Australian indie developers took centre stage at SXSW Sydney 2025, with hyperkinetic shooters, charming puzzlers and a ridiculous AFL arcade game among the highlights. The event, now in its third year, saw corporate influence muted in the gaming halls, where most projects came from solo developers or couples.
Leading the showcase were two games with the biggest backing: Mixtape, from veteran studio Beethoven and Dinosaur and publisher Annapurna Interactive, and Pro Jank Footy, from Danger 5 co-creator David Ashby and Tyler Roach, backed by film distributor Umbrella. Mixtape, named SXSW's game of the year, is a nostalgic 90s coming-of-age tale set for release later this year. Pro Jank Footy offers an arcade take on AFL with absurd powerups, and was demonstrated live with commentary from Aunty Donna's Broden Kelly.
Other standout titles included the hyperkinetic shooter Hyper Primate, where players control an ape with wooden guns; the frantic colour-matching game Huedini; the gorgeous adventure Way to the Woods, following a deer and fawn; and the charming postie puzzle game Letters to Arralla, where characters are root vegetables. The Victorian government's support for indie developers paid off, with multiple projects funded by VicScreen, while a strong contingent from South Australia included the minimalist cube-rolling puzzle Toya.
