The Australian video game industry is expected to be worth close to $300 million dollars by next year*. These are the games helping steer our gaming boom.
*Source: IGEA
You have to admit, the love of gaming is universal. People from all over the world and of all ages enjoy video games in multiple different forms.
So it may surprise you to learn that many of the video games we play over and over again have been developed on Australian soil.
Many of the amazing titles we’ve known and grown to love directly support the Aussie gaming industry.
Here is a list of games you might have not known were created in Australia:
Fruit Ninja by Half Brick Studios
Can you believe the addictive phone game released back in July 2011 is not only Australian-made but has accumulated over 500 million downloads?
Fruit Ninja, developed out of Brisbane, has the player swiping across the screen to cut fruit in half as it flies around all the while trying to avoid any getting past your quick finger.
It is one of those games you can play to pass the time, put it down and pick it back up again to beat your own personal score.
The first one was such a huge success, Half Brick Studios made a sequel; Fruit Ninja 2, which allows players to challenge other ‘ninjas’ across the globe and enjoy mini-games.
Untitled Goose Game by House House
This 2019 release took gamers by storm. With charming cartoon-like visuals, the player takes control of a chaotic goose, completing puzzles and tasks around a picturesque English village. Untitled Goose Game has received thousands of perfect review scores and accolades across the industry.
It offers a non-violent take on wild shenanigans and leaves the villagers of the town dealing with a goose on the loose. The game features quirky stealth mechanics and an interactive soundtrack that evolves as you play. It’s a nice pace change from many third person games currently on the market.
The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning by Krome Studios
This action-adventure video game of 2006 was actually voiced by some of the biggest stars at the time. Elijah Wood and Gary Oldman. It was the first game in The Legend of Spyro trilogy which was a reboot of the original Spyro series.
The next game in the trilogy was also made in Australia by Krome Studios and was called The Eternal Night, both released on PlayStation 2. A New Beginning received more praise than The Eternal Night but both still offer a nostalgic throwback for gamers who began their life-long gaming adventure in the mid 2000s.
L.A Noire by Team Bondi
Developed in Australia by Team Bondi, but published by American company Rockstar Games, L.A Noire is a detective thriller where the player is Cole Phelps, an LAPD detective taking on the crime world one witness at a time. It was released globally in November 2011.
With many glowing reviews, this dark old Hollywood title allows players to properly sink their teeth into finding the truth about murder, corruption and theft in 1947 Los Angeles – sometimes it pays to be nosey.
Heavenly Bodies by 2pt Interactive
Jumping forward to more modern times, Heavenly Bodies is a 2021 title that is for all the puzzle fans. Battling antigravity as a cosmonaut, you can go it solo or play multiplayer and take a friend along for the ride.
Being a Melbourne-developed game, Heavenly Bodies has stunning visuals and challenges that will leave you wanting more. It isnʼt a long game and some players have requested more levels. But whether it’s there for a good time or a long time, Heavenly Bodies is a must play for the space lovers out there.
CULT OF THE LAMB
Cult of the Lamb was created by Melbourne-based studio Massive Monsters.
Other Australian hits include Massive Monster’s Cult of the Lamb, Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight – even big parts of Call of Duty have been made in Melbourne by studio Sledgehammer Games.
So there you have it! How many have you played?
Supporting the game industry here in Australia is so important as it not only creates jobs for those who reside here, but also continues to put Aussie studios on the world stage next to gaming greats such as the UK’s Supermassive Games, US’ Naughty Dog and Japan’s Square Enix.
So next time you’re looking for a new title, consider Australian made.
