It’s that time of the year again where we celebrate the best of the local gaming industry. On Wednesday, the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (IGEA) announced the 2024 finalists for the Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs).
Classic survival horror game CONSCRIPT from solo developer Jordan Mochi of Catchweight Studio leads with six AGDAs nominations, followed by rhythm cooking game Diets & Deities from Larrikan Interactive, and arcade-inspired action shooter KILL KNIGHT from PlaySide Studios with four nominations apiece. All three games are nominated for the AGDAs Game of the Year (GOTY).
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This year, the AGDAs will be celebrated on Wednesday 9 October from 6:30pm AEDT at The Forum Melbourne as part of Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW), and prior to the PAX Australia weekend as done in previous years.
ABC Gamer Presenters and Producers Gemma Driscoll and Harry Jun will return as this year’s AGDAs’ hosts. Tickets are available here. The event will also be live-streamed across IGEA’s Twitch channel for those who can’t attend.
Personally, I’m super keen on Cozy Caravan, Crab God, and Catto’s Post Office, and have found the AGDAs a great way to discover amazing games as I learned back in 2021 when I discovered one of my favourite games, Unpacking by Witch Beam.
View the full list of AGDAs 2024 finalists below:
Excellence in Art – Sponsored by Ultimate Studio
- CONSCRIPT by Catchweight Studio (VIC)
- KILL KNIGHT by PlaySide Studios (VIC)
- Wild Bastards by Blue Manchu, Maximum Entertainment (ACT)
Excellence in Gameplay
- Capes by Spitfire Interactive, Daedalic Entertainment (QLD)
- Max Mustard by Toast Interactive (QLD)
- Wild Bastards by Blue Manchu, Maximum Entertainment (ACT)
Excellence in Narrative
- Capes by Spitfire Interactive, Daedalic Entertainment (QLD)
- CONSCRIPT by Catchweight Studio (VIC)
- The Ruby Court by Dana McKay (VIC)
Excellence in Sound Design – Sponsored by APRA AMCOS
- CONSCRIPT by Catchweight Studio (VIC)
- Cozy Caravan by 5 Lives Studios, Supertonic (QLD)
- KILL KNIGHT by PlaySide Studios (VIC)
Excellence in Music – Sponsored by APRA AMCOS
- Crab God by Chaos Theory Games, Firesquid (NSW)
- Diets & Deities by Larrikin Interactive (NT)
- KILL KNIGHT by PlaySide Studios (VIC)
Excellence in Accessibility – Presented by VicScreen
- Bears In Space by Broadside Games, Ravenscourt (QLD)
- CONSCRIPT by Catchweight Studio (VIC)
- Diets & Deities by Larrikin Interactive (NT)
Excellence in Mobile
- Dumb Ways to Survive by Playside Studio, Netflix Games (VIC)
- Earn to Die Rogue by Not Doppler (NSW)
- Tingus Goose – Weird Idle Game by Sweaty Chair (NSW)
Excellence in Mixed Reality
- Max Mustard by Toast Interactive (QLD)
- Neon Squad Tactics by Tin Man Games (VIC)
- Umurangi Generation VR by ORIGAME DIGITAL (VIC)
Excellence in Impact
- Beyond Blue VR by Chaos Theory Games, E-line Media (NSW)
- Crab God by Chaos Theory Games, Firesquid (NSW)
- Diets & Deities by Larrikin Interactive (NT)
Excellence in Emerging– Sponsored by Screen Queensland
- Catto’s Post Office by In Shambles Studio (QLD)
- CONSCRIPT by Catchweight Studio (VIC)
- Pond Scum by Universal Weebs Unlimited PTY LTD (VIC)
Excellence in Live Service – Sponsored by Sledgehammer Games
- Crossy Road by Hipster Whale (VIC)
- RISK: Global Domination by SMG Studio (NSW)
- The Sims FreePlay by EA Firemonkeys Studio (VIC)
Game of the Year
- CONSCRIPT by Catchweight Studio (VIC)
- Diets & Deities by Larrikin Interactive (NT)
- KILL KNIGHT by PlaySide Studios (VIC)
