Between Guest Announcements and Panel Topics, My Watch-List for PAX Aus 2026 has a definite Literature Lean

I had my first suspicions of the theme for PAX AUS 2026 when the guest list came out in July. Isobelle Carmody was announced, and my brain went “Cool! Australian Fantasy Writer extraordinaire! … Wait, why is an Australian Fantasy Writer coming to the biggest gaming convention?” Which is when I started thinking: Oh. This year is going to be all about adapting books to games. And now, here we are with only two (2) weeks and change until PAX Aus opens and I am fairly certain I picked it. That being the case, here’s my list of things to look for at PAX Aus, especially if you love your literature influences. 

Special Guests

Isobelle Carmody

The Obernewtyn Chronicles were the most borrowed books in my school libraries during the 1990s (not always my fault, thank you). All thanks to Isobelle Carmody, one of Australia’s most beloved creators of science fiction and fantasy literature. She has been a storytelling powerhouse for decades, and continues to produce new books and art right now. Carmody’s announcement as a PAX Aus Special Guest was the first to tweak my interest in whether there was a literary feel to PAX Aus this year. As yet, I haven’t found anything to confirm a gaming connection with Carmody, however, she does have a Meet & Greet on both Friday and Saturday, along with a Fireside session and a Book Club Community Meet-Up. If there are any new announcements, this will be the place to hear them! You may also score an autograph so bring your fave books along. 

Side note: Saturday PAX tickets are sold out, and Friday is getting close. The Book Club meet is on Friday, so if you haven’t bought your ticket yet, do it NOW. All schedule details are on the PAX Aus website and the official app (thumbs up for the app). 

PAX Panels to Check out

I love the PAX Panels, and I think they really set the vibe for PAX Aus each year. 

From Page to Play: Favourite Books Become Favourite Games

This is the panel that dives straight into the theme: Games that are adapted from your fave books. When you fell so hard for a book that you needed to immerse yourself in it. This sounds like the panel to tick all the boxes: from obvious choices like Dune, Lord of the Rings, and Jane Austen classics to subtle reminders of the source material like Batman and Wolverine. The panel looks great too, with a mix of game creator, game/dungeon masters, comic book creator, and a gaming nerd with a bookish background. Plus, it’s the last panel of the event, and a great way to sum up your bookish games. 

Returning to the Path: Story Behind The Witcher

If The Witcher games don’t get a mention in the “Page to Play” panel, we riot. CD Projekt has worked hard to bring The Witcher world to life, and the gamers have been there every step of the way. Next year, CD Projekt Red will release a new expansion to The Witcher 3, called “Songs of the Past”. 2027 is not *too* far away, but eager players can get a behind-the-closed doors viewing of the live demo, plus the opportunity to hear all the story behind the game along with insights from Maria Mazur (Snr Quest Designer at CD Projekt Red) and Jakub Rokosz (Game Director for The Witcher 3: Wild Hun – “Songs of the Past”). 

Panel is Saturday 10 October at 3pm in the Superloop Main Theatre. 

Dungeon Crawler Carl TTRPG: Enter the World Dungeon

Less of a panel and more of a playthrough before the official release of the TTRPG. Dungeon Crawler Carl has been a huge hit in its original literary form; it was a natural step to see it move to TTRPG. There are limited spaces, you need to head in early to get your name on the list: Saturday 10 Oct at 7.30pm in the Cockatoo Community Room.

Bonus points if you can follow this up with the LitRPG panel on Sunday 11 Oct at 1pm in the Kookaburra Theatre. The panel includes a crew of Aussie writers to talk about LitRPG, and how to mash together gaming and writing to create a magical gaming experience. 

Games to Checkout Before PAX Aus 2026

As mentioned above, PAX Aus is just over two (2) weeks away; at least from the time I publish this article. While there are plenty of games that already fit the category of “Literary Inspiration”, here is a short list of some upcoming stuff to look out for: 

• Sisters of Selene: a new anthology and game combination that will be on the exhibition floor at PAX Aus this year. Game Devs Okay Salmon will have a game demo available on their stand along with details of the accompanying eBook with weekly releases in the lead-up to PAX Aus. 
• Good Society: Kudos to Storybrewers and their attendance at PAX Aus 2025 was a pretty big hit. This year, Storybrewers have already launched their new Kickstarter for Good Society (2nd Edn) with new characters, revised rules, and some absolutely gorgeous art. Check out the details on the Kickstarter page here, and look for them on the Exhibition Floor in the Tabletop Arena. If you can’t find them, you will at least find Hayley (one of the devs) at the panel From Pages to Play on Sunday 11 Oct at 5pm in the Kookaburra Theatre.
• Hayley is appearing along side comics creator N.S. Kane in the same panel. Kane also has a Kickstarter campaign for her ‘Tales to Tables’ series, Towers and Tiaras. Kane has drawn from her DnD experience and created a fun and adventurous comic, Towers and Tiaras. BONUS: the comic book also comes with a RPG campaign to replay, immerse, and expanse the storytelling. You can check out the Kickstarter page here, and Kane will talk more about the creator process at the panel From Pages to Play.
• The third panellist with Hayley and Kane is the ever popular NephthysNile. Fans of Vampire: the Masquerade are going to love her panel on Satuday nght in the Owlbear Theatre: PAXAus by Night. Taking inspiration from vampire lore and literature while bringing to life (??) the immersive magic of VtM, NephthysNile knows her stuff and delivers it perfectly.

PAX Aus 2026 covers three days, from Friday 9 Oct to Sunday 11 Oct. Once again, it returns to the Convention Centre in Melbourne (the geekiest city of Australia). 3-Day passes are sold out, as are Saturday. Last I checked, Friday was 75% sold out with Sunday close behind so if you are still looking for tickets: ACT NOW!! Website is here.

If you are heading to PAX Aus, keep an eye out for my lab coat and the customary moustache on the back. And if you are still trying to prep for the Weekend of the Year, check out my list here and also head to Travel for Geeks for more suggestions.

PAX ON, MINIONS!!

Categories: EGM News Go Special Events

Tagged as: Australia Books gaming PAX Aus RPG Tabletop

Evil Genius Mum

Evil Genius Mum
- Taking over the world, one blog post at a time