Big Games Night Out
A massive celebration of games culture, featuring a spectacle experience of projections and performance, epic displays of cosplay fashion and free games.
Big Games Night Out (BGNO) will once again take over Fed Square, for a free, accessible, and all-ages event welcoming gamers and games culture enthusiasts from all walks of life.
Come down, play and compete in legendary and indie games – from arcade, to esport, tabletop, and roleplay – or join family and friends in the Main Square for live music, DJs, performances and an unforgettable showcase of cosplay fashion.
Highlights include Blaktasia Universe, celebrating the global premiere of Blaktasia: Invasion of The Murk – the debut game from Naarm-based, Aboriginal-led studio GUCK, slated for release in early 2025. This immersive experience features mesmerising projections across Fed Square’s façade.
Fans can also celebrate 10 years of the viral game Crossy Road, with Melbourne studio Hipster Whale, cosplayers can register for the Cosplay Runway and strut their stuff for the chance to win great prizes, and Dungeons & Dragons fans can join Indiginerd at Koorie Heritage Trust to play a special D&D campaign.
What’s On?
Main Square
Celebrate the global premiere of Blaktasia: Invasion of The Murk – the debut game from Naarm-based, Aboriginal-led studio GUCK. Experience of the sounds, artistry and characters of the game, featuring projections across Fed Square’s facade. Blaktasia Community Games will also feature indie games from the programmers and designers behind Blaktasia in The Atrium.
Various locations
Hipster Whale is a multi-award-winning Australian studio, located in the heart of Melbourne. Their first release, Crossy Road, quickly became a viral success and Crossy Road titles have amassed more than 330 million downloads to date. Hipster Whale has joined forces with world-renowned companies along the way, including Bandai Namco and Disney to create more top-charting games like PAC-MAN 256 and Disney Crossy Road. They continue to make and publish bright and funny games with broad appeal, including Piffle, and the Apple Arcade exclusives Crossy Road Castle and Crossy Road+.
Koorie Heritage Trust
To celebrate the launch of Blaktasia and the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, Indiginerd will present a very special D&D campaign as part of BGNO. Hosted within the Koorie Heritage Trust, you will be introduced to new members of The Guild and a special guest DM.
Main Stage
Cosplayers take to the runway to showcase the best in fantasy fashion and makeup. Featuring celebrity hosts, prizes and live music, this open and inclusive feature of BGNO provides a platform for Melbourne’s extraordinary cosplay community to shine. Cosplayers – regardless of skill level or costume style – are invited to express interest in walking the runway here.
Various locations
Multiple Games Zones will offer free-to-play games – from 80s to indie, arcades to esports, and tabletop to roleplay. BGNO will feature more than 50 free-to-play game activations for gamers of all walks of life including Crossy Road, created by multi-award-winning Australian studio Hipster Whale, which has amassed over 330 million downloads to date. Plus, don’t miss out on the epic CouchWarriors tournaments at The Edge, featuring Beyblade, Tetris, Just Dance, and Tekken 8, with awesome prizes up for grabs. Register for the CouchWarriors competitions here.
Main Stage
DJs, live performances, immersive audience experiences, Just Dance-offs and much more!
The Atrium
Melbourne Meeples is back to share a passion for board gaming at BGNO, showcasing a diverse array of new and old games including games from Victorian and Australian designers and publishers. Board games have experienced a resurgence, becoming one of the best ways for people to step into the world of games. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a curious newcomer, join Melbourne Meeples for an evening of laughter, strategy, and fun at Big Games Night Out 2024.
ACMI
Explore the chaos and craft behind everyone’s favourite cheeky goose with a visit to Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition. Check out and play classics at the ACMI Collection arcade stations or the best new Australian games of the year with the AGDAs: ACMI Audience Award exhibit. Be one of the first to try out Rotted Luck – a brand new games commission from Australian artists and developers Ian MacLarty and Vidya Rajan. Catch local DJs, grab a drink or a bite to eat and take a break in the dedicated Quiet Room.
Stay tuned for further announcements from Big Games Night Out on Instagram, including Main Stage hosts, DJs, live performers, maps and timetables.
Big Games Night Out is proudly presented by Creative Victoria in partnership with Fed Square. BGNO is a hero event of Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW) which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2024.