India stands at a pivotal moment in its journey to becoming the “Gaming Nation of the World.” Though still an emerging sector, the Indian gaming industry is growing at an unprecedented pace. With a surge in young, skilled creators, and strong support from initiatives led by the Government and the Game Developer Association of India (GDAI), Indian talent is finally stepping into the spotlight — gaining recognition on both national and global stages.
That’s where the Road to Game Jam comes in. Part of the Government of India’s Create in India Challenge: Season 1, this nationwide competition called on young game developers to build original, theme-based games — blending storytelling, creativity, and tech innovation.
It’s one of the 32 Create in India Challenges as part of the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, and the top 10 games will be showcased at the WAVES Summit in Mumbai, from May 1–5.
The Game Developer Association of India (GDAI), in collaboration with KGeN, is spotlighting the country’s best indie talent through this exciting new platform.
Meet the Top 10 Games
Out of over 5,500 registrations from 1,650 colleges across 453 towns and cities, 175 teams submitted original games built around themes like Everything Falls Apart, Stuck Together, Handle with Care, Invisible Connections and The Sound of Silence by using their creativity and technical skills to life.
After a rigorous jury evaluation, here are the 10 indie games selected to represent India at WAVES 2025:
• Hard Hat Havoc – Node2D (Developers from Mumbai)
• ENTWINED: Reimagined – ParKince (College students from Atimisha College)
• Hope’s Out – The Reaper’s Execution (18-year-old solo dev from Delhi)
• Abandoned Hospital – The Sound of Silence – AshDev (Early-stage startup)
• Silence Kills – Absurd Software (College students from Ludhiana and Punjab)
• No Time To Crawl – ThatTeam (Amateur developers from Hyderabad)
• Anchored – Plable Games (Final-year student, WTF Game Jam 2nd runner-up)
• My Inner Demons – lemonsoup (Solo developer, recent graduate)
• Serum XIII – NoCapGames (Solo developer from Ahmedabad)
• Goblin’s Call – Ulysses7 (Solo developer from Uttarakhand)
Each of these teams will receive an all-expense-paid trip to pitch their game live to a global jury at the WAVES 2025 summit.
Why This Matters
These game creators represent a new wave of Indian talent — bold, original, and ready to make their mark. Their games are not only technically strong but also deeply imaginative, tackling complex emotions and ideas through play.
This is more than a competition — it’s a launchpad. The top 3 winners will receive a total prize pool of ₹7 lakh, and the exposure they’ll get at WAVES 2025 could open doors to industry deals, funding, and collaborations.
What’s Next
Which game will win hearts and make it to the top 3? We’ll find that out soon at WAVES 2025. And for these finalists, this platform will provide unparalleled exposure and a chance to propel their creations into the global spotlight. This moment could be the beginning of something big — not just for their careers, but for India’s game development ecosystem as a whole.
