I've been at every Seattle-based PAX since 2008. The convention has changed a lot from it once was. For folks who read about smaller, more intimate PAX experiences in the late 2000s, you might expect a relaxed experience where you can walk around and talk to developers about their games, pick up a controller if you were interested, run through a level or two, and move on. But that experience is long gone. Now, it's much more of a marketing event: huge crowds, hours-long lines to play purpose-made 5-minute demos, and the people managing the booths are more likely to be temp-hired, non-knowledgeable crowd jockeys than the developers/artists who created the game and intimately know their product. Obviously, some people prefer this kind of convention (at least judging from the much larger crowds), but personally I find it unpleasant to the extent that I rarely go to the convention floor anymore. That said, you should at least go take a look and see for yourself; you might enjoy seeing all the hype, cosplayers, streamers/gaming celebrities, merchandise/swag, and booth setups. But PAX is really all about connecting with your friends, and so getting a good Discord or group chat going, with lots of meetups and dinners and hangouts will be crucial to enjoying yourself. I've been living in the Seattle area for 7 years now, but I remember coming in from out of town for PAX too. Here are my tips: [b]1. Disinfect Constantly.[/b] Many gamers are hygienic. Many are not. The crowds are huge and there will be a lot of jostling. If you do not use caution in what and who you touch you WILL get sick, and sometimes it's bad (folks who were at PAX 2009 and caught Swine Flu -- like me -- will emphasize this over and over again. It was really really bad). Bring at least a couple of bottles of Purell and make a habit out of disinfecting before [i]and[/i] after you touch anything that other people have touched (such as CONTROLLERS, HEADPHONES, DOOR HANDLES, HANDRAILS, and MERCHANDISE). Don't be shy about avoiding handshakes in favor of fistbumps and shamelessly disinfecting yourself -- I promise you won't regret it. [b]2. Don't go early[/b]. The lines on day 1 of the convention and in the early mornings can be intimidating. Some people wait around for 5-6 hours just to get in the front door because they need to "be first." But if you don't care about being first and don't feel like camping out in a line twiddling your thumbs, go do something else enjoyable with your morning. By early afternoon every day there's usually no line to get in and lines for game demos/booths are significantly smaller. [b]3. Don't bother with the panels[/b]. With apologies to anyone who's ever been on a PAX panel, sorry, but they are uniformly terrible. I've been to dozens and none of them were ever any good. Waiting in line for them (which, again, can be hours) is an incredible and regrettable waste of time. Panels are not worth your time or energy to attend, unless they've made huge improvements in the last few years to the panels (I haven't gone to a panel in several years) that I don't know about. Protip: they haven't. [b]4. Bring a small backpack.[/b] Not only is it good for carrying Purell, water, snacks, etc., but you can stick swag and merchandise in there, and its way better than carrying a bag in your hand. Keep your phone and wallet in your pockets, though (better safe than sorry). [b]5. Get away from the convention center for food/drink[/b] During PAX the area between the Convention Center and Pike Place is the most crowded part of Seattle, and most of them are tourists (both PAX and non-PAX). That means lines, crowds, and potentially people trying to take advantage of you. Nothing too nefarious, but why wait in long lines to pay artificially inflated prices for water or food when you can just go to a different neighborhood and have a more pleasant time? Use Yelp to find places to go and Uber to get there. Other neighborhoods within walking distance that will be much more pleasant include Belltown, Capitol Hill, and Queen Anne. Other fun neighborhoods that are further away (you'll definitely prefer Uber/taxi to get there) include Fremont, Ballard, University District, and Wallingford. Tons of amazing restaurants, bars, clubs, and other places to go in those neighborhoods that won't be nearly as expensive or crowded. [b]6. It's all about the people.[/b] You'll have way more fun if you view PAX as a community event, not a gaming event. Meet up with people you know anywhere and everywhere possible. The games at the convention are a good "sideshow" for entertainment (like the TVs at a sports bar), but the main attraction is seeing old friends and making new ones. Look at it like this and you'll have a great time. If you're looking for other non-PAX stuff to do in Seattle, try: - Pike Place Market (touristy tchochkes) - Fremont Art District (arts and crafts) - Downtown Bellevue (good for shopping and food with way smaller crowds than Seattle) - University Village (same as above) - Any of the numerous public parks/nature areas in the Puget Sound Region (we have some of the most spectacular parks and hikes in the world here, and summer is the best time to see them)