Develop:Star Awards 2025 Winners Announced — Sam Lake, Astro Bot, and Thank Goodness You’re Here! Among Big Highlights

Sam Lake, Astro Bot, and Thank Goodness You’re Here (Image Credit: Sam Lake/Team Asobi/Panic Inc)

The winners of the Develop:Star Awards 2025 were officially revealed this week at the annual Develop:Brighton event.

A total of 17 awards were handed out, recognizing everything from game design and narrative innovation to studio excellence and industry mentorship.

One of the night’s most celebrated moments was the presentation of the prestigious Develop Star Award to Sam Lake, the creative force behind Remedy Entertainment’s story-rich titles like Max Payne, Alan Wake, and Control.

Sam Lake—whose real name is Sami Järvi—has long been a defining figure in video game storytelling. Beyond writing and directing, he’s even inserted himself into gaming history, famously lending his own likeness to the original Max Payne. 2025 has already been a milestone year for Lake, having previously received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards and the Andrew Yoon Legend Award at the 14th New York Game Awards.

Another standout of the awards night was Team Asobi’s critically acclaimed platformer Astro Bot, which continued its winning streak with honors for Best Game Design and Best Technical Innovation. This follows its sweeping wins at The Game Awards 2024 and the D.I.C.E. Awards 2025, where it was crowned Game of the Year and praised for both its animation and technical execution.

Meanwhile, indie darling Thank Goodness You’re Here!, developed by Coal Supper and published by Panic Inc., stole the spotlight by winning Best Original IP, Best Narrative, and the ultimate prize—Best Game. The quirky slapformer has been winning hearts with its offbeat humor, unique animation style, and storytelling that blends British charm with absurdist humor.

The recognition didn’t come out of nowhere. Thank Goodness You’re Here! has been racking up nominations at several major shows, including: BAFTA Games Awards 2025 (Winner of British Game), Golden Joystick Awards 2024, and New York Game Awards 2025.

Other Develop:Star winners included Still Wakes the Deep for Best Visual Art, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle for Best Audio, and Atomfall for Best In-Game Accessibility. 

Rebellion was named Best Studio, while Spilt Milk Studios took home Best Small Studio.

The awards also highlighted industry contributions beyond just game development. For instance, Limit Break Mentorship was honored for Best EDI Initiative, and Playground Games received the Talent & Recruitment Star.

PowerWash Simulator earned a nod for Best Marketing Campaign, reflecting the growing importance of outreach in today’s competitive gaming landscape.

Here’s a quick look at some of the key winners:

• Best Game Design: Astro Bot (Team ASOBI | Sony Interactive Entertainment)

• Best Original IP: Thank Goodness You’re Here! (Coal Supper | Panic Inc.)

• Best Narrative: Thank Goodness You’re Here!

• Best Mobile Game: Monument Valley 3 (ustwo games | Netflix Games)

• Best Studio: Rebellion

• Best Small Studio: Spilt Milk Studios

• Publishing Star: Playstack

• Tomorrow’s Star: Valeriya Lakhtikova (Dovetail Games)

• Develop Star Award: Sam Lake (Remedy Entertainment)

Andy Lane, managing director at Tandem Events, summed it up best:

“The Develop Star Awards give much-deserved recognition to the amazing people behind the best games released in the last year. It’s not just an evening to gather and celebrate the nominees—it’s a place to celebrate the games industry as a whole.”

From industry veterans to rising indie stars, the Develop:Star Awards 2025 successfully showcased the creative talent and diversity that continues to drive the gaming world forward.