SXSW Sydney 2025 Games Awards Nominees Revealed

The SXSW Sydney Games Festival brings together bold, brilliant, and boundary-pushing titles from across the globe, showcasing the creativity and innovation shaping the future of play. The celebration reaches its peak with the SXSW Sydney Games and Screen Awards, taking place on Saturday 18 October at 7pm at UTS Underground. This unforgettable night invites players, developers, and creators alike to gather for a ceremony and party honouring the very best in gaming.

From emerging indie studios to global trailblazers, the Games Awards celebrate the very best in gaming. Check out the shortlisted games and developers across each category below.

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SXSW Sydney Discovery Award 

The SXSW Sydney Discovery Award honours a standout title from emerging developers or new studios featured in the SXSW Sydney Games Showcase.

• Beyond the Board - Fragile Shapes Studio
• Compress(space) - B-Deshi Interactive
• Desktop Explorer - Recurring Dream
• Letters to Arralla - Little Pink Clouds
• PRŠÍ - Herdek Kolektiv

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SXSW Sydney Best International Game

This award highlights an exceptional game created by a team outside Australia and New Zealand, celebrating standout achievements from international developers. Discover the global talent pushing boundaries in game design.

• Auridia - Norseboar Games
• FACEMINER - Wristwork
• Goodnight Universe - Nice Dream
• Relooted - Nyamakop
• Stretchmancer - Triangle Wave

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SXSW Sydney Game of the Year 

The SXSW Sydney Game of the Year celebrates outstanding artistry and design, awarded to a title that blends technical skills and creative brilliance into a remarkable experience.

• Aether & Iron - Chaos Theory & Seismic Squirrel
• As Long As You're Here - Autoscopia Interactive
• Gambonanza - Blukulélé
• Mixtape - Beethoven & Dinosaur
• Tavern Keeper - Greenheart Games

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SXSW Sydney People’s Choice Award

The People’s Choice Award is a testament to the game that captured your hearts and minds, as voted by attendees at SXSW Sydney. Voting takes place on the SXSW Sydney app and closes on 18 October at 5pm. Please make sure you vote for your favourite title before that time. 

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The Best Tabletop Game Award

The Best Tabletop Game Award will be announced at the Games Awards after judging during SXSW Sydney. 

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SXSW Sydney Best Student Game Award 

The Best Student Game Award will be presented on Wednesday 15 October at 2:30pm at ICC Sydney Parkside Ballroom.

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This award highlights the extraordinary work done by university students in the final years of their degree. It honors the incredible talent and creative skills from emerging game developers in Asia-Pacific. 

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The winner of the Best Student Game Award will receive an exclusive 12-hour mentorship package with the legendary team at Devolver Digital.

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• Aberrate Inc. - Aberrate Team (Macquarie University)
• Bento Blocks - Sometimes Limited (Media Design School)
• Cloudlings - Howler (University of Queensland)
• Cyberpedia - Bitcrush (RMIT)
• Pistil - Sagehart Studio (RMIT)
• Soul Launder Inc.- P3.14 & Minions (King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi) 

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