Beethoven & Dinosaur’s Mixtape Wins Game of the Year at the AGDAs

07
Oct

Uppercut Games awarded Studio of the Year

7 October 2026 – Melbourne based game development studio Beethoven & Dinosaur has won Game of the Year for its narrative-driven adventure game Mixtape at the 2026 Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs). Presented by the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA), the AGDAs celebrate the best and brightest of Australia’s video game development industry.

“Mixtape was the outcome of an amazingly talented team,” said Beethoven & Dinosaur director, Johnny Galvatron. “To go from wanting to make a game around DEVO to creating something that resonates with so many people is mind blowing. We’re lucky to be part of such a talented community, and I’m so proud of Mixtape and my team.”

Mixtape is a coming-of-age story told through striking stop-motion 3D visuals, with an iconic soundtrack featuring artists such as The Cure, Joy Division, and DEVO. AGDA’s judges praised the game for its heartfelt narrative and polished gameplay, stating, “Mixtape is a triumph in virtual storytelling, pairing a distinct visual identity with heartfelt music to deliver one of the most memorable experiences in recent memory.” Mixtape also won Excellence in Visual Art and Excellence in Sound Design.

Other winners from this year’s AGDAs include rhythm game Bits & Bops (Tempo Lab Games) for Excellence in Gameplay, and Excellence in Accessibility; physics-based puzzle platformer Schrodinger’s Cat Burglar (Abandoned Sheep with SuperTonic, Actuator Digital & Translationz) which took home the award for Excellence in Narrative; hand-drawn, action-adventure debut Key Fairy (Owl Machine) won Excellence in Debut. Everyone’s favourite dog was also recognised at this year’s awards with Bluey’s Happy Snaps (Gameloft Brisbane) winning the Excellence in Impact category.

The AGDAs also recognise studios and individuals who have greatly contributed to the growth of the Australian video game industry. The Studio of the Year was awarded to Uppercut Games, the Canberra-based team behind the Submerged series and the highly anticipated Magicians: The Devil’s Deal, slated for release in 2027. Uppercut is celebrated for fostering a diverse team and company culture that emphasises collaboration and respect, and for the consistent contribution and support the team makes to uplifting the Australian games industry.

The inaugural Games Connect Asia Pacific (GCAP) Legacy Award has been awarded to Riot Games principal software engineer and industry veteran, Tony Albrecht. Tony’s commitment and advocacy for the ANZ video game community span decades, including twenty years of GCAP public speaking engagements and industry panels to foster the next generation of game developers. Additionally, as a founding member of ARGGGH, now known as Adelaide Game Developers, Tony has helped build and sustain South Australia’s local game development community.

Amy Potter-Jarman, games marketing expert at Synty Studios, and Tyson Butler-Boschma, Associate Lead Cinematic & Lighting Artist at Gameloft, were awarded the 2026 Rising Star Award for their commitment and dedication to the ANZ developer space. As the visionary behind Frosty Games Fest, Amy has built global relationships with prominent industry events such as the Summer Games Fest to help platform up-and-coming ANZ game devs. Tyson has played a key role in fostering knowledge sharing and community growth with the ANZ games community, contributing to many programs and events both within industry and across the broader screen sectors, including mentorship and authoring a book aimed at closing the knowledge gap between early career and experienced developers.

This year’s Adam Lancman Award was awarded to Secret Lab and Yarn Spinner Creative Director Paris Buttfield-Addison. Paris’s work within ANZ spans many facets, including co-founding the BAFTA and IGF winning studio Secret Lab, championing local development as President of Tasmanian Game Makers (TasGM), helping educate the next generation of Australian game-makers and working with policy makers, media and agencies to highlight the local industry and the opportunities available.

“This year’s selection of winners and finalists is a great showcase of Australia’s games industry,” said Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA. “The breadth and diversity of submissions across all our categories from across all the country represents the remarkable talent we have here and the maturity of the Australian video game industry. On behalf of IGEA, I’d like to thank and congratulate the finalists, winners, and judges for their work and commitment in making the Australian video game industry what it is today.

“Behind every great Australian game and individual is a robust ecosystem that allows them to flourish. Support from state, territory and federal governments not only drives growth but enables Australian studios to take creative risks, create more jobs, and compete on the global stage. Continued government funding is crucial in ensuring Australia continues to produce great games that are exported to the rest of the world.”

Please see the full list of the AGDA 2026 winners below:

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Please contact igea@doublejump.com.au for queries or to arrange an interview.

About the AGDAs

The Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs) are a national event celebrating outstanding games and individual achievements by the Australian game development community.

Since 2020, the AGDAs have been run by the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) – the peak industry association representing the voice of Australian and New Zealand companies in the computer and video games industry.

For more information, please visit:  https://agdas.com.au

About IGEA

IGEA (Interactive Games & Entertainment Association) is the peak industry association representing the voice of Australian and New Zealand companies in the computer and video games industry.  IGEA supports the games industry’s business and public policy interests through advocacy, research and education programs. For more information, please visit www.igea.net