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
Announcing Parallels – Freeplay’s 2020 Showcase
Join us at 7PM on Thursday, October 8th 2020, during Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW) as our speakers play and talk about their creations while sharing their origin stories, creative inspirations and intimate journeys.
Freeplay 2020 – Dates, Theme & Keynote Announced
After many months of hard work, deliberation, and adapting to changing circumstances, the Freeplay team is happy to announce that we're returning this year with the new and exciting 2020 Freeplay Digital Festival, an online edition of the festival you've come to know...
The 2020 Freeplay Awards are now open!
The 2020 Freeplay Awards are now open for submissions. However, we’ve made the difficult decision to host this year’s Awards Ceremony online. The deadline for submissions is Sunday 5th April, 11:59 PM (AEST).
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.