Playtopia returns to Homecoming Centre

Cape Town’s indie-games and immersive arts festival, Playtopia, returns to the District Six Homecoming Centre on Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6  for its fifth edition, bringing an expanded programme of games, installations, and creative collaborations.

This year’s festival introduces Arcadia, a fantasy-themed arcade space created by decor lead Natasha Davidson, featuring oversized books, glowing props, and interactive elements that frame the gaming showcase in a storybook-inspired environment.

More than 100 local and international games will be on display, including selections from partner festivals BitSummit in Japan, BCN Games Fest in Spain, A.Maze in Germany and Freeplay in Australia.

A major attraction will be the public premiere of new, unreleased levels of the South African-developed game Shroom and Gloom by Team Lazerbeam, published by Devolver Digital, ahead of its planned 2026 global release.

To mark the occasion, visitors can explore a themed Shroom cave and tunnel installation based on the game’s setting.

Super Friendship Arcade will also return with its largest custom-controller area to date, offering cooperative and physical games built around unusual interfaces and playful contraptions.

This year’s art installations are produced by The Art Massive, a new collective of artists, technologists, and designers who have been collaborating through workshops and shared build sessions in recent months.

Their work will feature across the festival in the form of interactive pieces combining sculpture, code, sound, and performance.

“We’re incredibly excited to be hosting the Shroom and Gloom premiere alongside Devolver Digital, a first for South Africa,” said festival director Dominique Gawlowski. “With Arcadia, created together with the Afrika Burn and Bazique decor teams, we’ve designed a large-scale set that will house the main arcade in a fantastical environment inspired by classic fantasy films. And yes, there will be a giant spider you can play with.”

Playtopia 2025 will conclude with an official after-party at Harringtons.

Tickets for the festival and after-party are available at airdosh.co.za

For more information, visit playtopiafestival.co.za