🎊 Get yourself something to commemorate our 10th year of NZ Games Fest! 🍰
T-Shirts and bags are available! 👕🛍 NZGF posters will also be available at the venue.
⏳️ Available for orders until April 24!
👉 All orders must be placed through our website & collected at the Play By Play conference.
Heads up! There's 2 more weeks to register for our free game jam! ✨️
👉 No game dev experience is needed to register– we want to see your diverse skillsets and unique ideas! Meet new people & share your passion for game development! 😊
✨ Keen to jam? Register via the link in bio! 🔗
Introducing more Play By Play speakers!
👉 Josmar (Jay) Roman Miti
“Now that Minecraft is Puerto Rican…”
👉 Laura Anderson
“Craft with Care: Tips from a cosy games writer”
👉 Jeff Andrews
“You Should Build A Game Engine (for fun)”
Tickets available via link in bio. 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026
Introducing more Play By Play speakers!
👉 Jenn Sandercock
“Worst Practices in Game Development: Pitfalls to Avoid”
👉 Laurent T
“When I Play Games Now, They Are Less Fun”
👉 Jimmy Baird
“I Just Have This Feeling No One Knows What a Game Is"
Tickets available via link in bio. 🔗
Introducing more Play By Play speakers!
👉 Sam Marsh
“A Recruiter’s View of the ANZ Games Industry”
👉 Piper Van Rinsvelt
“Anything and Everything and Design”
👉 Robert Francis
“How did they ship with that?!”
Tickets available link in bio🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev #2026PlayByPlay
Introducing more Play By Play speakers! 💕
👉Anna Lezhikova
“Side Quests in Security: Keeping Your Game (and You) Safe”
👉Jevon Wright
“Why I didn't use generative AI in my game, and you shouldn't either”
👉Zelle Marcovicci
“Pay to Lose! (The Death of the Microtransaction)”
Ticket link in bio! 🔗
🤗 Introducing more of our Play By Play conference speakers!
👉 Tana Tanoi
“Encouraging Creativity in Shape Sender Deluxe”
👉 Nina Estrella
“Designing multiplayer games with in-game community and culture in mind”
👉 Stef Peacock
"UI ✨Vibes✨ and how to find them"
Conference ticket link in bio! 🔗
Introducing some of of our wonderful speakers at the Play By Play conference!
👉 Henry Feltham
"Making Games that Obsess People"
👉Lucy Weekley
"What 14 NPC Romances Taught Me About Game Design"
👉 Robert Yang
"The Gay Hockey Show is a Game (Dev) Changer"
Play By Play ticket link in bio! 🔗
Band your party together and seize the glory at this year’s game-themed pub quiz! 🧝♂️🧙♀️🧚♀️
Enjoy a night of fun, bad jokes, & sustenance! Prizes & honour will be at stake! 🍗🍻
📍 Meow
📆 May 7, 6:30-9PM
👉 Teams need 3-6 people.
Register through the link in bio 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
🫣 There’s less than 3 weeks til PB & Jam, the free game jam!
⏱️ Participants (18+) have 48 hrs to form teams & create a short game!
👉 Game dev experience not required – we want to see your unique skills & ideas! 😊
Keen? Register through the link in bio! 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
🎉 Thank you very much to NZ On Air (Irirangi te Motu) for joining us as a New Zealand Games Festival sponsor!
It’s an honour to be recognised and receive support for sharing both our stories and voices in game development with the rest of Aotearoa! 🎮 🇳🇿
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
⏳️The extended early bird tickets will close soon! After April 10th, tickets will return to regular price!
Student discounts and other options are also available! 🧑🎓🎮
👉 Grab yours before they fly away!
Visit the link in our bio to get yours now! 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
This is ✨️your chance✨️ to showcase your games to the public! 👀
👉 Table applications for the Level Up Platformer exhibition are extended til April 20!
We welcome digital, card, tabletop, and experimental games! 🎮
📍 Michael Fowler Centre
🗓 May 10, 10AM-4PM
To apply, please check the link in bio! 🔗
Thank you to everyone who’ve shown interest in the Level Up Reimagine ‘Em All exhition!
Selected artists have been contacted with submissions details 📩
👉 Physical hand-ins will be on May 7, 10AM~ at Fishcube Gallery.
