Hello everyone! We’re thrilled to reveal the 2018 Freeplay Awards Finalists.

This year’s judging was perhaps the most challenging and difficult round of judging for Freeplay ever—not only were there more than double the amount of games submitted (151 in total), but the level of quality, experimentation, and expression was absolutely phenomenal. A HUGE shoutout to the judging team for the outstanding work and time they poured into this year’s round of judging <3

We introduced four new categories this year—Experimental Games, Micro-Games, Student Games, and the Across The Ditch. Our submissions came from all across Australia and New Zealand. We’re super proud of all entries and it completely blows our minds how talented the Australian and New Zealand games scenes are!

We’re proud to be presenting our Awards in partnership with Unity this year. Together we’re very excited to reveal the 2018 Freeplay Award Winners at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday 27th May, 7pm at ACMI Lightwell. The Awards Ceremony is a ticketed event, but conference attendees receive free entry.

Grab your tickets today!

The Freeplay 2018 Awards Finalists

Excellence in Design

  • Exo One – Exbleative
  • Knuckle Sandwich – Andrew Brophy
  • Dissembler – Ian MacLarty
  • Skyward – Rule & Make
  • Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy – Bennett Foddy

Excellence in Visual Art

  • Tala & the Flower Seed – Matthew Petrak
  • The Gardens Between – The Voxel Agents
  • Exo One – Exbleative
  • Desert Child – Oscar Brittain
  • Paperbark – Paper House

Excellence in Audio

  • Deios II // DEIDIA – BARCHboi
  • Florence – Mountains
  • Ticket – magicdweedoo
  • Knuckle Sandwich – Andrew Brophy
  • Exo One – Exbleative

Excellence in Narrative

  • Breakfast Cult – Paul Matijevic
  • Bound By Blood – Jessica Gates
  • Florence – Mountains
  • Knuckle Sandwich – Andrew Brophy
  • {<>} – Albey Amakiir, Nicholas Staracek, Erika Verkaaik & Aaron Williams

Non-Digital Game Award

  • Entropy: Worlds Collide – Rule & Make
  • LAIKA – Melody Watson
  • Breakfast Cult – Paul Matijevic
  • {<>} – Albey Amakiir, Nicholas Staracek, Erika Verkaaik & Aaron Williams
  • It Is Forbidden – Tin Star Games

Micro-Game Award

  • Rise – Dakoda Barker
  • Detachment – Jane Cocks
  • The Catacombs of Solaris – Ian MacLarty
  • My Lil Fanfic – Team Startits
  • LAIKA – Melody Watson

Experimental Game Award

  • Ticket – magicdweedoo
  • Deios II // DEIDIA – BARCHboi
  • WORLD4 – Alexander Muscat
  • Thomas Bowker’s Draw – Thomas Bowker
  • The Catacombs of Solaris – Ian MacLarty

Student Game Award

  • Bound By Blood – Jessica Gates
  • That Boy Is A Monstr – Sav Ferguson
  • An Aspie Life – EnderLost Studios
  • Just, Bearly – Daniel J Roberts
  • Project Bluebook – Bathysphere Studios
  • Lacuna – TeamFourthEye

Across The Ditch Award

  • Flutter VR – Runaway Play
  • Tales of the Crooked Girl Scout – Sergio Cornaga
  • Robin – Team Summer
  • 39 Days to Mars – It’s Anecdotal
  • Echo Grotto – Gaugepunk Games