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Melbourne studio Beethoven & Dinosaur claimed the Game of the Year title at the 2026 Australian Game Developer Awards for their title Mixtape. The music-focused adventure game also secured honors for Excellence in Visual Art and Excellence in Sound Design.
The project features a variety of minigames and a soundtrack incorporating artists such as Devo, The Smashing Pumpkins, Silverchair, and Iggy Pop. Director Johnny Galvatron credited the achievement to his team's talent and the game's ability to resonate with players.
IGN's May review praised the title as a musical delight, noting it establishes a new benchmark for coming-of-age narratives through its masterful style. Judges at the awards described the experience as a triumph in virtual storytelling that combines a unique visual identity with emotional music.
The awards ceremony, presented by the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association, is a component of Melbourne International Games Week. Other winners included Tempo Lab Games for Bits & Bops and Abandoned Sheep for Schrodinger’s Cat Burglar, while Uppercut Games was named Studio of the Year.
