Stick It to the Stickman wins Game of the Year at Games Industry Africa Awards 2025
Free Lives also awarded Team of the Year, managing director Dominique Gawlowski recognised with Persons of the Year award
Games Industry Africa has announced the winners of this year’s Games Industry Africa Awards (GIAA), with Free Lives’ Stick It to the Stickman winning Game of the Year and PC Game of the Year.
The developer also took home Team of the Year for its work on the physics-based brawler, which is published by Devolver Digital.
“By all metrics, this title stands as the most successful game developed on the continent, produced by a team renowned for consistently demonstrating exceptional creativity,” said the GIAA.
“Stick It to the Stickman is poised to remain influential in the industry for the foreseeable future.”
Unsigned Double Collective’s Flibbius McDoogle and the Mysterious Flying Machine won Debut of the Year, which showcased “the talent, intent and credentials to be a creative force across the continent and beyond.”
Maliyo Games’ Safari City was awarded Most Impactful Mobile Game, which the GIAA described as being “developed by a team dedicated to innovating the mobile gaming landscape throughout the continent.”
The Persons of the Year Award was given to three recipients: Masseka Game/Gara founder Teddy Kossoko, Free Lives managing director Dominique Gawlowski, and Egyptian developer Rojeh Maher.
Elsewhere, Africa Games Week received the award for Event of the Year, the Carry1st Africa Cup took home Initiative of the Year, and Nyamakop’s debut of Relooted won News Highlight of the Year.
“The industry in Africa is largely, but still relatively nascent compared to its geographical contemporaries,” said the GIAA.
“An acknowledgment of the pool of talent is a way to aid continuous growth as well as inspire the next generation of creators and developers.”
Here are the full list of winners for the Games Industry Africa Awards 2025:
- Game of the Year: Stick It to the Stickman (Free Lives, Devolver Digital)
- PC Game of the Year: Stick it to the Stickman
- Debut of the Year: Flibbius McDoogle and the Mysterious Flying Machine (Unsigned Double Collective)
- Most Impactful Mobile Game: Safari City (Maliyo Games)
- Industry Initiative of the Year: Carry1st Africa Cup
- Event of the Year: Africa Games Week
- News Highlight of the Year: Nyamakop debuts Relooted
- Team of the Year: Free Lives
- Persons of the Year: Teddy Kossoko, Dominique Gawlowski, and Rojeh Maher
