2024 Young Game Designers: ‘Game Concept’ finalists

Caught in the Cogs begins in a city atop a mountain, just beyond the clouds. Asme, a young mechanic, sets out to find their missing mother. The player will explore through puzzle platformer levels, using the abilities of different mechanical animals that Asme is able to build, to progress. Each setting boasts distinct aesthetics as they descend, from a city with steampunk machinery to dilapidated factories, to cloud forest below. Completing an area will lead the player to a mural painted by their mother which will give them clues. With a blend of challenging puzzles and heartfelt storytelling, this high-resolution pixel art adventure targets children aged 12-17. It offers a unique and engaging gameplay experience.

In Forged Destiny, players take on the role of Steele, a blacksmith aiming to buy back his family's Master Hammer. With his amphibian companion Froggeh, Steele ventures into caves with ancient magic to gather rare ores that animate into fearsome Morensters. The core gameplay involves exploring caves, forging items through authentic mini-games, and selling the crafted items for upgrades. Set in a medieval fantasy world, the game features contrasting art styles, with hostile cave environments and welcoming towns. Players can upgrade Froggeh's carrying capacity and Steele's shop, while engaging in rhythm-based forging mini-games. The game is suitable for all ages, particularly those interested in blacksmithing and fantasy.

In Hamster Heist: The Big Score, the players assume the role of four cute, yet mischievous hamsters as they plan, setup and pull off a robbery on a bank. Each hamster, from the kibble-toting Fluffy to the hacking genius Gizmo, plays a vital role in the heist. Set in the hamster utopia, Nibbleton, the game features charming cartoony graphics and changing environments, from the bank vault to thug hideouts. Players must coordinate and solve puzzles to progress, unlocking secret customizations along the way. With challenges escalating towards the big heist and HBI hot on their trail, teamwork is key for players of all ages to succeed.

Hell - Cleaning in Progress is a rhythm action game set in Chinese mythology. Players guide BaiHu, a cleaner of hell, whilst they fight enemies with rhythm and music. Experiencing her journey through the 18 realms of hell and redemption, ultimately reincarnating to become a better person.

With stylized character designs and watercolour effects inspired by Chinese art, the game immerses players in its unique aesthetic. Boss challenges get harder as players progress, testing their skills with dodges, parries, and attacks - these sync with sound and visuals for immersive gameplay. Customizable abilities and outfits add depth. Suitable for ages 12 and up, the game's theme and art style appeal to a broad audience, promoting immersion into Chinese culture.

Midieval is a fantasy-adventure-rhythm game set in the musical city of Panmusica. Deep in the bowels of a mountain range, a mineral which converts music into energy is the lifeblood of a nearby bustling city of musicians - that is, until it seemingly vanishes completely, leaving knight Lyra Harper and her new motley band hunting it down to restore the city's power. The game features distinct medieval and musical-themed art across four regions: Worldly Ward, 20th Central, Subterranean Suburbs, and the crystal cave. Players explore these areas, recruiting musicians Tammaro, Jazzmyne, and Bassira, each with unique instruments. In rhythm-based battles, players use WASD or arrow keys to replicate patterns. The game is accessible to hearing/visually impaired players with rumble-feature controllers and is suitable for all ages, especially music and adventure fans.

Seity is a game exploring self-acceptance through XII, an android in Teleos, a city of conformity. Cast in the dump they fall further, into the Undergrowth where XII embraces individuality, joining a rising revolution of misfit androids against Teleos' leader, The Mother. Alongside drone Delta, unlock unique emotions, hobbies and traits. Explore the ancient cavern, filled with weathered stone and ancient runes hinting to a past civilisation. Navigate fighting, platforming, and puzzles while aiding the Undergrowth's residents. Customise XII's abilities with discovered parts. Suitable for ages 8-16, Seity encourages authenticity over conformity, with enemies drained of energy rather than killed. Features unique mechanics, moral storytelling, and a hidden storyline.

