The Australian Game Developer Awards have relocated to a new venue in 2025, with this year’s show taking place at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. However, its focus remains on delivering a show that highlights the creativity and diversity within the Australian game developer scene.
Taking out the big award for Game of the Year was The Drifter, from Melbourne-based studio Powerhoof. The game also won awards for Excellence in Narrative, Visual Art, and Sound Design.
“It’s such an honour to see our game recognised as Game of the Year at the AGDAs,” said Powerhoof co-founder Dave Lloyd. “It’s been a long journey, but we’re thrilled that a game we started making in 2019 has resonated with so many players.”
Other winners at this year’s AGDAs included Copycat, Feed the Deep, Mars First Logistics, Proximate, Risk, Shattered and Tempopo. While Cult of the Lamb developer Massive Monster took home the award for Studio of the Year, the Rising Star Award and Adam Lancman Award went to Aiden Gyory and Antony Reed, respectively.
Here are all the winners from this year’s Australian Game Developer Awards:
Studio of the Year: Massive Monster (VIC)
The Adam Lancman: Antony Reed (VIC)
The Rising Star: Aiden Gyory (ACT)
Excellence in ongoing: RISK: Global Domination by SMG Studio (NSW)
Excellence in Debut: PROXIMATE by Cain Maddox (VIC)
Excellence in Impact: Copycat by Spoonful of Wonder (VIC)
Excellence in Extended Reality: Shattered by PlaySide Studios & Meta (VIC)
Excellence in mobile: Feed the Deep by Luke Muscat (QLD)
Excellence in accessibility: Tempopo by Witch Beam (QLD)
Excellence in music: Tempopo by Witch Beam (QLD)
Excellence in sound design: The Drifter by Powerhoof (VIC)
Excellence in narrative: The Drifter by Powerhoof (VIC)
Excellence in gameplay: Mars First Logistics by Shape Shop (VIC)
Excellence in art: The Drifter by Powerhoof (VIC)
Game of the year: The Drifter by Powerhoof (VIC)
Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA, said this about the winners at this year’s show:
“This year’s winners and finalists demonstrate the creativity and diversity radiating from Australia’s games industry. With unique submissions across every category, our panel of judges had the difficult task of narrowing the field down to three finalists and ultimately selecting winners. On behalf of IGEA, I extend my congratulations to all the 2025 AGDAs winners and thank the judges for their invaluable input.”
The Australian Game Developer Awards run as part of Melbourne International Games Week 2025