For more info, visit website link bio 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
It’s 1 month before PB & Jam! 🍞
⏱️ From May 1~3 participants (18+) form teams to create games in 48 hours!
👉 No experience needed to join!
Make new friends & share your passion for game dev! 🤝🎮
✨ Ready to jam? Register for free via link in bio! 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
🥳 April fools! The early bird tickets don't end today! They end—
(When did you say…?)
— end on April 10th. ✨️
(Wait, why 10?)
For our 10th year! 🤗
👉 Earlybird tickets have been extended until April 10!
Visit the link in bio to get your earlybird ticket 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
🎉 Treat & Greet is making a delicious return this year! 🧁🍬
🎀 Get to know other Play By Play attendees or catch up over some tasty treats at this fun, safe, and non-alcoholic event! 🤝
📍Fishcube Gallery, May 8, 6:30-9PM
For more info, visit the link in bio 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
We’re super stoked to announce this year’s JOYPAD event! Sponsored by Dinosaur Polo Club! 🦕💕
It's a casual social evening for our queer and LGBTQIA+ gaming community! 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️ 🎮
Enjoy a games night over some snacks and drinks!
📍Southern Cross Garden Bar
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
🥝🍓 The Pavs community awards nominations close in 5 days!
Nominate someone you feel should be recognised for the following awards— maybe even your bestie!
🏆 Unsung Hero
🏆 Industry Pillar
🍰 Be there on awards day by securing a ticket! 🎫
Links in bio 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
🍰 A massive thank you to everyone for the record amount of submissions for The Pavs!
Finalists will be contacted on April 2nd! 🧑💻
The Pavs:
🍓 Michael Fowler Centre
🥝 May 9, 7pm
Purchase a ticket with the link in bio & support your local games industry! 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
⏱️ There’s 1 week left before the NZGF 2026 Earlybird Tickets take flight! 🪽
👉 These tickets cover all the paid events!
Further discounts are available for students! 💁👨🎓
Visit the link in our bio to purchase yours now! 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
🍰 We need your help finding nominees for The Pavs community awards!
👉 Unsung Hero
👉 Industry Pillar
If there is somebody you would like to put forward — including yourself— please nominate them!
⏳️Nominations close April 1st!
Link for nominations in bio! 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
— Dawn of the Final Day —
Less than 24 hours to apply to showcase your games at this free event! 😯
We accept a variety games from digital, board, tabletop, or experimental! 🎮 🎲 🃏
📍May 10, 10AM-5PM
Michael Fowler Centre
For more info, visit the link in bio 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
🎉 Kick off the festival with PB & Jam, a free game jam from May 1-3! 🍞
In 48 hours, form teams to create game on a surprise theme ! All are welcome to join, but must be over than 18!
✨ Ready to jam? Register a ticket through the link in our bio! 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
📢 There's only 3 days left to apply for the Level Up Platformer exhibition!
This is a free, physical exhibition to the public showcasing Aotearoa-made games! 🇳🇿
Digital, board, tabletop, and experimental games are welcomed!
For more info, visit the link bio 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
Emma is obsessed with the potential for extraordinary results when data & creativity intersect. She is curious about games – what they do for people, why they work, and what they could be.
With 20 years' experience in research and strategic marketing, she brings a unique perspective on game dev.
🙌 We're ecstatic to announce our 2nd keynote speaker, Emma Procter!
Emma is the Research Director at PikPok and currently a board member at NZGDA. 👩💻📊
✨️ Don't miss out on Emma's talk! purchase tickets to Play By Play via the link in bio! 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
📢 There's only 5 days left to submit applications for a table at the Platformer exhibition!
A variety of games from digital games, board games, and experimental games are welcomed! 🇳🇿
📍Sunday May 10, 10AM - 5PM
Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
Link in bio 🔗
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
📢 The early bird catches the worm! Make sure to grab your early bird tickets before the end of the month! 🐣
🤫 Student discount & separate event tickets are also available! ✨️
🔗 Visit the link in bio to purchase & view other ticket options.
#NZGamesFestival #NZGF2026 #NZGameDev
🚨 Applications to showcase games at Level Up Platformer Exhibition close 20th March!
It's a free event to showcase Aotearoa-made games! 🎮 🇳🇿
We accept games that are PC/Digital games, board games, VR, etc. 🎲
📌 May 10, 10AM-5PM, Michael Fowler Centre.
Visit the link in bio for more info!🔗