From October 3 to October 13, come along and celebrate the decade-long triumph that is Melbourne International Games Week.
This year’s Melbourne International Games Week has lined up a program of epic proportions. From Mario Kart tournaments to interactive play exhibits, there’s no doubt you might feel a little overwhelmed by the sheer volume of quality events and exciting entertainment on offer. If you’re unsure where to start, look no further.
Read on for the ten unmissable events at MIGW this year that will have you gaming on.
Melbourne International Games Week
- October 3 to October 13
- Venues around Melbourne
- Full program here
Find Melbourne’s latest film, TV, literature and gaming news here.
Big Games Night Out
- October 10
- Fed Square and ACMI
Mix up the roster of events at MIGW with Big Games Night Out – a night to play, network and maybe even party. Big Games Night Out will be a free all-ages all-accessible event. It will take place at Fed Square from 3pm until late on October 10. Everyone is invited to come along and celebrate the very premise of games – having some good old fun. So, come play!
Games Education Symposium: Careers and Frontiers
- October 3 and 4
- Fed Square and ACMI
Games Education Symposium: Careers and Frontiers will be a bold new addition to Melbourne International Games Week. The two-day symposium will take place over October 3 and 4 at Fed Square and is completely free, although registration is essential. Thursday October 3 will happen at The Edge and focus on the secondary school industry. Additionally, Friday October 4 will be at ACMI and focus on the tertiary sector and industry.
An Evening with Naoki Yoshida
- Tuesday October 8
- Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
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Ticket allocation for this event has been exhausted.
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The talk will be live streamed on the official Final Fantasy XIV Twitch channel
Fans of MMORPG FINAL FANTASY XIV and everyone else are invited to come along to this talk with the brains behind the game, Naoki Yoshida. Hosted by Stephanie ‘Hex’ Bendixsen, game lovers and makers will be delighted by Noaki’s revelations of the creative process and his experience working on some of the most globally beloved game franchises.
Feminine Play
- October 4 to 18
- Carlisle St Arts Space, St Kilda
In a much-needed addition to any games festival roster, Feminine Play is here to challenge traditional notions of gender in gaming culture. This free exhibition sets to explore the femininity of games – a femininity that isn’t bound by gender – and the many interpretations this idea can hold.
Co-programming with Melbourne Fringe Festival
- October 3 to 13
- Various locations around Melbourne
In an exciting collaboration with two of the city’s most sensational festivals, Melbourne Fringe Festival is joining the ranks of Melbourne International Games Week with a co-programmed series of events. Watch comedians unravel and theatrical actors drink themselves blind in this collection of shows that combine game-based storytelling with the hilarity of theatrics.
The Fringe events are always weird and wonderful highlights in themselves. The co-progammed events include This World of Mine here, The ‘Big Game Show Contest Competition Reality Pageant Game Show’ Show (yes, that’s really the title) here, Dating Roulette here, Rain: The Interactive Exhibition here, Body of Knowledge here, The Book of Divergence here, Mafia The Game: The Show here, and Comedy On The Rocks here.
Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition
- September 17 to February 2025
- ACMI
The spiritual home of games and gaming will come alive at this MIGW with showings of the behind-the-scenes process for the global hit video game Untitled Goose Game at ACMI. Come and experience the game and the magic behind it in this critically acclaimed interactive exhibition. No worries if you miss this special event during MIGW – you can catch it up until February.
Rotted Luck
- October 5 to 13
- ACMI
Also on at ACMI, Rotted Luck is a meta exploration of addictive game design. Through its communal play and non-addictive features, Rotten Luck invites players in to its interactive world. Examine the dark aspects of game play, all while having a blast.
High Score
- October 5 and 6
- LCI Melbourne
High Score is back with a bang to discuss all things music and sound in games. Curated by sound and games experts Tim Sheil and Amy McNickle, this is the must-go-to event for anyone interested in sound design within games. There’ll be talks, workshops, networking, and a community of new gaming friends.
King of Kart Tournament
- October 11
- Fed Square
On your marks, get set, and let’s get going to Fed Square this Melbourne International Games Week for the ultimate Mario Kart tournament. King of Kart is gearing up to be the closest Melbourne is going to get to a real Rainbow Road, taking place at The Edge. Gamers will compete round-robin style to see who has the hottest wheels in the virtual world of this beloved game.
PAX Aus
- October 11 to 13
- Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
PAX Aus is going to be nothing short of an expo of epic proportions. They’ve got everything your gaming heart could desire, from panels, entertainment and education, to music, comedy, networking and opportunities for some awesome gaming tournaments. If that doesn’t win you over, try this – PAX Aus will boast the largest-ever tabletop gaming area.
Can’t go out? Enjoy Games Week from your couch
Enjoy Melbourne International Games Week from the comfort of your home with a range of exciting events programmed.
From October 3 to 10, catch the MIGW Steam Page Festival, and on October 8, join An Evening with Naoki Yoshida over Twitch to explore MMORPGs. Games Week at the Table takes place on October 6, while The Queer Games Festival Showcase – available for free on the MIGW website – runs throughout the week. Go Live for Nature will be available from October 4 to 27, and the MIGW 2024 Podcast Season (always a fun listen) can be enjoyed throughout the event. Don’t miss This World of Mine from October 1 to 20. Explore all these events at Games Week Melbourne.
If any of those events make you want to game on, make sure to check out the full roster of incredible events that MIGW is gearing up to bring to audiences.
Find out more about Melbourne International Games Week here.
This article was made in partnership with Melbourne International Games Week.
