey — so is Silksong’s dev cycle.”
4️⃣ After-Dark XP Boosts (Seattle Party Questline)
🍺 Voodoo Ranger Borderlands Bar – Rooftop IPA & loot talk.
🎶 Friday Night Concerts – Bit Brigade + nerdcore rap.
🛼 Radio Future Skating Party – Jet Set Radio vibes with synthwave.
🎨 Paint & Pints – Miniatures + beer for charity.
🎮 JUEGA! Latinx Showcase – Celebrate Latin American devs.
🦊🍪 Kiki’s Take: “Roller-skating + synthwave = best side quest of the con.”
5️⃣ Networking Without Being Weird
💬 Icebreaker: “What was your longest line today — and was it worth it?”
🚫 Don’t pitch in food lines. Save it for mixers.
🦊🍪 Kiki’s Take: “Pitching while someone’s mid-taco = guaranteed fail QTE.”
6️⃣ Crowd & Timing Hacks
⏰ Peak chaos = midday. Hit big demos in the morning or evening.
📅 Friday/Saturday = hype; Sunday/Monday = deeper dives.
🍜 Escape for meals — local ramen > con food.
🦊🍪 Kiki’s Take: “Follow your nose — the best meals are outside the badge checkpoint.”
Final Fuel
🦊🍪 Kiki’s Take: “PAX West is a marathon. Hydrate, queue smart, hoard enamel pins, and for the love of games — wear deodorant.”
And one more thing: Leo from Game Cookies will be at PAX West. If you spot him, say hi — he might even trade you a cookie for your best survival hack.
