Why You Might See Mario and Pikachu in Seattle This Weekend

PAX West, one of the world’s biggest video game conventions, celebrates 20 years in Seattle

A person in a colorful costume with a helmet and glowing eyes poses as Pikachu among a crowd, with a stage illuminated by green and blue lights in the background.

This year, PAX West’s economic impact is projected at $21.9 million. The 4-day gaming event takes over Seattle every Labor Day weekend.

Photo by Kiko Villaseñor, Design Director, Penny Arcade

If you see Mario, Lara Croft, Link, or even Pikachu wandering around downtown Seattle this weekend, you can thank the West Coast’s most popular gaming event, PAX West. Think of it as the Burning Man for gamers — PAX West is celebrating its 20th anniversary at the Seattle Convention Center from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2. What began as a small gathering of 4,500 people in Bellevue in 2004 has since moved to Seattle and become a major event, now drawing more than 100,000 people annually. Visit Seattle is projecting an economic impact of $21.9 million for PAX West this year.

A large, diverse crowd gathers in an indoor venue for the opening of PAX West, with booths and displays visible in the background, viewed from above.

Thousands of gamers pack the Seattle Convention Center for PAX West, creating a fun and energetic atmosphere.

All photos by Kiko Villaseñor, Design Director, Penny Arcade

A large crowd in Seattle faces a brightly lit stage with performers and a screen displaying graphics of Mario and Pikachu, in an indoor concert venue.

What is PAX West?

PAX West, short for Penny Arcade Expo, was founded by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins, the creators of Redmond-based webcomic Penny Arcade, which now has more than 3.5 million readers. They started PAX to create a space where video and tabletop gamers could come together. Organized now by ReedPop and Penny Arcade, PAX West has since expanded to Boston (PAX East), Melbourne (PAX Aus), and Philadelphia (PAX Unplugged), which focuses solely on tabletop gaming. Besides creating PAX, Penny Arcade is also behind Child’s Play, a gaming charity that has raised more than $59 million for children across the world.

A person wearing a VR headset and holding controllers is immersed in a virtual reality game at an event in Seattle. Several other attendees and gaming displays, including Pikachu and Mario posters, are visible in the background.

Gamers at PAX get to try out the latest games and tech, getting a sneak peek at the future of gaming.

Early PAXes were largely run by volunteers known as Enforcers. Although it’s now a paid role, most Enforcers are still drawn from the PAX community, selected through an application process. They’re the die-hard gamers who keep things running smoothly and help create the fun and welcoming environment that PAX is known for.

PAX has a lot of traditions. One is Omegathon, a festival-long tournament where randomly selected attendees compete in various games for a grand prize, which has ranged from game bundles to trips around the world. The final round, which in the past has featured games such as Tetris, Pong, Halo 3, and even Skee-Ball, is a highly anticipated part of the closing ceremonies. And beyond the show floor, PAX offers panels, concerts, cosplay meetups, and freeplay areas.

Two DJs perform on stage in front of a large screen displaying "HYPER POTIONS," with bright stage lights illuminating the scene. The crowd dances energetically as Pikachu and Mario visuals flash across the screen, adding an extra layer of excitement to the Seattle night.

Concerts and live music keep the party going.

What to Expect This Year

This year’s lineup is packed, especially for Nintendo fans. You can play four Switch games, including two yet-to-be-released titles: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, where Princess Zelda takes the lead in a new quest to save her kingdom, and Super Mario Party Jamboree, featuring an online mode for up to 20 players and more than 110 minigames. These highly anticipated titles release on Sept. 26 and Oct. 17, respectively.

Cover art for "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom" showing a cartoon character holding a staff, with vibrant fantasy landscapes, mythical creatures, and a castle in the background. A playful twist features Pikachu peeking out from behind the character, adding an unexpected touch to the mythical scene.

Image courtesy of Nintendo

Cover art for the game "Super Mario Party Jamboree" featuring Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser, Toad, and other characters in a vibrant Seattle skyline with various game elements.

Image courtesy of Nintendo

Other industry giants such as Bandai Namco, Larian Studios, Capcom, Atari, Pokémon, and PlayStation | Astro Bot will also be there. You can get a sneak peek of Monster Hunter Wilds and Street Fighter 6. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer will kick off the event with a storytime keynote, and there will be panels featuring the developers behind FINAL FANTASY XIV and Civilization VII.

Tabletop gamers can meet the creators of Marvel Dice Throne and Gloomhaven. And the PAX Arena will host Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Street Fighter 6, and Magic: The Gathering tournaments, and, of course, the Omegathon.

Six people sit around a table in Seattle playing a complex board game with cards, tokens, and tiles spread out. Several players, wearing face masks, excitedly discuss their strategies while a Pikachu plush peeks out from one corner of the room.

Tabletop gamers enjoy freeplay sessions and friendly tournaments.

Tickets for PAX West are still available, with four-day badges priced at $250 and single-day badges at $66. Prices go up at the door if any tickets remain. PAX West runs from 10 a.m.-midnight this weekend.