The Getaway is a momentum-based parkour bank heist getaway. As the player, an overworked citizen turned bank robber, embarks on a chaotic escape, they jump and swing between objects through cities, suburbs, and seas. They build momentum throughout a series of increasingly unhinged levels. However, touch the ground or walls, and they lose momentum. Each level finale demands a certain level of momentum to break through the barrier to the next area. With low-poly visuals and themed environments, immerse yourself in the rush. Aimed at action enthusiasts and young gamers aged 12-18, it offers addictive, straightforward gameplay with a focus on speed.

"The Rescue Dog" is a game about a dog who is trying to escape from an evil farmer. The dog (known as "Patch") will be trying to escape from various sheds, buildings and barns that he has been locked in. As well as this, Patch will be trying to find and create a family that he can live with. There will be levels that involve Patch escaping from his imprisonment, and some that just involve him trying to go through and create his own family. After each member of the family is rescued, Patch gains an item that can be added to his collar that will grant a unique ability, such as an ultraviolet torch that allows for new puzzles involving invisible ink. To complete these levels, the player will have to solve a series of complex puzzles that are similar to the types found in escape rooms within a set time. To help with this, Patch will have two helping dogs named Star and Jacko who will offer helpful hints throughout the levels.

The Whispering Wilds invites players into a world of ancient magic. Assume the role of a witch disguised as an apothecary, travelling through an open world. While making medicines for villagers to learn about the world's magical plants and their medicinal uses, they will discover the secrets of four hidden covens (dusk, dawn day and night) forced into hiding. Players travel to sky islands, deep forests, and ocean depths, mastering spells to transform into animals and uncovering puzzles. With a cel-shaded art style and multiple endings, the game offers a playable art piece that appeals to all ages, fostering appreciation for its rich world and history while blending peaceful farming sim elements with open-world RPG adventure.

Welcome to the world's dance floor. This game is set on Earth 5 years after a great calamity, where mystical energy gave birth to superheroes and villains. The player is an aspiring dancer in Urbs Refugium and their days are spent choreographing dances to uplift refugees. When the world’s top hero is captured, it’s up to you to harness rhythm, tour the globe, and transform it into a universal dance floor. The game features two modes: “Arcade” for battling the Anti-Flow virus through rhythm-based combat, and “Dance Floor” for free play. Customise your character and dance to diverse genres like Afrobeats, K-Pop, Samba, and more. Accompanied by allies Camila and Yuito, harness Earth’s energy to conquer enemies and save the world through dance.

Collateral Damage is a fun, frantic fast-paced 2D side-scrolling platformer where players control George the Caretaker amidst epic battles between superheroes and giant robots. Tasked with cleaning up damage from these battles, George races through vibrant locations like Strummerville City and Umbaby Beach, using tools like tow trucks and brooms. Players must dodge debris and stray fire while limiting enough damage and not getting hurt to win each level. Inspired by comic books and cartoons, the game features a bright, humorous art style. With adjustable difficulty modes and a quirky narrative, it appeals to players of all ages seeking chaotic, precision gameplay and light-hearted fun.

In Don’t touch the robot you dodge robots to survive in space. The main character, Rebecca, is in a space suit, evading grey-suited robots. Players get 5 lives and lose a life each time they touch a robot. The objective is to dodge 200 robots to complete the game, earning points by touching the stars for extra lives. Quick completion yields more points within the 10-minute time limit. Endless levels increase in difficulty as players progress. If you. Suitable for ages 12 and under, the game features 50+ levels, different types of aliens, and tilt controls on your phone for movement.

Ice Survivor challenges players, a mountaineer lost in the bleak, barren Himalayan mountains, to navigate a perilous journey from Mount Everest's summit to base camp, using only waste materials for survival gear. Stranded amidst a snowstorm, players scavenge for waste items to craft essential gear and collect mountain coins to customise their character, all while dodging obstacles like slippery platforms and rolling ice balls. This game shows young children how to make use of what they can find, teaching important skills for the future, including recycling, perseverance and resilience. Targeted at children aged 7 to 11, it blends education with entertainment, teaching crucial survival skills and environmental awareness in a fun, animated setting.

