Develop:Star Awards 2025 Finalists
All this year's entries were evaluated by panels of games industry professionals appointed by the Develop:Star Awards team. The judging panel for each awards category reviewed those entries and selected a shortlist of finalists for that award.
So, listed below we now have a shortlist of finalists in each of the 17 categories with additional information to help you decide who to vote for!
All you have to do is decide on your favourite finalists then go back to the Voting Form and select your winners.
Please note: You don't have to vote for every category, it's one form submission per person and once you've cast your votes and pressed submit you can't go back to change anything.
Recognising a game which demonstrates exceptional achievement in visual art and/or animation – across all genres and platforms.
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Rewarding a team who have far exceeded expectation in their storytelling to create an outstanding player experience, through innovative or ground-breaking writing – across all genres and platforms.
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This award recognises a team responsible for exceptional and creative game design via the use of controls, level design, pacing and mechanics – across all genres and platforms.
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Rewarding a game that demonstrates distinction in the use of sound or music to improve player experience – across all genres and platforms.
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This award will recognise the creation of the best new intellectual property – across all genres and platforms.
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Recognising an exceptional technical innovation across video game software, hardware and engines, that demonstrates a fresh approach, unique thinking and/or addresses a particular need in the market.
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Recognising an exceptional initiative that has had a positive impact on equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within a video game company or the wider industry.
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Recognising an exceptional marketing campaign for a video game or video game hardware that has demonstrated outstanding results during the qualifying period.
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Recognising the outstanding work of a company supporting the game development community, including providers of creative audio-visual assets, QA and localisation, law, accountancy and production, but not recruitment.
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Recognising an in-house team or external company or agency for exceptional work in the fields of talent acquisition, retention and development.
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Recognising the stand-out game available on mobile phone or tablet devices that has excelled in all aspects of game development to achieve creative, commercial and critical success.
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The Tomorrow's Star award will recognise the achievements of new talent in the games industry. Nominees should be below senior management or director level.
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Recognising outstanding achievement in the development and application of accessibility features that are wide-ranging, impactful and show exceptional craft.
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Recognising an organisation that has shown outstanding support helping developers get their game published. This can include via funding, discoverability, research or anything else that helped secure a successful route to market for new games.
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Rewarding the game that stands out above all others in terms of gameplay, storytelling, art style, character development, creativity and overall player experience – across all genres and platforms.