The Joburg Games Fest (JGF), powered by Fak’ugesi, returned to the Tshimologong Precinct in Braamfontein on the 11th of October 2025, delivering a serious stat boost to the local gaming scene. This was a high-level raid for connection, creation, and cash flow!
The precinct was a hub of action, jam-packed with Hyper Talks, a showcase of locally-made games, and vital networking opportunities.
Attendees weren’t just spectating—they were on a mission! They received a Bingo card passport that was the key to unlocking the full experience. To fill their sticker holders and prove they conquered the event, players had to network (find out who’s who in the industry!) and, of course, play games! This mini-quest culminated in a raffle for a R500 prize (funded by South Game Studio)—congratulations to the winner, Bianca Malinga!
The game floor was buzzing with excitement for titles like:
- Khamani: The Lion of Summer by Disputed People Games
- Relooted by Nyamakop
- Spinners: The Game by Vetkoek Studios
- Metavoidal by Yellow Lab Games
- …and many more!
The Hyper Talks stage brought in industry professionals to share their cheat codes for success:
- Ben Myres dropped knowledge on “Big Bucks with Big Ben: Intro to Commercial Viability.”
- Tayla Marais pulled back the curtain on “The Secret Life of a Game Producer.”
- Our own Rodwin Malinga gave a crucial debrief: “Why Failure is the Secret Ingredient to Great Games.” He emphasized that games are fundamentally designed around the feeling of achievement, and for developers, that means you have to fail to succeed. He referenced how mechanics from the less-successful Explosive Finger were key to the victory of Super Diski FC, which has over 25k downloads on Google Play. The core message is clear: Hard work turns every failure into a launchpad for success.
The energy continued with the Future Frame panel by Fak’ugesi, focusing on Animation Impact from a Global Perspective and the crucial role of Coproduction and Collaboration in Studios.
Hosted by Sithembiso Mpehle, the panel—featuring Nompi Vilakaazi, Fidel Namisi, Thandiwe Mlauli, and Francis Y Brown—spoke about the transition from creative passion to monetization. Francis Y Brown shared his inspiring story of seeing a gap in Ghana’s industry and building AnimaxFYB Studios to bridge it. A vital takeaway for any studio? Bring in people who buy into the vision and remember that building your audience is more important than blindly chasing every trend.
The panel also stressed the non-glamorous, but necessary, parts of the journey: the responsibility of production, discipline, trusting your intuition, and building strong relationships.
Joburg Games Fest once again set the bar. It wasn’t just an event; it was a powerful gathering that celebrated and supported locally-made African games, ensuring the voices of our industry professionals are heard as they push our gaming scene to achieve new high scores globally.
Ready to stay in the loop for the next epic quest? You can track all JGF updates on their socials:
