Summary
There are some amazing and creative developers operating out of Australia. The Australian independent studios produce some of the most unique, innovative, and sometimes downrightbizarre gameson the market.
Despite losing amazing development companies such asLeague of Geeks(on extended hiatus) due to various pressures following the pandemic, there is still fabulous work being done in the Australian video game industry. This list is designed to celebrate the creativity of established and emerging people in video games. Here are some of the most exciting development companies and their recent releases.
7Spitfire Interactive
Based out of Brisbane
Spitfire Interactiveis a Brisbane company that releasedCapesin 2024.Capesshows an irreverent love for comic book superheroes andXCOM-styleturn-based strategy. It is a game that emphasizes teamwork and finding the best way to utilize the unique abilities of each superhero.
Capesis Spitfire Interactive’s first game as a studio and shows a lot of promise for further projects. The studio’s creatives have previously worked onHand of Fate, which was also a clever take on an established game style, the sinister rogue-like deck builder. It will be interesting to see where they go from here.
65 Lives Studios
Brisbane Indie Developer
5 Live Studio’sCozy Caravanis only in early access but is still creating quite a bit of buzz. There’s no doubt that Australian studios produce some of the best cozy games out there andCozy Caravancertainly delivers those cozy vibes.
Cozy Caravanreceived an award at the Australian Game Developer Awards for sound design in 2024. While 5 Lives Studios may be best known for the recognitionCozy Caravanhas recently received, their previous game,Satellite Reign,is a wonderfully dystopian strategy game that will appeal to fans of class-based combat.
Summerfall Studiosare the creators ofStray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical, which received a lot of attention from critics and gamers upon its release in 2023. The game has received a variety of awards, including the Australia Game Developer Awards Game of the Year. It’s a beautiful multilinear musical role-playing game that draws on mythology to inform its characters and branching narrative.
The studio includes experienced industry veterans in the game field in collaboration with skilled industry newcomers. The newStray GodsDLC‘Orpheus’shows a continuing commitment to continuing the legacy of the complex, clever, and inclusive title.
Massive Monsteris an independent game studio based primarily in Australia and the United Kingdom. Massive Monster’s most popular release by far is the exceptionally brilliantCult of the Lamb,released in 2022 and published by Devolver Digital. InCult of the Lamb,players must spread their cult as far and as fast as possible, aiming for world domination.
Massive Monster’s earlier games,The Adventure PalsandNever Give Up, are platformers with a delightfully mischievous visual style. They are also fiendishly difficult at times, particularlyNever Give Up,which has some insanely punishing levels and grizzly deaths. It’s unclear what Massive Monster are working on next, but they seem dedicated to fostering the fan culture aroundCult of the Lambas well as fostering support and inclusion in the video game industry in general.
Jordan Mochiis a solo developer responsible for the award-winning gameConscript.Conscriptis an amazing top-down survival horror game. IfAmnesia: The BunkerandDarkwoodhad a baby, this is what it might look like. The terrifying setting of the battlefields of World War One is perfect for an exploration of the cruelty of humanity.
Conscriptis Jordan Mochi’s first game and shows a love for the subject and a keen understanding of visual design despite his lack of experience in the industry. If his output thus far is any indication, he is definitely an Australian developer to watch in the future.
House Houseis a small development team based out of Melbourne and is definitely best known for their delightful break-out hitUntitled Goose Game(which was recently featured at ACMI). The player is a “terrible goose” who menaces a quaint village in various fun and inventive ways. Its popularity was further bolstered by the addition of a multiplayer mode, allowing for double the chaos.
Their characteristic cartoon visual style was already established in their first game, the strange multiplayer spatial puzzle gamePush Me Pull You. The characters of the village inUntitled Goose Gamehave considerably more clothes, and feet. Their upcoming gameBig Walklooks to be blending that cartoonish aesthetic with real-world footage.
Witch Beamis probably best known for their gameUnpacking. Players who have experienced the beautiful exploration of home and belonging that wasUnpackingwill be well aware of Witch Beam’s ability to design games that evoke emotion through simple graphics, spatial puzzles, and enacted storytelling.
They are currently working on a new project calledTempopowhich has a reveal trailer available now. It looks like it will showcase Witch Beam’s characteristic charm, but this time with transformable environments and adorable character models.Tempopois yet to have an official release date on Steam but is available to be wishlisted now.
