During DevGAMM Lisbon 2025, held on November 6 and 7, the DevGAMM Awards reaffirmed its prestige as one of the most important competitions dedicated to AA and indie game developers. With a total prize pool of $100,000 in cash and an additional $35,000 in rewards from sponsors, the event provided an exceptional opportunity for emerging talent and small studios to gain international recognition.

The closing ceremony, streamed live on YouTube on November 7, marked the culmination of an eight-month journey. The awards featured over 150 judges from across the gaming industry and included 11 main categories, sponsored by Scorewarrior and supported by Epic Games Store, Aptoide, Astra Logical, and tinyBuild.

The grand winner of the night was Keep Driving, developed by YCJY Games, which received the Grand Prize of $20,000. The game is an atmospheric management RPG about life on the road, where players give rides, take on odd jobs, customize and repair their cars, and chart their routes across the country. The experience is defined by choices, upgrades, and challenges, guided by a contemplative spirit: “Take it slow. You’re young. You’ve got time.”

Among the other standout winners, Drop Duchy by Sleepy Mill Studio won Excellence in Game Design, while Tukoni: Forest Keepers by Dream Operator received the award for Excellence in Visual Art. In the Excellence in Narrative category, the prize went to despelote by Julian Cordero and Sebastian Valbuena, praised for its sensitive and authentic storytelling.

ROCKBEASTS by LICHTHUND earned Excellence in Audio, and WHAT THE CLASH? by Triband was named Best Mobile Game. The highly anticipated Breathedge 2 by RedRuins Softworks won Most Anticipated Game, while Hell Maiden by AstralShift took home Best Game from Portugal.

Rounding out the list, Stretchmancer by Triangle Wave won Best Innovation, GLASSHOUSE by FLAT28 Collective received Developers Choice, and MISERY, developed in collaboration between Platypus Entertainment and Ytopia, won the Community Vote, accompanied by a $2,000 cash prize decided by public voting.