The 2024 Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs), the local video game industry’s night of nights, is fast approaching, and the finalists are in. Leading the way is Conscript with six nominations, including the coveted Game of the Year award.
Hosted by the industry peak body, the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA), the AGDAs recognise the best work from local developers across various disciplines. Held during Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW), the event leads into PAX Aus, a massive gathering of all things video games.
Alongside Conscript, fellow Game of the Year nominees include Diets and Deities, and Kill Knight.
Made by Melbourne-based developer Jordan Mochi, Conscript depicts a survival-horror perspective on World War One. Inspired by genre classics like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, the game sees you play as a French soldier facing the horrific realities of war during the Battle of Verdun.
In her five-star review, GamesHub’s Leah Williams described Conscript as “an incredibly impactful tale of war. It forces you to trail after whispered hope, gathering strength not for glory, but out of sheer survival instinct.”
Diets & Deities, on the other hand, comes from Larrikin Interactive, an independent team based in the Northern Territory. It’s a rhythm cooking game that brings together deities and cultures from around the world. Sure to make you hungry, it includes real-world recipes inspired by the cultures the game depicts.
Rounding out the Game of the Year nominees is Kill Knight by PlaySide Studios, the same studio behind the brutal strategy stylings of Age of Darkness. Kill Knight is a flashy arcade shooter that throws swarms of deadly enemies your way.
AGDAs 2024 finalists
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)
The 2024 AGDAs include a great crop of games, sans one notable omission. Solium Infernum, from beleaguered Melbourne studio League of Geeks, missed out on scoring a single nomination.
Regardless, it’s an impressive list that showcases the local industry’s breadth of talent. The AGDAs 2024 winners will be announced at the awards night on 9 October from 6:30 PM AEDT, streamed live on IGEA’s Twitch channel.
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