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Colt Canyon crowned ‘Best Game’ and LUNARK ‘Most Anticipated’ at GameMaker Awards 2021
The judges have deliberated. Over 33,000 votes have been cast. And we can now reveal that Colt Canyon has been crowned ‘Best Game’ and LUNARK ‘Most Anticipated’ game of the year, at the GameMaker Awards 2021.
Created by German-based developer Retrific, Colt Canyon is a stylish western-themed pixel art shooter combining roguelike elements with real-time combat. The judges were impressed with Colt Canyon’s highly engaging gameplay and heavily pixelated artist style. While in the popular vote, members of the GameMaker and Opera GX communities voted Colt Canyon the clear winner.
The other finalists for ‘Best Game’ included: Chicory: A Colorful Tale, Jet Lancer, Post Void and Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!.
The winner of ‘Most Anticipated’ game is LUNARK, from Canari Games. LUNARK is a 2D cinematic platformer, designed in the vein of ’80s and ’90s classics. The game challenges players to run, jump, hang, climb, roll, and shoot their way through a kaleidoscope of different environments. These include mysterious alien ruins, a flying penitentiary, a high-tech megalopolis, and a majestic forest.
The judges were blown away with how the Canari Games team have pushed the creative limits of cutscenes and pixel art in GameMaker, to create a game that is both visually stunning and great to play. Set for release later this year, LUNARK also made a big impression with the voters – who overwhelmingly crowned it the ‘Most Anticipated’ game of 2021.
The other finalists for ‘Most Anticipated’ game included: NYKRA, Jitsu Squad, APICO and Toodee and Topdee.
The GameMaker Awards, in partnership with SpecialEffect, a charity that uses video games to enhance the lives of those people with physical disabilities, celebrate creativity and innovation in Indie game development, honouring the best games created using GameMaker Studio 2 as well as the Indies and Studios that designed them.
From over 200 entries, only 5 games for each category were selected by an expert panel of industry peers, including GameMaker Studio CTO Russell Kay, Opera GX Product Director Maciej Kocemba, and Into Indie Games Editor Harry Cole.
Russell Kay, CTO, GameMaker Studio, said: “This year’s GameMaker Awards has redefined what we’ve come to expect from the indies and studios that choose GameMaker as their creative engine of choice. Each of the finalists have demonstrated both amazing creativity, plus the technical ability to harness GameMaker’s powerful functionality to design a game that really pushes the boundaries. Given the incredible standard of this year’s entries, I am only glad that the final decision was left in the hands of our loyal GameMaker and Opera GX communities.”
Jonathan Mannshoven of Retrific, said: “Colt Canyon wasn’t a bestseller when it launched last year. It wasn’t free from criticism either. But by working closely with the community, I’ve been able to make many improvements to the game which have helped turn a lot of criticism into positive feedback. Having all that hard work now paying off with Colt Canyon winning ‘Best Game’ at the GameMaker Awards 2021 is an overwhelming and surreal feeling – just incredible!
“GameMaker has always been my engine of choice as it is just so easy to use yet also powerful, enabling me to reach maximum productivity. Which as a solo developer is extremely valuable. Put simply – I wouldn’t be a game developer now if it wasn’t for GameMaker.”
Johan Vinet of Canari Games, added: “LUNARK started as a passion project to create a game in the genre I loved in my youth. Making it a reality became so clear that I decided to quit my job, start my own studio and launch a Kickstarter campaign. Winning the “Most Anticipated Game” award is an incredible recognition from the players and the GameMaker Community, which brings some welcome legitimacy and a massive confidence boost to actually finish the game! Thank you!”
HIPTHER is proud to announce a new Media Partnership with Nightrush, officially launching alongside the highly anticipated HIPTHER Prague Summit 2026. The event will take place on 24–25 March 2026 at the OREA Hotel Andels Praha, bringing together leading voices from across Gaming and Technology.
Recognised as one of Europe’s premier boutique events for industry decision-makers, the Prague Summit unites professionals from iGaming, fintech, blockchain, AI, compliance, and digital innovation. Across two immersive days, attendees will engage in expert-led discussions, curated networking opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences designed to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities shaping regulated digital industries.
This new collaboration marks an important step in expanding industry dialogue and strengthening global connections within the iGaming ecosystem.
Strengthening Industry Connections Through Media Collaboration
Nightrush has rapidly established itself as a trusted media platform dedicated to connecting operators, providers, and players through in-depth content, expert reviews, industry news, and community-driven engagement. What began as a focused review platform has evolved into a dynamic hub that promotes collaboration, delivers practical insights, and supports responsible gambling initiatives across the wider iGaming landscape.
Under the leadership of Brand Manager Olesea Naidion, Nightrush continues to expand its influence within the global iGaming community. Olesea will also take the stage at Prague Summit 2026, sharing expertise on brand strategy, digital marketing, user acquisition, and long-term player loyalty.
Through this Media Partnership, HIPTHER and Nightrush will collaborate to amplify key industry conversations, increase visibility for thought leadership, and support meaningful engagement among stakeholders before, during, and beyond Prague Summit 2026.
Prague Summit 2026: Celebrating a Decade of Impact
Marking 10 years of impact across Gaming and Technology, the 2026 edition of the HIPTHER Prague Summit will feature its most ambitious programme to date. The event will host four dedicated stages, covering compliance, expert panels, strategic industry themes, and practical education through the HIPTHER Academy.
