Over 500 game developers gathered at WX in Wakefield on 13th November for an event that not only showcased new games, but celebrated the achievements of studios, individuals and charities at a special Game Republic Awards ceremony, judged by Guardian games journalist and writer Keith Stuart. The event also included the Best Indie Game Made in The North Award selected by public vote.
Jamie Sefton, MD of Game Republic presented the awards and said, “This year we have been blown away by the quality of the nominations of every size of games company that show the significant contributions the Northern games industry is making to the UK games industry.”
In a video, Keith Stuart bemoaned the challenge of judging such a stellar line-up, jokingly asking if the games industry could tone it down a little for next year, to make his job easier.
The event was sponsored by HP and AMD with Escape Technology and Plus Accounting and supported by Game Republic’s Official Partners Red Kite Games, Xsolla and Barclays Games and Creative The event which included 68 new games being showcased from Northern games companies – with 10 from Scotland through a partnership with the SGDA – plus roundtables and networking. Thanks to all the Award sponsors
The winners:
Best Small Studio sponsored by Yogscast Games
Dink
Best Mid-Sized Studio sponsored by Other Things
Tanglewood Games
Best Large Studio sponsored by Eaton Smith Solicitors
Winner – d3t
Studio Hero Award sponsored by Plus Accounting
Winner – Natasha Vincent EA Playdemic
Inclusivity Award
Winner – Safe In Our World
Inspiring Course Leader sponsored by Double Eleven
Winner – Rob Charlish Wakefield College
Innovative Use of Technology Award sponsored by HP, AMD with Escape Technology
Winner – Reflex Arc
Community Manager Award
Winner – Pedro Silva Double Eleven
Martyn Brown Rising Star Award
Winner – Sarah York, Panda Cat Games
Best Game-Related Research
Francesca Foffano, IGGI
Game Legend Award sponsored by Red Kite Games
Darren Falcus
Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Red Kite Games
Ian Stewart
Best Game Made in The North sponsored by Xsolla
This category was subject to a public vote
Winner – Empyreal by Silent Games
The Game Republic Awards Nominations are in
Nominations closed on 30th September.Here are the list of nominees under each category which will be judged by Game Republic, Sponsors and our Boss Judge who has the final say on everything Keith Stuart. Apart from in the best Indie Game Made in The North which is subject to a public vote.Winners will be announced on 13th November 2025 at GaMaYo which will see over 50 new games being showcased, roundtables with experts as well as networking, food and drink in the spectacular setting of WX in Wakefield. As usual the Game Republic Awards won’t be formal, it will be celebratory and short to ensure everyone gets a chance to play the games and socialise.
Best Indie Game Made in the North sponsored by Xsolla – Voting Open
- Rules and Rodents – Gravy Crew Games
- Empyreal – Silent Games
- Retro Slam Tennis – New Star Games
- Rugby League 24 – Distinctive Games
- Dunk Dunk – Badgerhammer/Playtonic Games
- Dicealot – Goodview Games/Yogscast Games
- Ascend – Miami Avalon
- Platypus Reclayed – Claymatic Games
- Wyrd Waters – Maximalist
- Vextorial – Vext Games/Dink
- Starship Troopers Continuum – XR Games
- Train Sim World VR: New York – Just Add Water
- Siege and The Sandfox – Cardboard Sword
- Racoon Saloon – Theo Clarke
- Positron – Retroburn
Best Small Studio Award sponsored by Yogscast Games
Nominees:
Dink
Observer Interactive
Panda Cat Games
10:10 Games
ShotDash
BetaJester Ltd
Cooperative Innovations
Maximalist Ltd
Dreaming Methods
North Breeze Entertainment
Claymatic Games
Badgerhammer
Five Aces / New Star Games
Distinctive Games
Best Mid-Sized Studio Award sponsored by Other Things
Nominees:
Radical Forge
Red Kite Games
Atomhawk
Nosebleed Interactive
Skyhook Games
Behaviour Interactive
Tanglewood Games
Steel City Interactive
Best Large Studio Award sponsored by Eaton Smith Solicitors
Nominees:
Team17
Sumo Digital
Wushu Studios
Double11
D3t
Cloud Imperium
Firesprite
Lucid Games
Inclusivity Award
Nominees:
BetaJester Ltd
Radical Forge
Safe in our world
One to One Development Trust
Most Innovative Use of Technology sponsored by HP and AMD with Escape Technology
Nominees:
Cooperative Innovations
Northwave
Reflex Arc
One to One Development Trust
Tanglewood Games
Huey Games
Studio Hero Award sponsored by Plus Accounting
Nominees:
Niall Curran – Dink
Adam Riley – Team17
Harry Knott – Observer Interactive
Adam Grimley – Huey Games
Natasha Vincent – EA Playdemic
Tara Naz – Cloth Cat Games
Derek Cowap – Radical Forge
Adam Clewes-Boyne – BetaJester Ltd
Grant Clark – Double Eleven
Johnny Hughes – Double Eleven
Lewis Bibby – Cooperative Innovations
Jamie Smith – Behaviour Interactive
Ryan Smith – Radical Forge
Jake Richards -Dink
Ash Habib – Steel City Interactive
Community Manager Award
Nominees:
Molly Holmes – Panda Cat Games
Pedro Silva – Double Eleven
Harry Flanagan – The Save Room Club
Em Aspinall – Safe In Our World
Tom Birdsey – Team17
Luke S – Curve Games
Kevin Johnson – Electronic Arts
Martyn Brown Rising Star Award
Nominees:
Harry Flanagan – Revolution
Jess Whall – Chokepoint Creative
Marco – Otterweave Games Studio
Yasmina Fadel – Maximalist
Jordan Thorpe – Snappy Gurus
Sarah York – Panda Cat Games
Natasha Handley – Gongylus Games
Rich Thompson – Black Rose Studio
Ryan Smith – Radical Forge
Francesca White – Behaviour Interactive
Northwave
Maximalist
Max Everingham – Noodle Cat Games
Paige Grant – Pitstop Productions
Inspiring Course Leader Award sponsored by Double Eleven
Nominees:
James Cotterill – University Campus Doncaster
Dr. Duke Gledhill – University of Huddersfield
Michael Smith – Heart of Yorkshire
Kieran Hicks – University of Staffordshire
Rob Charlish – Wakefield College / Heart of Yorkshire
Marco A. Valerio – Leeds Beckett University
Stuart Lilford – University of Hull
Mike Acosta -University of Staffordshire
Emma Nuttall – University of Salford
Matthew Crossley – Manchester Metropolitan University
Best Game-Related Research
Nominees:
Dr Martin Turner, Dr John Henry, Dr Ashley Williams – Manchester Metropolitan University
TriageStory Team – Sheffield Hallam University
Stuart Lilford, Adrian Mills & David Grant
Francesca Foffano – IGGI
Tania Dales – University of York
Tom Garner – Sheffield Hallam University
Tom Battey – Sheffield Hallam University
Kieran Hicks and Chris Headleand – University of Staffordshire
Games Legend sponsored by Red Kite Games
Nominees:
Matt Shepcar – Red Kite Games
Shaun Southern – Playdemic
Sally Blake – Silent Games
Matty McGrory – Observer Interactive
Simon Barratt – Cooperative Innovations
Matt Phillips – Double Eleven
Darren Falcus
Ian Stewart – Gremlin Graphics
Nina Cliff – Auroch Digital
Nominate below before the deadline 30th September 2025. Winners announced at GaMaYo on 13th November at WX