Kitty Crash is a cute and fun RPG where players control mischievous cats on a mission to destroy their human owners' possessions. By scratching, knocking over, or biting objects, players earn Kitty Litter Coins to level up their cats’ skills, to increase damage, or to buy decorations for the Kitty Crash Zone. The game features diverse regions like homes and cafes, each with unique stages to unlock with Kitty Litter EXP. You can even buy food from the Kitty Supermarket or exchange coins for Kitty Litter Tickets, where you can gacha for different cats, who have different skills and rarities! Aimed for both children and cat enthusiasts, the gameplay balances destruction with avoiding detection, offering varied goals for players to pursue.

LINGER immerses players into a world where ghostly souls, dubbed as "lingerers," have been causing chaos. Joining the Kindred Spirits Initiative, players capture these spirits and provide emotional support to help them move on. Set in a fictional city, the KSI offers a humane approach to managing lingerers, contrasting with aggressive methods of other groups. The art style draws inspiration from other pixel graphics indie games, with a 32-bit aesthetic and lo-fi palette. Split into observation, capture, negotiation, and downtime segments, the game combines strategic planning, action-packed capture sequences, and heartfelt interactions. Targeting older players, it offers a unique take on ghost hunting with a strong emphasis on social interaction.

Mad House challenges players, as the teenager, to outsmart parents by switching all the lights on in the house without getting caught. Parents, who can also be controlled if multiple players, are destined to switch them all off. Don’t let them. Players navigate through different levels of the house and strategically place obstacles like laundry and toys to make parents fall over, making them livid with rage, but if the teenager loses, they must do chores and homework. As the game progresses, the difficulty increases, with changing colours reflecting the characters' moods. Boss levels intensify with the arrival of both parents. With its real-life scenarios and humorous gameplay, Mad House offers family fun for all.

n Ninja Drag, set in Feudal Japan, the main character is a ninja who can only move forward. Players can drag shapes to manipulate the level so the ninja will avoid obstacles. With time slowing down during manipulation, the game combines fast-paced action with puzzle-solving elements. As the ninja navigates enemy territory to deliver a peace letter, players strategically place ramps, shields, and barriers to overcome traps. The vibrant, cartoon-y art style features Japanese architectural themes, offering unique backgrounds and obstacles in each level. Progression unlocks new shapes and abilities like erasing parts of the level, adding depth to the puzzling gameplay. Suitable for all ages, it's a fresh take on platformers with engaging puzzles and excitement.

Space Hamsters sees Hammy, the first hamster astronaut from planet Hammon, shot out of a nuclear potato cannon into space. Your task is to explore space, while avoiding being shot down and captured by hungry foxes. Armed with upgradeable weapons and reliant on floating carrots for sustenance, Hammy navigates space using a jetpack across diverse asteroids with varying gravities. The game, with colourful pixel art, gets harder as you play, introducing tougher enemies and strategic upgrades every minute. With no levels, players strive for survival, facing scout foxes, snipers, and more. This is a game where you do not win but you get as far as you can before it’s game over!

This place is called Sunnyside, A place where happiness is everything but there is one place in Sunnyside without happiness , Esctatica . Players, guided by Sol, a helpful duck, embark on a journey and regain the happiness in the town again. Completing tasks like helping a woodcutter earns "happiness points," which fill a happiness meter. Poorly done tasks decrease the meter, but players can retry. The player discovers what deep secrets caused the town to become like this as they progress. Featuring simple pixel art with a yellow and brown palette, SunnySide is designed for ages 7-13, offering no violence for those curious to explore, focused on problem-solving with a calm and happy atmosphere.

The game is about a character running around supermarkets with a shopping list, trying to find items within a certain amount of time. Once the list is complete, they head to the checkout, cash out, and earn money to buy new trolleys, cosmetics and maps. Set in various supermarkets all over the world, players can customise their character or buy ones that already exist like Jim. There is a hard mode for a timer, but it is recommended to start slow! Jim's story involves lifting his spirits by completing ever-changing lists for cash. Featuring high-enhanced 3D graphics, the game allows progression through different supermarkets, each unique in design and difficulty. It’s a free, unique supermarket game that is suitable for all ages.