Southeast Asia’s game developers had their big night in Kuala Lumpur as the SEA Game Awards 2026 returned for its ninth edition on 15 October at the Connexion Conference and Event Centre (CCEC). Hosted by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) in conjunction with LEVEL UP KL, the ceremony celebrated the best independent games from the region and beyond, complete with a live string ensemble, exclusive trailer reveals and plenty of proud moments on stage.
A Record Turnout at SEA Game Awards 2026
This year’s awards received 174 submissions. Malaysia led with 71 entries, followed by Indonesia (34), Singapore (12), Thailand and Vietnam (eight each), the Philippines (five) and Brunei (two), plus 34 entries from outside Southeast Asia.
In his opening remarks, MDEC Chairman Ganesh Kumar Bangah described the awards as “a bridge between creative ambition and commercial opportunity”, reminding finalists that simply reaching the stage was already an achievement.
Ondeh Ondeh Kaya’s Tasty Tale Leads the Night
Malaysian studio Metronomik was the biggest winner of the evening. Its rhythm-powered puzzle adventure, Ondeh Ondeh Kaya’s Tasty Tale, swept three trophies: the coveted Grand Jury Award, Best Technology and Best Score & Music.
Set in Selera, a whimsical world inspired by Southeast Asian cultures, the game follows Kaya on her quest to become a Worldbuilder in a heartfelt tale of family, courage and self-discovery.
SEA Game Awards 2026 Full Winners List
- Grand Jury Award: Ondeh Ondeh Kaya’s Tasty Tale (Metronomik)
- Best Technology: Ondeh Ondeh Kaya’s Tasty Tale (Metronomik)
- Best Score & Music: Ondeh Ondeh Kaya’s Tasty Tale (Metronomik)
- Best Game Design: TCG Card Shop Simulator (OPNeon Games)
- Best Storytelling: Compensation Not Guaranteed (Team Project Lunch)
- Best Visual Art: Kidbash: Super Legend (Authentic Remixes)
- Best Audio: Mission Mancala (Telkom University)
- Best Student Game: Fish Can Man (Asia Pacific University)
- Best International Game: HOMURA HIME (Playism)
- Audience Choice Award: Little Tree Kingdom (Bumi Studio)
- Rising Star Award: Voodoo Craft (InnerSight Games)
Students and Rising Stars Shine
Young talent made a strong showing at the SEA Game Awards 2026. Asia Pacific University’s quirky Fish Can Man took home Best Student Game, beating fellow nominees from Telkom University and the University of Wollongong.
Indonesia’s Telkom University also had reason to celebrate, as Mission Mancala won Best Audio after earning nominations in three categories.
InnerSight Games’ Voodoo Craft received the Rising Star Award, recognising a studio with plenty of promise ahead.
Bold Visuals and International Flair
Authentic Remixes’ colourful Kidbash: Super Legend won Best Visual Art, while HOMURA HIME, published by Playism, was named Best International Game.
Exclusive Reveals and Trailers
Between presentations at the SEA Game Awards 2026, the Southeast Asian Games Showcase and THE MAGIC RAIN treated the audience to exclusive reveals. Highlights included a teaser for Project XII by Albrite Studios, supported through MDEC’s Digital Games Testbed Programme, a first look at Ten Ten Studio’s Bloodwell, the Overhours release date trailer from CtrlD Studio and a teaser for RICRYM’s Malaysian-inspired MMORPG, Wira.
Studios from the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia also showcased titles such as Fallen Tear: The Ascension, HellHeart Breaker, Nightmare Circus and Dungeon Hot Pot.
Malaysia’s Growing Games Industry
The numbers show how far the local scene has come. Malaysia grew from 30 game studios in 2014 to 112 in 2025, including nine multinational studios. Export value jumped from RM30 million to RM325 million in 2024.
From 2016 to 2025, 65 games projects received RM36.7 million under MDEC’s Digital Content Grant, creating more than 900 jobs and over RM50 million in sales and exports. Titles such as Rhythm Doctor and No Straight Roads prove that homegrown Malaysian talent can compete globally.
Under the Digital Creative Ecosystem Roadmap 2030, Malaysia aims to become a Global Digital Creative Hub, targeting RM9 billion in digital creative revenue, RM6 billion in exports and 10,000 high-value jobs by 2030.
Why the SEA Game Awards 2026 Matters
Running since 2017, the SEA Game Awards is held alongside LEVEL UP KL, the region’s premier game developers’ conference. Beyond the trophies, the SEA Game Awards 2026 gave indie studios valuable visibility with publishers, investors and players.
Ganesh urged developers to “keep thinking big” and to tell stories rooted in who we are. Judging by this year’s winners, Southeast Asia’s game makers are doing exactly that.
