Level Up KL 2023 – The SEA Game Awards Winners
This year’s Level Up KL promises a bigger experience with a larger venue, parallel events with other bustling creative industries, and a dedicated Indie Zone sponsored by Xbox. But while there may be significant changes in the scope of the event, celebrating the talent of game developers from Southeast Asia and the international video game industry at the SEA Game Awards remains a hearty tradition.
The SEA Game Awards hope to provide prestigious recognition to the finest game projects of 2023, with MDEC Senior VP emphasizing that game developers are “the modern-day architects of the new dream.” To help support these champions of tomorrow’s digital experiences, MDEC provides nominees with exhibition booths at the Malaysia Digital Content Festival (MYDCF) and further recognition at the upcoming Gamescom Asia in late October.
Of the 248 submissions, 40 nominees were chosen to exhibit at the Level Up KL 2023 Indie Zone, not just competing for the coveted awards but also sharing their exciting demos with the attendees — signaling the bright and diverse future of SEA gaming. Congratulations to all the winners!
SEA Game Awards Nominees and Winners
Best Storytelling
A Space for the Unbound (Mojiken Studio, Indonesia) – WINNER
Hello Goodboy (Rolling Glory Jam, Indonesia)
Kabaret (Persona Theory Games, Malaysia)
One Last Journey (Extra Life Entertainment, Indonesia)
Our Mountain (Rachata Suksereekul, Thailand)
Best Student Game
Sedap! (Kopiforge, Singapore) – WINNER
As I Began to Dream (Strayflux, Indonesia)
Asleep in the Deep (Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore)
My Mechanical Mother (Multimedia University, Malaysia)
Retro Invasion (Team GWS, Indonesia)
Best Technology
Nullspace (Kaigan Games, Malaysia) – WINNER
DevaData! (Blackfyre Media, Malaysia)
ESCAPE: LIFE (UOWM, Malaysia)
MetaPals (Singapore)
Snake.io (Kooapps, Philippines)
Best Game Design
The Land Beneath Us (FairPlay Studios, Thailand) – WINNER
Sigil of the Magi (The Iterative Collective, Singapore)
The Signal State (The Iterative Collective, Singapore)
Unyielder (Trueworld Studios, Singapore)
Zombie Soup (AeonSparx Interactive, Malaysia)
Best Audio Design
Chiyo (Nimbus Games, Malaysia) – WINNER
Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly (Toge Productions, Indonesia)
Nenita the Witch (Ateneo de Naga University, Philippines)
RiBeat! (Sweet Banana, Philippines)
SparkLine (WizDream, Indonesia)
Best Visual Art
Rendezvous (Pendopo Creations, Indonesia) – WINNER
Kabaret (Persona Theory Games, Malaysia)
Overhours (CtrlD Studio, Malaysia)
Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open (Cellar Vault Games, Malaysia)
Passage (UOWM, Malaysia)
Best Innovation Award
Nullspace (Kaigan Games, Malaysia) – WINNER
Deverse World (Cosugames, Vietnam)
Legendary Hoplite (TripleBricksGames, Vietnam)
Midwest 90: Rapid City (Hidden Chest Studios, Malaysia)
Robo Frenzy (Tamatin Entertainment, Indonesia)
Rising Star
Zombie Soup (AeonSparx Interactive, Malaysia) – WINNER
I Need Space (Khayalan Arts, Indonesia)
Kejora (Berangin Creative, Indonesia)
Galà (Kendikorp, Philippines)
Unplug (Goldlime Studios, Indonesia)
Best International Game
F1 23 (EA Code Masters, Singapore) – Gold
The Devil Within: Satgat (Newcore Games, Korea) – Silver
Homeseek (Traptics, Greece) – Bronze
Lost Twins II (Playdew, Pakistani)
Go-Go Town! (Prideful Sloth, Australia)
Audience Choice Award
Unplug (Goldlime Studios, Indonesia) – WINNER
DevaData! (Blackfyre Media, Malaysia)
Nenita the Witch (Ateneo de Naga, Philippines)
Snake.io (Kooapps, Philippines)
Passage (UOWM, Malaysia)
SEA Game Awards 2023: Grand Jury Award
Rendezvous (Pendopo Creations, Indonesia) – Winner
If any of these games have piqued your interest, there are two more days to visit the Indie Zone at Level Up KL. Catch all these exciting studios and developers and more at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre until the 1st of October.
