Melbourne-based studio Beethoven & Dinosaur has won Game of the Year for its music-themed, minigame-driven adventure game Mixtape at the 2026 Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs). Mixtape also won Excellence in Visual Art and Excellence in Sound Design.
“Mixtape was the outcome of an amazingly talented team,” said Beethoven & Dinosaur director Johnny Galvatron. “To go from wanting to make a game around Devo to creating something that resonates with so many people is mind blowing. We’re lucky to be part of such a talented community, and I’m so proud of Mixtape and my team.”
Praise for Mixtape from the AGDA’s judges noted that “[it] is a triumph in virtual storytelling, pairing a distinct visual identity with heartfelt music to deliver one of the most memorable experiences in recent memory.”
IGN’s May review of Mixtape called it a “musical delight from start to finish” and declared it “sets a new standard for coming-of-age stories in video games and does so with a masterful sense of style.” Its soundtrack includes cuts from Devo, The Smashing Pumpkins, Silverchair, Iggy Pop, and many other acts.
Other winners from this year’s AGDAs include rhythm game Bits & Bops from Tempo Lab Games for both Excellence in Gameplay and Excellence in Accessibility, and puzzle platformer Schrodinger’s Cat Burglar from Abandoned Sheep for Excellence in Narrative. The Studio of the Year was awarded to Canberra-based Uppercut Games.
The AGDAs, which have been hosted in various forms since 2002, are presented by Australia’s Interactive Games and Entertainment Association. These days it forms part of Melbourne International Games Week, which is culminating this weekend with PAX Aus 2026.