Gamescom Latam Big Festival 2025 Honors Top Indie Games and Industry Leaders

The Gamescom Latam Big Festival 2025 commenced in Sao Paulo, Brazil, celebrating excellence in indie game development and honoring industry pioneers. The festival began with a lifetime achievement award presented to Shu Yoshida, a veteran of Sony PlayStation who championed indie developers during his 31-year tenure. Rodrigo Terra, CEO of Abram Games, presented the award, highlighting Yoshida’s influential role in shaping the indie gaming landscape.

Yoshida, who recently left Sony, will participate in a fireside chat at Gamescom Latam, offering insights into his career and the future of indie games. His leadership at Sony Interactive Entertainment Studios helped elevate indie titles on the PlayStation platform, fostering innovation and diversity in gaming.

Award Winners Highlight Regional and Global Talent

The festival recognized a broad spectrum of games and developers, showcasing the vibrant creativity within Latin America and beyond. Key awards included:

• Best Game: Nine Sols by Red Candle Games (Taiwan)
• Best Pitch for Regional Development: HellClock by Rogue Snail
• Best Mobile Game: Levil Devil by Unept
• Best Sound: The Holy Gosh Darn by Perfectly Paranormal As/Yogust
• Best Art: Naiad by Elwin at HiWarp
• Best Innovation: Sol Cesto by Geraud Zucchini and Chariospirale of Goblinz Publishing (France)
• Best Multiplayer: Bang Bang Garrage by Monkey Bread/Spiral Up Games (China), developed by a two-person team
• Best Narrative: Neva by Nomada Studio, published by Devolver Digital
• Best XR/VR: Sugar Mess — Let’s Play Jolly Battle by JollyCo (USA)
• Best Gameplay: Animal Well by Shared Memory, published by Bigmode (USA), developed by solo dev Billy Basso
• Best Game for Latin America: Grizzly Man by LCB Game Studio (Argentina)
• Best Game for Brazil: Mullet MadJack by Hammer 95 Studios, published by Epopeia Games

Mullet MadJack, developed by a studio with over a decade of experience, has achieved significant success with over 500,000 wishlists and 200,000 units sold. The award highlights Brazil’s growing prominence in the global gaming industry.

The Gamescom Latam Big Festival 2025 not only celebrates creative excellence but also underscores the expanding influence of Latin American developers in the global market. The event fosters connections between regional talent and international audiences, promoting innovation and collaboration.

For developers, publishers, and industry leaders, the festival offers valuable insights into emerging trends and successful strategies within indie game development. It highlights the importance of supporting diverse voices and regional creativity to drive the future of gaming.