Nominations closed on 30th September and Game Republic alongside our Official Partners Red Kite Games, Barclays and Xsolla and our Award Sponsors have been amazed by the response with over 100 nominees and hundreds of nominations received for the Awards this year. Thanks all for taking time out to nominate your colleagues, studios, games and more.
Commenting about the response this year Jamie Sefton MD of Game Republic said “Every year we see more nominations coming through for studios, individuals and games which is testimony to the great work going on across The North. This is a great opportunity to shine a light on that work and celebrate success and inspiring individuals as well as the games being produced here.”
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.
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 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
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
Huge congratulations to all individuals and companies nominated…let the judging commence!
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