Freeplay is the world’s longest-running independent games festival, located in Melbourne, Australia. Established in 2004, the festival embraces the fringes, spotlights grassroots artists and game makers, and acts as a response to and critique of the status quo. For over 19 years, Freeplay has been exploring the vital margins of independent, alternative, and experimental games culture. The festival continues to champion artistic exploration and experimentation in games and play, and positions game making as arts practice.
Memory Lane
Latest News
Submissions Open for The Freeplay Awards
After a two-year hiatus, The Freeplay Awards return! The Freeplay Awards celebrate excellence in indie gaming in Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania. This year, submissions are open to digital & non-digital games released between 26th April 2021 and 22nd September...
Parallels ’23 Tickets on Sale!
It's time! Parallels is back and set to roll into MIGW on Thursday the 5th of Oct, being co-presented by the wonderful folks at ACMI. Tickets are on sale now via the ACMI website! Starting at 6:30pm in ACMI's Cinema One, this years line up includes such future...
Parallels set for MIGW ‘23
Freeplay is proud to announce the return of Parallels to the 2023 MIGW lineup, taking place at ACMI in Fed Square on Thursday October 5th. Highlighting curious and creative works from lovely and talented people, Parallels is a night of talks, play, stories and laughs....
Freeplay acknowledges the Wurundjeri & Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the Lands upon which the festival takes place.
We pay respect to their Elders past and present, and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the wider community and beyond.
Sovereignty was never ceded, and this always was and always will be Aboriginal land.