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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!”
casino games
Groove says its aggregator library passes 20,000 casino games
Groove says it has surpassed 20,000 casino titles on its aggregation platform, up from 15,000 games two years ago. The company said the library now includes content from more than 150 providers and is available to partners worldwide through a single API.
According to Groove, the portfolio spans slots, instant wins, table games, crash games, live dealer and arcade-style content, alongside “emerging verticals including sweepstakes and crypto-native content.” The company said the catalogue is delivered through “one API, one back office, one pipeline,” and positioned the milestone as a curated expansion rather than a volume play.
Rachel Tourgeman, Head of Partnerships at Groove, said: “Twenty thousand games is a number. What matters is what sits behind it…” She added: “We don’t add studios for the sake of volume. We add them because they bring something distinctive: a mechanical innovation, a visual language, a player-engagement hook that our operators can’t get elsewhere. Our partners trust us to curate, not just collect. That trust is why we keep growing, and why the quality curve keeps rising alongside the quantity curve.”
Groove pointed to recent integrations including KingMidas Games (150+ mobile-first titles), Urgent Games and Bryogames, which it said offers “proprietary mathematics with real-time RTP customisation.” For operators, Groove said the full library is accessible via Groove Command, its centralised back-office product, with tools including content matching, regional segmentation and automated tournaments.
Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, said: “The aggregation space is crowded with platforms that offer ‘access’ and little else,” adding: “Twenty thousand games through a single API is not just scale. It is a statement.” Meltzer also claimed Groove’s “technology stack with predictive auto-scaling, atomic transactions, real-time compliance mesh” supports execution “across fragmented regulatory landscapes with precision.”
The post Groove says its aggregator library passes 20,000 casino games appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Bragg Gaming
Mega Casino launches Bragg Gaming slot 10 Hot Diamond Desire as exclusive
Mega Casino has launched 10 Hot Diamond Desire, a new online slot developed by Bragg Gaming, as an exclusive title available only to Mega Casino players.
According to the companies, the release is intended to strengthen Mega Casino’s exclusive content line-up in the UK online casino market. Bragg Gaming said the game was created by its in-house development team and combines classic slot features with modern mechanics and a diamond-themed design.
The exclusive launch also extends the commercial relationship between the supplier and operator. Mega Casino already offers Bragg Gaming titles including Down The Chimney and Sevens & Suns.
Dom Aldworth, Head of Brand Marketing at Kinetic Digital said:
“Exclusive content remains a key pillar of our strategy and 10 Hot Diamond Desire is a great example of the kind of launch we want to bring to Mega Casino players. The game delivers a compelling experience while giving customers access to something genuinely unique. We’re pleased to be working with Bragg Gaming on this exclusive release and look forward to expanding our portfolio of exclusive content even further in the future.”
The post Mega Casino launches Bragg Gaming slot 10 Hot Diamond Desire as exclusive appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
appointments
OS Studios names Ishaan Arya country manager to lead India expansion
OS Studios has appointed Ishaan Arya as Country Manager for India, tasking him with leading the agency’s expansion across newly established hubs in Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Mumbai. The appointment was announced on 25 June, 2026 in Bengaluru.
OS Studios, a Project Worldwide agency, said it recently entered the Indian market and will deploy its ‘Fan Z’ approach for brands looking to engage with gaming, esports and live events audiences in South Asia. The company said the expansion will leverage the infrastructure and production capabilities of sister agency George P. Johnson (GPJ) India.
“The future of gaming will be shaped by the communities that care about it most, and few markets embody that more than India,” said John Higgins, CEO of OS Studios. “To build something meaningful, you have to be part of the culture, not looking in from the outside. Ishaan understands that better than anyone. He’s exactly the kind of leader we want building the future of OS Studios in India.”
In the role, Arya will oversee operations, drive strategic brand partnerships, and scale local capabilities, according to the company. “Brands are investing heavily in Indian gaming, but true fan experience is too often an afterthought,” said Rasheed Sait, Chief Growth Officer for India and South Asia at Project Worldwide. “Alongside GPJ India’s experiential footprint, OS Studios will set a new standard for fan engagement in the region.”
Arya previously co-founded The Esports Club and most recently served as Vice President of Partnerships at Nodwin Gaming, where he led Comic Con India. “A massive gap remains between brand intent and authentic community engagement in India,” said Arya. “I’m thrilled to leverage Project Worldwide and GPJ India’s operational strength to build culture-defining experiences for brands and fans alike.”
The post OS Studios names Ishaan Arya country manager to lead India expansion appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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