Mixtape Takes Home Game of the Year at 2026 Australian Game Developer Awards

At the 2026 Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs), Melbourne-based studio Beethoven & Dinosaur won Game of the Year for its music-themed, minigame-driven adventure game Mixtape. The game also earned awards for Excellence in Visual Art and Excellence in Sound Design.

"Mixtape was the outcome of an amazingly talented team," said Johnny Galvatron, director at Beethoven & Dinosaur. "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."

The AGDA judges praised Mixtape, stating that it "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."

In IGN's May review, Mixtape was called a "musical delight from start to finish" and was said to "set a new standard for coming-of-age stories in video games and does so with a masterful sense of style." The soundtrack features tracks from Devo, The Smashing Pumpkins, Silverchair, Iggy Pop, and many other artists.

Other winners at this year's AGDAs included the rhythm game Bits & Bops from Tempo Lab Games, which won both Excellence in Gameplay and Excellence in Accessibility, and the puzzle platformer Schrodinger's Cat Burglar from Abandoned Sheep, which won Excellence in Narrative. The Studio of the Year award went to Canberra-based Uppercut Games.

The AGDAs, which have been held in various forms since 2002, are presented by Australia's Interactive Games and Entertainment Association. The event is now part of Melbourne International Games Week, which concludes this weekend with PAX Aus 2026.