Ahead of the Australian Game Developer Awards(AGDAs) on October 8, IGEA has revealed this years finalists for 2025. After months of diligent judging by industry peers, a record year of submissions has shown just how creative and bold our local industry continues to be. So far 12 categories have been revealed ahead of the ceremony.
The CEO of IGEA, Ron Curry said “Again we are in awe of the creativity and diversity of games that were submitted for consideration to the 2025 AGDAs. The government funding support at both a federal and state level is empowering developers to create and deliver exceptional projects, stories and IP to delighted players across the world in somewhat challenging times. We congratulate all the entrants this year. Simply shipping a game is an incredible achievement in itself.”
Unlike previous years, The AGDAs will be taking place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in 2025 and not The Forum. The ceremony will also be seated, a move that will hopefully curb that chatter during the awards. Jordan Raskopulos will be returning to host, this time in-person alongside “Friend” AKA Lee Naimo. While I’m sure the stunning previous venue will be missed, it will be interesting to see how the new venue fares, being so close to GCAP – another Melbourne International Games Week industry event.
The 2025 AGDAs Finalists:
Game of the Year
Mars First Logistics — Shape Shop
The Drifter — Powerhoof
PROXIMATE — Cain Maddox
Shattered — PlaySide Studios
Excellence in Visual Art
Cast n Chill — Wombat Brawler
The Drifter — Powerhoof
Mars First Logistics — Shape Shop
Excellence in Gameplay
Mars First Logistics — Shape Shop
PROXIMATE — Cain Maddox
The Drifter — Powerhoof
Excellence in Narrative
PROXIMATE — Cain Maddox
Copycat — Spoonful of Wonder
The Drifter — Powerhoof
Excellence in Sound Design
The Drifter — Powerhoof
PROXIMATE — Cain Maddox
Tempopo — Witch Beam
Excellence in Music sponsored by APRA AMCOS
Copycat — Spoonful of Wonder
Tempopo — Witch Beam
The Drifter — Powerhoof
Excellence in Accessibility sponsored by VicScreen
Letters to Arralla — Little Pink Clouds
Tempopo — Witch Beam
Moonlight in Garland — Violet LeBeaux
Excellence in Mobile
Feed the Deep — Luke Muscat
Carmen Sandiego — Gameloft Brisbane
Nyiyaparli Widi — Co-Designed and Technical Development by DEPT®
Excellence in Extended Reality
Dumb Ways: Free For All — PlaySide Studios
Starship Home — Creature
Shattered — PlaySide Studios
Excellence in Impact
Nyiyaparli Widi — Co-Designed and Technical Development by DEPT®
Shattered — PlaySide Studios
Copycat — Spoonful of Wonder
Excellence in Debut sponsored by Screen Queensland
A Tiny Tale — Tinyware Games
PROXIMATE — Cain Maddox
Starship Home — Creature
Excellence in Ongoing sponsored by Sledgehammer Games
RISK: Global Domination — SMG Studio
Crossy Road — Hipster Whale
Cult of the Lamb — Massive Monster
Tickets are still available to attend the AGDAs 2025 ceremony for $205 AUD. They can be found here.
