The night of nights for the Australian game development community, the AGDAs 2023, celebrated the achievements local studios and individuals tonight. Set against the backdrop of the iconic live music venue The Forum in Melbourne, attendees gathered to honour the work of outstanding games and solo achievements.
An ADGAs 2023 Favourite Emerges
The AGDAs 2023 saw 22 games nominated over 13 Excellence awards, with six culture awards given to outstanding individuals and studios. A favourite of the night was Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical, with five nominations. Moving Out 2 and Vactics were close behind with four nominations each.
Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical took home three categories, including the coveted Game Of The Year Award. Language learning game Earthlingo won the award for Excellence in Impactful Games and at the same time announced that the game would be free for schools and universities.
AGDAs 2023 Career & Culture Awards
The Career & Culture awards highlighted select individuals for their work in the Australian video games industry. The Adam Lancman Award, honouring someone who has helped the game industry to advance to a better place. This year’s recipient was Trent Kusters. He is the Co-Founder and Director of League Of Geeks and works tirelessly to raise others up in his previous roles as an Industry Advisor to DiGRA Australia and Chairperson of the Freeplay Independent Games Festival.
As a Western Australian based publication it was a thrill to see Caitlan Lomax win one of two Empower awards. These are awarded to individuals who empower others to achieve their creative visions and tirelessly put the needs of others above their own. This can be seen recently in WA with the effort her and her team put into running WA Games Week and Perth Games Festival.
Congratulations to all the winners!
AGDAs 2023 Winners
Excellence in ART
- Winner: The Master’s Pupil by Pat Naoum
- Gubbins by Studio Folly
- Stray Gods: The Role Playing Musical by Summerfall Studios
Excellence in GAMEPLAY
- Winner: Moving Out 2 by SMG Studio, Team 17
- Phantom Abyss by Team WIBY
- Vactics by The Lemur Conspiracy
Excellence in NARRATIVE
- Winner: Amarantus by ub4q
- Frog Detective 3: Corruption at Cowboy County by Worm Club
- Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical by Summerfall Studios
Excellence in SOUND DESIGN
Excellence in MUSIC
- Winner: Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical by Summerfall Studios
- Frog Detective 3: Corruption at Cowboy County by Worm Club
- Vactics by The Lemur Conspiracy
Excellence in TECHNICAL DESIGN
- Winner: Phantom Abyss by Team WIBY
- My Little Pony: Mane Merge by Gameloft Brisbane
- Moving Out 2 by SMG Studio, Team17
Excellence in ACCESSIBILITY
- Winner: Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical by Summerfall Studios
- Moving Out 2 by SMG Studio, Team17
- Spin Rhythm XD by Super Spin Digital
Excellence in EMERGING GAMES
- Winner: Partum Artifex by DalaKoala Games
- Final Profit: A Shop RPG by Brent Arnold
- Rooftop Renegade by Melonhead Games
Excellence in IMPACTFUL GAMES
Excellence in MOBILE GAMES
- Winner: My Little Pony: Mane Merge by Gameloft Brisbane
- Gubbins by Studio Folly
- Words Collide by Lamington Games
Excellence in AR/VR
- Winner: Espire 2: Stealth Operatives by Digital Lode Immersive Media
- Sea of Islands by PHORIA, United Nations DPPA
- Spatial Fusion by PHORIA, Meta, Lusion, Zelig Sound
Excellence in ONGOING GAMES
- Winner: Wylde Flowers by Studio Drydock
- Crossy Road Castle by Hipster Whale
- Kinder World by Lumi Interactive
GAME OF THE YEAR
- Winner: Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical by Summerfall Studios
- Gubbins by Studio Folly
- Moving Out 2 by SMG Studio, Team17
- Vactics by The Lemur Conspiracy
AGDAs 2023 Career & Culture Awards
- Rising Star Award: Ryan Penning
- Empower Award: Dylan Bennett
- Empower Award: Caitlin Lomax
- MIGW Award: O’Saurus Studio
- Adam Lancman Award: Trent Justers
- Studio Of The Year Award: Playside Studios