NEW DELHI: India is witnessing a new wave in its gaming revolution as the top 10 game titles from the Road to Game Jam have been announced under the Create in India Challenge: Season 1. These outstanding games will be showcased at the upcoming World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES), to be held in Mumbai from May 1–4.
Organized by the Game Developer Association of India (GDAI) in collaboration with Kratos Gamer Network (KGeN), this national competition falls under Pillar 2 of the WAVES initiative, focusing on AVGC-XR — Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and immersive tech like AR/VR and the Metaverse.
Massive Participation Across India
Over 5,500 developers from 1,650+ colleges across 453 cities registered for the Road to Game Jam. Participants went through several rounds of elimination, with 175 teams submitting original game concepts. These entries were evaluated by a jury of veteran game developers, designers, and industry leaders.
Top 10 Finalists & Rewards
The final 10 game projects represent a mix of student teams, solo creators, and startups. These developers will now get an all-expense-paid trip to Mumbai, where their creations will be presented to a global jury at WAVES 2025.
Top three games will also win a prize pool of ₹7 lakh:
- ₹3.5 lakh for 1st place
- ₹2 lakh for 2nd place
- ₹1.5 lakh for 3rd place
Driving India’s Gaming Vision
India is home to over 550 million gamers, with 175 million actively making in-game purchases, according to a recent report by Lumikai. With affordable internet, a mobile-first gaming base, and a young population — 65% under the age of 35 — India is poised to become a global game development hub.
Support from the government, increased private investment, and national skilling programs are creating fertile ground for developers. WAVES and initiatives like Road to Game Jam are giving young creators the visibility and mentorship they need to build world-class games.
Building Global Bridges
The WAVES Summit 2025 will serve as a major platform for international collaboration, game launches, and networking with publishers and studios. It aims to bridge India’s talent with the global gaming ecosystem.
As the finalists gear up for the Mumbai showcase, their journey is more than just about games — it’s about creativity, innovation, and India’s rising potential as a digital powerhouse in interactive entertainment.