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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!”
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Special Joker symbols refresh iconic series in Wazdan’s retro-inspired Magic Fruits Dice
Wazdan, the gain-focused developer, has introduced Magic Fruits Dice, a vibrant new entry in its successful Magic Fruit series, featuring special Joker symbols that enhance win potential in a nostalgic, retro-inspired slot experience.
Designed for fans of traditional slot gameplay, Magic Fruits Dice features a classic three-reel, five-payline format paired with a retro fruit theme reminiscent of land-based machines. With its straightforward structure and easy-to-follow rules, the game focuses on delivering simple yet engaging entertainment centered around one standout feature.
At the heart of the gameplay is the Joker symbol, which acts as the highest-paying icon in the game. The Joker can appear alongside the four lowest-paying symbols as an additional icon displayed in their corner. When three of these special symbols land on a payline, players receive the corresponding payout, creating a clear and rewarding gameplay mechanic.
The title also incorporates Wazdan’s customisable Volatility Levels
, allowing players to adjust the gameplay experience to suit their preferred risk and reward style. This flexibility ensures the slot can appeal to different player profiles across a variety of regulated markets.
By focusing on a single, recognisable feature, Magic Fruits Dice reflects Wazdan’s engagement-driven approach to game development, delivering a tailored player experience designed to perform consistently for operators.
Andrzej Hyla, Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan, said:
“Magic Fruits Dice demonstrates our commitment to remaining an innovative supplier, even within the most classic of formats. As a team, we take great pride in evolving established series such as Magic Fruits while preserving the qualities that players value most.
“This release reflects our belief that the quality of the user’s experience is paramount. By combining a timeless three-reel structure with a distinctive Joker mechanic, we continue to go above and beyond for our partners, delivering games that are both familiar and capable of making a real impact across multiple markets.”
The post Special Joker symbols refresh iconic series in Wazdan’s retro-inspired Magic Fruits Dice appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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Evoplay wraps up record-breaking Big Adventures campaign with Maldives grand prize
Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has officially concluded its largest-ever network campaign, Big Adventures, with the grand prize winner revealed during a live draw held on March 12.
Running for nine months from June 2025 to February 2026, the promotion became one of Evoplay’s most ambitious engagement initiatives to date. The campaign featured a €2.5 million total prize pool, distributed more than 115,000 random prizes, and delivered 180 days of player activity across participating operator platforms.
Throughout the promotion, players competed in multiple tournament phases while unlocking additional rewards through interactive mechanics such as Prize Drops and Wheel of Fortune events.
Although thousands of prizes were awarded during the campaign, the highlight came with the announcement of the Grand Mega Prize: a VIP trip to the Maldives for two, including flights, premium accommodation, and a curated island experience organised by Evoplay.
The winner was selected through a live random draw among the Top 100 players on the final leaderboard, recognising those who performed best throughout the tournament stages.
The recording of the draw is available here: https://youtube.com/live/mpPQB0MSyZM
In addition to the main prizes, Big Adventures also rewarded loyal players through quarterly giveaways, where top participants received the latest iPhone Pro Max devices.
Beyond player engagement, the campaign was also designed to deliver strong value for operators. Built-in gamification tools — including leaderboard APIs, promotional assets, and integrated campaign widgets — allowed operators to promote the event seamlessly across their platforms.
Following the success of Big Adventures, Evoplay has already launched its next large-scale campaign, Four Seasons of Legends, beginning with the Spring edition. The new initiative offers operators another opportunity to participate in a network-wide promotion aimed at boosting player engagement and retention.
Diana Larina, Head of Marketing at Evoplay, said:
“Big Adventures has been a landmark campaign for Evoplay and our operator partners. Over the past nine months we’ve seen incredible engagement from players around the world, with thousands of prizes won and strong participation across every phase of the campaign.
“The live finale was the perfect way to close the campaign and celebrate the community that took part, and we’re already looking ahead to the next major campaign, which will give operators even more opportunities to engage their players.”
The post Evoplay wraps up record-breaking Big Adventures campaign with Maldives grand prize appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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Million Games Launches Piggy Rush with RushReel and Cash Collect Mechanics
Million Games has unveiled Piggy Rush, a new feature-packed 5×3 video slot that blends classic fruit-themed visuals with modern gameplay mechanics and fixed jackpot opportunities.
Created by Yugo Workshop, part of the Million Stars partner studio programme, Piggy Rush marks the eighth collaboration between the two companies.
At the center of the game is the RushReel, a bonus reel that can activate during any spin. When triggered, it awards multipliers or additional Piggy Symbols, enhancing both line wins and the Cash Collect Feature to dynamically increase win potential.
Piggy Symbols play a crucial role in the gameplay. At the end of each spin, all Piggy Symbols transform simultaneously, either becoming matching paying symbols or turning into Coins and Collector symbols that activate the Cash Collect mode.
During the Cash Collect Feature, players gather coin values while competing for three fixed jackpots:
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Mega – 1000x base bet
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Major – 200x base bet
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Mini – 50x base bet
With medium volatility and a maximum payout of up to 5,000x the bet, Piggy Rush is designed to appeal to a broad audience while still offering strong win potential.
Thomas Nimstad, CEO of Million Games, said:
“Piggy Rush demonstrates how strong base mechanics combined with layered bonus features can create accessible yet engaging gameplay. It’s another strong addition to our growing portfolio and a testament to the strength of our Million Stars partner programme.”
Piggy Rush is now available globally through Million Games for operators and aggregators.
The post Million Games Launches Piggy Rush with RushReel and Cash Collect Mechanics appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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