Unmissable moments at SXSW Sydney Games Festival

For the first time ever, the Games Festival is moving to ICC Sydney, right in the beating heart of the SXSW Sydney precinct. With this move comes a major upgrade: Games Wristbands now unlock new levels of access across the Games Festival, Tech & Innovation Expo, XR+ Showcase, and even parts of the Conference that were previously off-limits.

Unmissable Moments

120 indie games from around the world
Film Premieres and special screenings
Content creators and indie developer games commentary sessions

Whether you're scouting talent, networking, or just here to play, this is where the best in games comes to shine.

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KEY EVENTS GAMES SHOWCASE TABLETOP SHOWCASE

Key Dates

Games Festival Showcase

15-18 October

Skill Up x Noclip

17 October

Tabletop Festival XR+

17-18 October

GAMES SHOWCASE LINEUP

38+ countries, 25 genres, endless loopsCheck out the lineup of new and upcoming titles from all corners of the world.

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Games Industry Keynote

Dungeon Master in Dialogue

Brennan Lee Mulligan Live

Join Brennan Lee Mulligan, creator of Dimension 20 and new Dungeon Master of Critical Role in his Keynote session at SXSW Sydney.

In his first visit to Australia, Brennan will explore the art of improvisation, collaborative storytelling, and the alchemy of building immersive worlds. With his work now amplified on a global stage and his signature wit and dramatic flair in full force, Brennan invites attendees to discover not just how campaigns are built, but how they connect us all.

Games Festival Showcase

Discover, Play, Connect

Get your hands on 120 indie games from around the world. Test the demos, meet the developers and see the best titles in Australia’s largest in-person showcase.

XR Showcase

Immersive experiences

Step into a world of immersive, interactive, and experimental experiences. From VR and AR games to sensory installations and generative environments, XR+ highlights how creative technology is reshaping the way we play, interact, and experience reality

Tech Expo

Discover the future of tech

This is where visionary thinkers and boundary-pushing companies come together to unveil technologies and ideas shaping what’s next.

Discover an expansive showcase of exhibits and interactive activations from global leaders in tech and innovation.

Live Games Commentary

Get behind the scenes

Hear from the brains behind the game and join developers live on stage as their play through their creations. Peak behind the curtain and get into the guts of what it really means to build games today: the hard truths of indie marketing, the pressure to perform as both a dev and an influencer, the fine art of negotiation, and the increasingly blurred lines between film and games.

Featured Session

Skill Up x Noclip

Pioneering YouTube

oin YouTube icons Skill Up and Noclip as they discuss their careers, content creation, finding their place in a saturated industry and staying relevant in the ever changing landscapes of games media.

Game Jam Feature Night

Talent with a timelimit

Slither into the Snake themed Game Jam Feature Night at AIT. All games are made by developers in under a month, these bite-sized projects are filled with charm, weirdness, and delight, offering a glimpse into what happens when imagination meets a tight deadline.

Tabletop Festival

Dive into new worlds

Featuring original titles from rising creators, this hands-on exhibition invites you to explore fresh mechanics, imaginative worlds, and the next generation of tabletop design.

Film Premiere

Exit 8

A man trapped in a endless sterile subway passageway sets out to find Exit 8. The rules of his quest are simple: do not overlook anything out of the ordinary. If you discover an anomaly, turn back immediately.

Adapted from the 2023 KOTAKE CREATE psychological horror game The Exit 8.

Student showcase