By featuring a curated collection of local games and artworks, along with contributions from international creators, Playtopia 2024 promises a one-of-a-kind celebration of gaming and digital artistry.
Founded in 2018, the event is Africa’s first annual destination Indie Games & Immersive Arts Festival and Summit. Drawing inspiration from alternative gaming festivals around the world, it is a celebration of the African gaming industry with South African and global creators and players coming together to share ideas, connect across continents and disciplines, and to exhibit work.
Creativity and technology
In December 2024, Playtopia returns to Cape Town for its fourth instalment. South African game developers have consistently achieved remarkable global success, earning a solid place on the international scene with their unique creations. The event is dedicated to celebrating the country’s diverse game development and immersive arts community, whilst inspiring the next wave of innovators, gamers, and fans.
Gaming enthusiasts, developers, and event-goers will be treated to a wide array of games, music, immersive art experiences and gourmet food.
The event will include exhibitions from leading South African interactive artists, artistic and alternative games, a special Super Friendship Arcade room with custom controller-based games, VR rooms, and more.
The festival closes on Saturday evening with an official after party at Botanik, hosted by Discotekah.
Playtopia 2024 line-up
Playtopia Summit
This year’s programme includes two days of talks and panels from selected speakers, who will impart their wisdom on to the next generation of developers.
From fuelling the passion of Africa’s current game-changers, to being a catalyst for the next wave, the Playtopia Summit aims to celebrate and grow South Africa’s blossoming indie games scene, and continue pushing it towards being one of the most vibrant and innovative hotspots in the future for indie games and the playful arts.
Main Arcade
The main exhibition arcade features a diverse selection of indie games. There’s a curated a mix of titles from our local gaming scene, showcasing the creativity and innovation of our homegrown developers. Alongside these local gems, we’re excited to present a selection of international games that bring different perspectives and gameplay styles to our arcade.
From narrative-driven experiences to fast-paced challenges, our goal is to provide a varied experience for visitors. It’s not just about the games; it’s about appreciating the creativity and effort that developers, both local and international, put into their work.
Super Friendship Arcade
The Super Friendship Arcade custom controller collective is back with their latest games created to inspire physical play and a more immersive experience that even the least skilled gamer can enjoy.
Born out of a desire to inject a healthy dose of irreverence and playfulness into games as a communal experience, SFA is our homegrown experimental punk games event that challenges the status quo. This gathering appropriates anything that can move into an alternative controller. At SFA, innovation knows no bounds – from everyday objects to unconventional devices, everything becomes fair game for reinvention in the name of playful exploration. Go and be silly with your friends!
Indie Planet
Indie Planet is a curated exhibition space and arcade showcasing games from other major indie festivals around the world. Here players can experience the best in show games curated by these festivals to be on exhibit. 2024 will welcome back Bitsummit from Japan, A.Maze (GER), FreePlay (AUS) and newcomers Now Play This from the UK.
Immersive and interactive artworks
As always, there is a general call for immersive artworks, and the most inspiring pieces are selected to entertain festival attendees.
Step beyond the traditional gallery setting and explore installations that encourage active participation. The exhibits aim to break down the barriers between the viewer and the artwork, fostering a more dynamic and personal connection.
From interactive displays that respond to your presence to thought-provoking virtual experiences, exhibitions will offer a blend of creativity and technology.
What: Playtopia indie games & immersive arts festival
When: 6 – 7 December 2024, Friday 9am – 10pm, Saturday 9am – 9pm
Where: Homecoming Centre, Cape Town
Playtopia tickets: https://playtopiafestival.co.za R250 – R1500
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