Attendees can expect:
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In-depth regulatory and compliance discussions
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Responsible Gaming and Player Safety sessions supported by international regulators
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High-level networking with operators, suppliers, innovators, and policymakers
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The prestigious GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026
Within this context, the partnership with Nightrush will play a key role in advancing knowledge sharing, fostering transparency, and supporting long-term growth across regulated digital industries.
A Shared Vision for the Future
HIPTHER and Nightrush are united by a shared vision: to build stronger connections across the iGaming community and enable collaboration that drives innovation, trust, and sustainable industry development.
The Media Partnership debuting at Prague Summit 2026 represents the start of a broader collaboration focused on year-round content creation, community engagement, and cross-industry dialogue—further strengthening the foundations of the global iGaming ecosystem.
The post HIPTHER Announces Media Partnership with Nightrush Ahead of Prague Summit 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Dream Play continues to grow its lineup with Hyper Gems, a space-themed slot designed around speed, rising tension, and escalating multipliers.
Set within a deep cosmic environment of glowing nebulae and radiant crystal symbols, the game delivers a sharp, modern visual style. The bottom control panel reflects Dream Play’s signature polish — a centered spin button, sleek metallic controls, and a clean layout that keeps attention firmly on momentum and gameplay.
Fast Base Game, Reactive Multiplier
The base game moves at a rapid pace thanks to avalanche mechanics, where winning symbols disappear and new ones fall into place seamlessly.
Multipliers in the base game apply on a per-spin basis.
If a multiplier lands and connects with a win during that same spin, the payout is instantly boosted. Miss the connection, and it resets — keeping each spin dynamic and unpredictable.
The experience feels fast, immediate, and full of energy.
Bonus Game — Where the Adrenaline Builds
The pace shifts dramatically in the Bonus Game.
Once triggered — or activated through the Buy Bonus option — the atmosphere intensifies. The background changes, colors grow bolder, and symbol connections trigger subtle grid shake effects that add impact to every win.
The biggest change comes with the multiplier behavior.
In the bonus round, the multiplier no longer resets. Instead, it accumulates with every spin, even when no win lands. Tension builds as the value climbs spin after spin, until a winning cascade finally connects and the entire payout is multiplied by the full accumulated total.
Several quiet spins can stack significant potential, only for one sudden cascade to unleash it all at once. This is where Hyper Gems delivers its core rush.
Pop-Ups, Sound & Visual Identity
Hyper Gems features distinct Big Win, Epic Win, and Mega Win pop-ups, each with unique animations and visual styling. Transitions are smooth, modern, and fast, designed to maintain momentum rather than disrupt it.
Every win feels lively and visually rewarding.
The soundtrack reinforces the pace with a driving, space-inspired rhythm that rises alongside multiplier growth and intensifies during cascades.
Combined with strong visual effects and subtle grid movement in the bonus round, Hyper Gems delivers a cohesive, high-energy experience.
With its avalanche gameplay, accumulating bonus multiplier, and maximum win potential of x1000, Hyper Gems stands out as a release focused on escalation, tension, and momentum.
Step into the cosmic arena and experience Hyper Gems:
https://api.dreamplay.games/launch/virtual?game=hyper-gems
The post Hyper Gems — A New Cosmic Adrenaline Release from Dream Play appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Dream Play expands its portfolio with Hyper Gems, a space-themed slot built around speed, tension, and multiplier escalation.
Set against a deep cosmic backdrop filled with glowing nebulae and vibrant crystal symbols, the game delivers a sharp, modern presentation.
The bottom control panel follows Dream Play’s polished design approach — centered spin button, smooth metallic controls, clean layout — keeping the focus entirely on action and momentum.
Fast Base Game, Reactive Multiplier
The base game moves quickly thanks to avalanche mechanics — winning symbols disappear and new ones cascade into place without breaking the flow.
Here, the multiplier works per spin.
If it lands and a winning combination connects in that same spin, the payout is instantly amplified. If not, it resets — keeping the gameplay reactive and dynamic.
It’s fast. Immediate. Energetic.
Bonus Game — Where Adrenaline Builds
The real shift happens in the Bonus Game.
Once triggered — or accessed via Buy Bonus — the atmosphere intensifies. The background changes, colors become more aggressive, and during symbol connections the grid adds a subtle shake effect, reinforcing the impact of every hit.
Most importantly, the multiplier no longer resets.
Instead, it accumulates with every spin — even if no win lands. The tension builds. Spin after spin, the number grows. And when a winning combination finally connects, the entire payout is multiplied by the full accumulated value.
Several spins can quietly stack the multiplier — and then one cascade suddenly lands, amplifying the entire win in a single surge.
That is where Hyper Gems delivers its core adrenaline.
Pop-Ups, Sound & Visual Identity
Hyper Gems features distinct Big, Epic and Mega Win pop-ups, each with its own animation style and visual identity. The transitions are dynamic, modern, and fast — designed to enhance momentum rather than interrupt it.
Every win feels energetic and visually impactful.
The soundtrack supports the pace with a driving, space-inspired rhythm, rising alongside multiplier growth and intensifying during cascades.
Together with the visual effects and subtle grid shake in the bonus round, the game creates a cohesive, high-energy presentation.
With its avalanche engine, accumulating bonus multiplier and max win potential of x1000, Hyper Gems stands out as a release built around escalation and momentum.
Step into the cosmic arena and experience Hyper Gems.
https://api.dreamplay.games/launch/virtual?game=hyper-gems
The post Hyper Gems — A New Cosmic Adrenaline Release from Dream Play appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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