Australian Game Developer Awards 2025: The Drifter Takes Top Honors

The Australian Game Developer Awards 2025 saw Powerhoof's The Drifter claim the coveted Game of the Year title, along with Excellence in Art, Narrative, and Sound Design accolades. Described by judges as a game that 'exemplifies polish and innovation, embodying the essence of Australian gaming excellence,' The Drifter led the pack. Witch Beam's Tempopo secured two awards for Excellence in Music and Accessibility, while Massive Monster took home Studio of the Year. Epic Games' Antony Reed received the Adam Lancman Award for his tireless advocacy in the Australian games development sector. Adelaide-based Aiden Gyory, founder of Catalyst Games, was awarded the Rising Star Award for his dedication to fostering growth in the local game development community and promoting game development training in schools and universities. Other notable winners included Feed the Deep, Copycat, and Proximate. According to Interactive Games and Entertainment Association CEO Ron Curry, 'this year's winners and finalists showcase the boundless creativity and diversity within Australia's thriving games industry.' Curry highlighted the unique submissions across every category, praising the panel of judges for their challenging task of selecting winners. The AGDAs celebrate Australian studios' determination to develop games that exceed expectations, supported by federal and state governments' initiatives. The full list of winners includes: Game of the Year - The Drifter, Excellence in Art - The Drifter, Excellence in Gameplay - Mars First Logistics, Excellence in Narrative - The Drifter, Excellence in Sound Design - The Drifter, Excellence in Music - Tempopo, Excellence in Accessibility - Tempopo, Excellence in Mobile - Feed the Deep, Excellence in Extended Reality - Shattered, Excellence in Impact - Copycat, Excellence in Debut - Proximate, Excellence in Ongoing - Risk: Global Domination, The Rising Star - Aiden Gyory, The Adam Lancman Award - Antony Reed, and Studio of the Year - Massive Monster.