Hyderabad: Arriving early to an event typically means fewer people. That assumption was quickly overturned at the India Game Developer Conference (IGDC) at HICC on its second day.
Despite being a weekday morning, the venue was swarming with attendees — predominantly young people, and those claiming to be young at heart. Fashionably dressed in gaming T-shirts, some with iconic gaming characters, others sporting anime prints, the crowd was a reflection of the event itself which can be called a celebration of gaming culture in all its diversity.
Alongside them were business professionals, venture capitalists, and important figures from the gaming industry, from aspiring entrepreneurs to seasoned game designers and animators. The conference was a hub for enthusiasts, techies, artists and experts alike.
The IGDC had no shortage of interactive experiences. Attendees flocked the booths for free merchandise and the chance to test new games. Krafton, a familiar name due to popular titles like BGMI and PUBG, drew in large crowds eager to try out its latest offerings.
“I’ve known Krafton for years because of BGMI and PUBG,” shared Harsh Srivastava, a third-year game design student from Artemisia College of Art & Design (ACAD), Madhya Pradesh.
A noteworthy aspect was the strong presence of Indian motifs in many upcoming games, with characters, stories, and themes rooted in Indian culture. Harjeet Chhabra, CEO of Neela Mediatech, remarked on this trend: “Gaming as such has no language. If the gameplay is interesting, it can go global, but here, the cultural nuances and characters allow players to feel a unique sense of connection and pride.”
This was reflected in many games at IGDC. One such stall was by Stealth Mode, which attempted to capture the cultural history with strategic card games based on the Mahabharata. According to Yashasavi Amit, content designer and product manager: “Our idea is to bring cultural context into gaming.”
Their mobile-based strategy game, featuring over 400 Mahabharata characters, allows players to select up to six characters, earning rewards in cash points based on performance. “We’re not in the realm of real-money gaming; we want to create an accessible, culturally rich experience,” added Yashasavi.
Hyderabad-based companies, especially start-ups were plentiful at the event. Vyuham presented a gothic-style stall showcasing a game inspired by the epic tale of Abhimanyu. It blends Indian mythology with an immersive design. Another local company, Aesium which showcased shooting games.
Another standout game was ‘Suri: The Seventh Flute’, a rhythm-based 2D Metroidvania that combines gameplay with musical elements. “The entire game world responds to a rhythm or beat, except for the player,” explained one of the developers, Sagnik Sen Roy. The animation of the game appeared to be inspired from Indian and Southeast Asian art styles. The main character wields a flute, an instrument that unlocks abilities. He has to use it to restore balance in a world that has lost harmony through music.
The event also spotlighted women in gaming, with a special session. “The session was extremely inspiring and was more about building confidence as a woman in the industry and encouraging female representation. After all women make up only 10 per cent of this industry,” said Akanksha Mohapatra, a first-semester gaming student from Jain University, wearing a custom gaming headgear she’d won at a booth.
Not just limited to adults, IGDC was also a space for families, with some parents introducing their children to the world of gaming and technology. One mother attending with her 10-year-old daughter shared, “We don’t have a TV at home, but it’s important for her to be exposed to technology — AI and gaming are essential skills now.”
