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Beethoven and Dinosaur Takes Game of the Year at AGDAs for Mixtape

The Melbourne studio scooped three trophies at Melbourne International Games Week, leading the national awards ahead of PAX Aus.

By Player Two

The Games Desk · (2 hours ago)

Reported fromoutlet, credited1
Mixtape adventure video game artwork displayed during the Australian Game Developer Awards
Mixtape adventure video game artwork displayed during the Australian Game Developer AwardsPhoto via IGN

Melbourne developer Beethoven & Dinosaur claimed the top prize at the 2026 Australian Game Developer Awards on Wednesday night, taking home Game of the Year for Mixtape.

The music-driven adventure title also took home trophies for Excellence in Visual Art and Excellence in Sound Design. The triple win capped an evening that placed the studio at the centre of Melbourne International Games Week, just days before the PAX Aus 2026 show floor opens for the weekend.

Directed by Johnny Galvatron, Mixtape was built around vignettes of teenage life set to licensed tracks from artists including Devo, The Smashing Pumpkins, Silverchair, and Iggy Pop. Galvatron noted during the ceremony that the project began with a humble concept: wanting to build a game centered around Devo. AGDA judges described the title as pairing a distinct visual aesthetic with music to craft one of the most memorable interactive narratives in recent memory. Reviewing the release back in May, IGN praised its stylistic flair, calling the title a musical delight from start to finish.

Organised by the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association, the AGDAs have run in different iterations since 2002. This year's ceremony spread recognition across a diverse crop of independent Australian teams.

Tempo Lab Games picked up two honours for its rhythm project Bits & Bops, winning Excellence in Gameplay alongside Excellence in Accessibility. Developer Abandoned Sheep secured Excellence in Narrative for its puzzle platformer Schrodinger's Cat Burglar. Studio of the Year went to Canberra outfit Uppercut Games, celebrating its ongoing output and contribution to the domestic sector.

The awards serve as the traditional curtain-raiser for the rest of Melbourne's gaming calendar, which heads directly into PAX Aus this weekend.

TopicsMixtapeBeethoven & DinosaurAGDAsPAX AusUppercut Games

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Written by the Hitechreports desk from the reporting credited above, with facts attributed to their original publishers. We do not test devices ourselves; anything about performance, battery life or cameras comes from the outlets that did. Prices are as reported at the time of writing. Editorial policy · Report an error

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