The Drifter Wins Game of the Year at the 2025 Australian Game Developer Awards
- Sagar Mankar
- 6 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Melbourne-based studio Powerhoof has claimed the top honor at the 2025 Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs), with its narrative-driven adventure The Drifter taking home Game of the Year. The title also swept several other categories, including Excellence in Art, Excellence in Narrative, and Excellence in Sound Design, cementing its place as one of the standout Australian releases of the year.
Why Did The Drifter Stand Out?
The Drifter is a modern take on the classic 2D point-and-click adventure, blending fast-paced storytelling with striking pixel art and atmospheric sound design.
You play as Mick Carter, a drifter who returns home for a funeral only to stumble into a violent conspiracy. After witnessing a brutal murder, Mick himself is killed but wakes up moments earlier, retaining full memory of what just happened.
This time-loop mechanic drives the narrative, forcing you to piece together events, uncover hidden motives, and survive long enough to unravel the truth. The setting is a gritty, fictional Australian city, giving the game a distinct local flavor rarely seen in the genre.
Critics and judges both have highlighted how The Drifter “expands the possibilities of the genre” while still feeling approachable. Judges at IGEA praised the game as “a title that oozes polish from every pore,” noting how it pushes the boundaries of its genre while showcasing the strength of Australian-made creativity.
It was officially released on July 17, 2025, for PC (Steam, macOS, Linux), with a Nintendo Switch version expected later.
Who Else Took Home Awards?
While The Drifter dominated the evening, other titles also earned recognition across diverse categories:
Tempopo by Witch Beam won Excellence in Music and Excellence in Accessibility.
Mars First Logistics by Shape Shop secured Excellence in Gameplay for its creative rover-building mechanics.
Feed the Deep by Luke Muscat won Excellence in Mobile, while Copycat by Spoonful of Wonder earned Excellence in Impact.
Solo developer Cain Maddox’s haunting debut Proximate was awarded Excellence in Debut.
Shattered, developed by PlaySide Studios in collaboration with Meta, won Excellence in Extended Reality.
Risk: Global Domination by SMG Studio took Excellence in Ongoing for its continued success.
The AGDAs also spotlighted individuals and studios shaping the future of Australian game development. Massive Monster, the team behind Cult of the Lamb, was named Studio of the Year for its global impact and support of marginalized creators.
Antony Reed, Epic Games’ director for ANZ & SEA, received the Adam Lancman Award for his long-standing advocacy in the sector. Meanwhile, Aiden Gyory, founder of Catalyst Games and community manager at Game Plus, was honored with the Rising Star Award for his dedication to mentoring and training the next generation of developers.
Ron Curry, CEO of the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA), emphasized that this year’s winners reflect the “creativity and diversity radiating from Australia’s games industry.” He noted that government support continues to provide opportunities for studios to deliver innovative experiences enjoyed worldwide.