A banner shows a collection of computer games available to play at Drop in and Play

News

Games announced for Drop in and Play

Coming Sat 30 August

We're delighted to share the full list of developers who will be joining us for Drop in and Play in partnership with Abertay University and Ninja Kiwi.

Join us on Sat 30 August between 12:00 - 16:00 to try these exciting new games and meet the developers behind them. This event is free, drop-in, and suitable for gamers of all experience levels aged 10+.

This August event will also include games from this year's DARE Academy, Abertay University's flagship game design competition. Six teams of student finalists will be showcasing the game prototypes they've made for this competition - don't miss the chance to meet these talented emerging developers and play test their new games.

Read on to find out more about the games featured in our August event.

Published

Tue 5 Aug

A screen grab from the game Deadlocked. A robot shoots a space ship in an orange and red background.

Cognitive Games: Deadlocked

Cognitive is a new studio founded by Abertay University student Dominik Gawron. They’ll be bringing Deadlocked, a surprisingly cute top-down shooter where you can destroy spaceships while also unlocking pet companions and customising your character.

Deadlocked

An orange robot navigates a maze made out of cubes.

Scott Ewing: RopeBot

Independent developer Scott Ewing will be bringing RopeBot, a physics-based 3D platform which gives you unparalleled control over dynamic, realistic ropes. Create, lengthen, throw and deactivate ropes at will to overcome challenges and solve puzzles.

RopeBot

A computer drawing of a fox and a toad standing in an autumnal forest.

Oblation Studios: The Shepherds

Oblation Studios consists of Abertay University graduates and current students. They will be showcasing their monster-catching game The Shepherds, which combines pixel art sprites with a 3D environment. A must for fans of Pokémon!

A screen shot from the game 'Still Life' shows a block of jenga and a magazine.

Bit Loom: Still Life

Dundee-based indie studio Bit Loom will be showcasing Still Life, a relaxing game in which you can be the artist and arrange still life scenes. Choose from classic or unusual objects, add your creation to the gallery and take requests from your neighbours

A dark forest with large oak trees and a small wooden cabin.

Ghost Camp: Forest of Deceit

From Ghost Camp, the creators behind Dare Academy hit Tales of Treachery comes Forest of Deceit, a 4-8 player social deduction game which features a beautiful hand-drawn art style.

Forest of Deceit

Two cartoon cats fight each other with swords.

Spiky Teeth Studios: Overcat

New studio Spiky Teeth Studios will make their Drop in and Play debut with Overcat, a twin-stick two-player brawler about cats battling with swords. This highly competitive game is suitable for all skill levels, from absolute beginners to seasoned brawl players.

The title screen from the game Into the Slimy Mines shows cannons shooting slime at a small miner.

Ant Workshop: Into the Slimy Mines

Ant Workshop, a small indie studio based in Edinburgh, are returning to Drop in and Play with their new game Into the Slimy Mines. You must mine materials from Slime Mountain, but watch out for angry slimes who'll sabotage your plans!

A pixel drawing shows two people standing on a cliff looking at a sunset.

Ross McRitchie: Cairn: Mathair's Curse

Independent developer Ross McRitchie has spent the past four years developing Cairn: Mathair’s Curse, a heartfelt Scottish roleplaying game which explores themes of love, loss and family.

Cairn: Mathair's Curse

A video game still shows a little black bunny jumps across orange crystals

Abnormalworks: Bombunny

Play as an adorable bunny rabbit in Bombunny, a fun new 2D platformer from independent developer Harry Petch. Traverse huge gaps by shooting out rockets to do big bunny hops!

Bombunny

The title card from Bloons TD Battles 2 shows a group of monkeys in costumes.

Ninja Kiwi: Bloons TD Battles 2

Ninja Kiwi will be bringing their latest head-to-head smash hit 'Bloons TD Battles 2' for players to prove their strategy prowess against their friends and family.

DARE Academy

We're thrilled to welcome the six teams of finalists in Abertay University's 2025 DARE Academy game design competition. Each team will showcase the game prototype that they've created over the summer months with support from academics and expert industry mentors. Joining us from DARE Academy for Drop in and Play are:

Hyperfix: Gobblin'

DARE Academy finalists Hyperfix will be showcasing Gobblin', a fantasy game with vibrant visuals. Play as a mischievous goblin who dreamt of reaching the royal castle's banquet - you'll create magical dishes to power up your abilities and outwit the guards.

The words adorate in bold green across the front of what looks like a creature with a large green eye

Fishbowl Studio: Adorate

In Adorate, developed by DARE Academy team Fishbowl Studio, you play as a god ruling over your cult of followers. In this fast-paced, real-time strategy game, players will possess one follower at a time to defend their base from enemies, amass more followers and unlock new powers.

Final Prism Interactive: Still Forgotten

Final Prism Interactive will bring Still Forgotten, a stealth game filled with surreal encounters and unexpected mechanics. The player controls a character suffering from amnesia, who gradually uncovers the truth of their past.

Animated image of a robot wearing all green

Cosmic Coda: Elusive Core: Zero Trace

Enter a lost, dystopian future in Elusive Core: Zero Trace from DARE Academy finalists Cosmic Coda. You'll play as an agile android gone rogue, using classic platformer mechanics and elements of stealth to navigate through a stunning pixel art world.

A poster featuring a house in the spotlight

Bonny Bandits: Synaptic

An unnamed protagonist must follow a strange spark to unearth the forgotten remnants of their past in Synaptic, from DARE Academy team Bonny Bandits. Interact with the protagonist's childhood dollhouse to unearth lost pages of their journals and discover their own history.

A animated scene of space with parcels and a small alien flying through space

Riverboat Games: Galactic Postal Servitude

Riverboat Games are excited to present Galactic Postal Servitude, a simulation puzzle game in which the player takes on the role of a postal worker in an intergalactic post office. Process packages for a range of different aliens, each with their specific quirks and requirements.

We can't wait to welcome all of these developers and their games to DCA on Sat 30 August - drop in between 12:00 - 16:00 to get involved!

Drop in and Play is a free DCA gaming event which was first held in November 2012 as part of NEoN Digital Arts Festival and Discovery Film Festival. Our August event is presented in partnership with Ninja Kiwi who have been making awesome games since 2005. Developers of the hit Bloons series of games, Ninja Kiwi are always striving to make the most enjoyable experiences for audiences across the globe from their offices in Dundee, Scotland and Auckland, New Zealand.

Two people enjoy playing a game together at Drop in and Play

Drop in and Play x DARE Academy

Sat 30 Aug 2025