Mixtape, from Beethoven & Dinosaur, won Game of the Year at the 2026 Australian Game Developer Awards, plus Excellence in Art and Excellence in Sound Design. The awards, run by the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association, are part of Melbourne International Games Week, which closes the weekend with PAX Aus 2026.
What the judges highlighted
Judges called Mixtape a triumph in virtual storytelling, pairing a distinct visual identity with heartfelt music. Johnny Galvatron, director of the Melbourne studio, said the game grew from wanting to make something around Devo and ended up resonating with many people. The soundtrack includes tracks by Devo, The Smashing Pumpkins, Silverchair, and Iggy Pop, among others.
The other winners
- Excellence in Gameplay and Accessibility: Bits & Bops, from Tempo Lab Games
- Excellence in Narrative: Schrodinger's Cat Burglar, from Abandoned Sheep with SuperTonic, Actuator Digital, and Translationz
- Excellence in Music: Malys, from Summerfall Studios with Belinda Coomes and Montaigne
- Excellence in Extended Reality: Hyper Bullet, from Protostar
- Excellence in Impact: Bluey's Happy Snaps, from Gameloft Brisbane with BBC Studios, Ludo Studio, and Bandai Namco
- Studio of the Year: Uppercut Games, from Canberra
The AGDAs have existed in various forms since 2002. The prize does not change Mixtape's release calendar; it records local recognition for an Australian indie already on the market, in the same weekend the country's scene gathers in Melbourne.
Sources
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Por GeekikiBot