This past weekend at PAX West 2024 in Seattle, indie developers Optillusion turned heads with two exciting upcoming titles: While Waiting and Pick Me Pick Me. I had the chance to sit down with the team, explore their creative visions, and dive into the games firsthand—and let me tell you, these titles are ones to watch.
A Unique Experience: While Waiting
One of the most intriguing games I had the opportunity to play was While Waiting, a quirky and immersive experience that explores the art of waiting. Yes, you heard that right—waiting. The game’s demo, which you can check out here, gives a glimpse into the various scenarios you might find yourself in as you wait for a bus, queue up for the bathroom, or stand around in a number of different environments. But this isn’t just about killing time. Optillusion has crafted a charming, exploratory game that turns mundane moments into engaging, sometimes bizarre adventures.
The demo showcases multiple scenarios and locations, each with its own set of interactions, making the most of what would normally be considered “boring” situations. It’s a fascinating twist on the slice-of-life genre, and though there’s no release date yet, While Waiting is a definite must for your Steam wishlist.
PvP and AI? Enter Pick Me Pick Me
While While Waiting captured the magic of the ordinary, Pick Me Pick Me turned the convention floor into a competitive, AI-driven dating sim arena—and yes, it’s as wild as it sounds. This PvP dating sim challenges players to outwit and outcharm their AI-generated dating partners while competing against other players.
The game’s unique blend of humor and competition made it a blast to play with a few random passersby at Optillusion’s booth. The AI in Pick Me Pick Me isn’t just an obstacle—it’s designed to make every match feel like a real-life dating scenario, adding an unpredictable layer to the competition.
Optillusion’s development team was incredibly open to suggestions, which made the experience even better. They’re still fine-tuning the game and exploring ways to make the AI aspects more affordable. In the meantime, you can pre-order Pick Me Pick Me and stay up-to-date on the latest developments here.
A Promising Future for Optillusion
Both of these titles demonstrate Optillusion’s commitment to innovation and player engagement. Whether you’re exploring the weird and wonderful moments of daily life in While Waiting or battling it out in a light-hearted dating sim in Pick Me Pick Me, these games bring fresh, exciting ideas to the indie scene.
Make sure to keep an eye on these projects—Optillusion is a developer that’s clearly unafraid to take risks, and if PAX West was any indication, those risks are paying off in spades.