The AGDAs award ceremony is a night of festivity, glamour, and local recognition. Closing off the GCAP conference, the AGDAs celebrate the Australian industry’s creative vision and technical skill. Emerging studios and rising-star individuals are also highlighted.

Victoria swept the board of accolades, proving why the state remains the leading hub of the Australian games industry.

Melbourne-based Summerfall Studios took home the Game of the Year Award for Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical. They were also awarded Excellence in Accessibility and for Music.

The Studio of the Year award went to PlaySide Studios—also located in Melbourne and an employer of 260 people.

Excellence in Sound Design went to Studio Folly for their whimsical word game Gubbins,and Excellence in AR/VR went to Digital Lode for their VR stealth game Espire 2: Stealth Operatives.

Excellence in Ongoing game was awarded to Studio Drydock for Wylde Flowers, a witchy and pastoral farming sim that has expanded since its initial release last year.

The AGDAs also recognise emerging creators and industry leaders. This year’s esteemed Adam Lancman Award was given to League of Geek’s Director and Co-Founder Trent Kusters for his commitment to supporting others. As IGEA’s press release put it: “He is a fantastic force for good within the industry and a great ambassador for the Australian games industry locally and abroad.”

Finally, sponsored by Creative Victoria, the MIGW Award was granted to O’Saurus Studios who are currently working on the atmospheric mystery game Call of the Golden Valley. As part of the award, O’Saurus Studios will receive mentorship, enterprise support, resources and industry connections.

Image via the AGDAs

“Australia has an international reputation for creating high quality, diverse games, as this year's awards have once again demonstrated,” says IGEA CEO Ron Curry in a press release for the event. “With the recent introduction of the Digital Games Tax Offset and continued Screen Australia support, the local video games industry will see more innovation, more investment, and more opportunities in the coming years. There has never been a better time to make games in Australia.”

Congratulations to all the AGDA winners!

Below is a full list of awards and recipients.

Excellence in Art - The Master’s Pupil by Pat Naoum

Excellence in Gameplay - Moving Out 2 by SMG Studio, Team17

Excellence in Narrative - Amarantus by ub4q

Excellence in Sound Design - Gubbins by Studio Folly

Excellence in Music - Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical by Summerfall Studios

Excellence in Technical Design - Phantom Abyss by Team WIBY

Excellence in Accessibility - Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical by Summerfall Studios

Excellence in Emerging Games - Partum Artifex by DalaKoala Games

Excellence in Impactful Games - Earthlingo by Earthlingo

Excellence in Mobile Games - My Little Pony: Mane Merge by Gameloft Brisbane

Excellence in AR/VR Games - Espire 2: Stealth Operatives by Digital Lode Immersive Media

Excellence in Ongoing Games - Wylde Flowers by Studio Drydock

Game of the Year - Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical by Summerfall Studios

MIGW Award - O’Saurus Studios

Studio of the Year – PlaySide Studios

Empower Award – Dylan Bennett & Caitlin Lomax

Rising Star Award – Ryan Penning

Adam Lancman Award – Trent Kusters