SXSW Sydney is back for its third year this October, bringing technology, film, music, and games to Australia once again. As always, this includes a slew of video developers showcasing their latest projects.
5 Indie Games You Didn’t Know Came From Australia
October is a big month for Australian Video Games, with Melbourne International Games Week and Peaks AUS held the week immediately before SXSW Sydney. Fortunately, there were still plenty of indie developers to show Sydney what it had to offer.
In no particular order, here are some of the coolest indie games we checked out this year at SXSW sydney 2025. Most are still in development, but there are a few you might be able to play right now.
A mixture
A mixture From Melbourne-based Studio Beethoven & Dinosaur may be the closest a video game has ever achieved to an ’80s John Hughes movie. The second article from the developers of An artistic escape, A mixture is a narrative adventure game Following three friends as they head into one last group, they reminisce about their time together as high school ends.
The cinematic gameplay shown in the demo was made A mixture Feel like you’re stepping into a nostalgic ’80s teen movie, complete with skateboards, shenanigans, and spooky soundtracks. The game features music from a bunch of bands from the ’80s, including devo, roxy music, souum, siouxsie, banshee, and split joy, and the cure.
A mixture It is scheduled for release in 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X / S, and PC.
Rework
Developed by one person from Melbourne Studio 10PM Club, Rework It follows Milo, a Grim Reaper tasked with removing ‘unnecessary’ soul memories while saving others. This work is included in the digitives in the desk work, to take the scythe, Milo and his colleagues spend their days in front of the computers, closing the doors and fighting to win the work of the church.
ReworkArt direction and themes they seemed a little reminiscent A human being Series at first glance. However, 10PM Club director and story creator Althea Francisco told Mashable that the game draws a lot of inspiration from It’s too divisiveOrganizational planning and Papers, pleasedifficult and sensitive challenges. It would be your job to remove all the happy memories of the soul, but right?
Rework It is scheduled for release in early 2027 on PC.
Psychotic bath
Psychotic bath It’s the kind of game that comes with a serious warning, and for good reason. This graphic game deals with heavy themes such as suicide, death, guilt, self-destruction, and violation of the Swiss-based developer, as well as escape, moving the Swiss-based developer NATSHA to warn about playing.
The play follows a woman who has a psychotic episode while taking a shower, which involves talking to her rubber duck, drinking wine, and pondering the nature of her towel. Players discover his dark thoughts, deciding which ones to embrace and which to reject on the way to one of many endings.
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Although Psychotic bath Focusing on a fictional mental disorder, the game is designed to raise awareness of mental health issues. Natsha has promised to donate 50 percent of the profits Psychotic bath in mental health projects. However, it is important to note that it is not a medical game, and players are unlikely to go away comforted.
Psychotic bath is scheduled for release in 2026 on PC.
The way to the forest
The way to the forest has a long history. The game first gained attention in 2015 when 16-year-old Melbourne Anthony Tan sent screenshots to Red, which were noticed and shared and shared to Sean Murray from the developer Hello games (creators of There is no human sky). Although its story and gameplay have not yet been decided, The way to the forest Turnered Full of Interest, Enchanting People with images of deer and fawn traversing a deserted world.
There have been a few trailers and announcements to release the windows of The way to the forest Ten years since, including the announcement at E3 2019 that it will be released next year. All these release dates have been missed.
Fortunately, the game may finally be close to launch, especially considering Tan was confident enough to show off at SxSW Sydney this year. Now operating under the studio name Epeppixel.dog, Tan told Mashable that he expects to finish The way to the forest within six months. However, no new release date has been officially announced.
A week in the life of an asOcial Giraffe
For people with social anxiety, navigating society can sometimes feel like an insecure puzzle. A week in the life of an asOcial Giraffe It takes this extra step, turning such a difficulty into a click puzzle game.
Developed by Los Angeles-based Quail Button, A week in the life of an asOcial Giraffe It follows the titar animal as it tries to run its daily activities without talking to anyone. Unfortunately, the friendly townspeople are some of the most understanding things around, and will quickly engage the asocial giraffe in conversation when they are in the mood. This causes his anxiety to be realized and his head to explode.
As it is, our shy hero must carefully avoid people while trying to achieve his goals, resorting to the tricks of hiding behind obstacles and moving objects to lure people elsewhere.
A week in the life of an asOcial Giraffe It is scheduled for release in early 2026 on PC.
Kabuto Park
Released in May, Kabuto Park is a short, cute game about catching and fighting bugs while on summer vacation. Build your team of three bugs, level them up, and go through the gauntlet of Sumo-style bug fights to win the title of Summent Beetle Carles Champion. It’s basically like a more chill, creative version of Pokémon, only lighter and with more original bug types.
Created by a French developer all mini games, Kabuto Park It offers a cool experience, beautifully displayed on the collection screen with more than 40 tall insects to catch. (In case you’re worried, arachnophobes need not fear – Kabuto Park Spiders are free.) Different types have different stats and abilities, and players can buy candy to level up, earn money by winning battles or selling bugs. It’s an addictive gameplay loop that’s easy to find, providing several hours of relaxing gaming for only $US5.
Kabuto Park is available now on PC.
Is this seat taken?
Is this seat taken? is a puzzle game that tasks the player with sitting on the seats based on the mirrors in various seat-based environments, such as buses, cinemas and restaurants. However, each character has different needs. One may want to be close to a certain person, another may want to avoid smelly people (beauty), and the third may just want a seat by the window. So students have to move letters around to find a seating arrangement that satisfies everyone.
The game has a small block of plot, with a rhombus character who wants to find confidence in a world dominated by squares and circles (and to end up in various places with full seats along the way). However, it’s really the gameplay that’s the draw here. Developed by Poti Poti Studio, with members in Belgium and Spain, Is this seat taken? he was released in August this year.
Is this seat taken? Available now for Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
