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Public invited to play games created by DARE Academy finalists on Saturday 5 September
Members of the public will have the chance to experience the next wave of Scottish game development talent when Abertay University's DARE Academy finalists showcase their work at Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) on Saturday 5 September.
The event forms part of DCA's popular and free Drop In and Play programme, giving visitors the opportunity to get hands-on with six original games created by student teams taking part in Abertay's flagship games design competition.
The six DARE teams and games being showcased at the event, which runs from 11am to 4pm, are:
- Exotic Rat Studios – Murder At The Clocktower
- HydraByte – Elementorum
- Whispered Eclipse – Demon Slumber Party
- How What Why Games – Dirty Work
- Crabbits – GalactInk
- Finch Outside The Box – Loose Juice
Following the showcase, DCA will also host the DARE Academy Awards Ceremony from 4.30pm to 6pm, where the 2026 DARE Academy winner will be announced. Members of the public are invited to attend the ceremony and can book a free ticket on Eventbrite.
DARE Academy is Abertay's premier games design competition, challenging undergraduate students to work in teams to develop original game concepts while receiving support from industry mentors and academic staff.
The showcase at DCA will allow the teams to present their work to a public audience, gain valuable player feedback and demonstrate the creativity and technical skills they have developed throughout the programme.
Kayleigh McLeod, Lecturer in Game Art and Design at Abertay University, said:
DARE Academy gives students the opportunity to experience many of the challenges and rewards of working in a game development studio. This is the second year running that DARE teams have taken part in Drop In and Play, and the showcase at DCA is always a highlight, giving them the chance to share their work with players and receive feedback from a wider audience. The quality of ideas and creativity on display this year has been fantastic, and we’re looking forward to seeing visitors experience these games for the first time.
Dundee has an established reputation in video games development, and the DARE Academy showcase reflects the role of early-career talent in the sector. Taking place as part of DCA’s Drop In and Play programme, the event provides a public setting for visitors to try new games, speak to the teams behind them and see examples of game development in the city.
This year’s event also features games from several recent Abertay graduates, including Spike Candy Games with Floppy Cat Café, James Rhodes with Boingo, Riverboat Games with Galactic Postal Servitude, and Zumo with Hell of a Rescue.
Other games being showcased include kart racing, a horror mystery set in a chip shop, a single player simulator about a medieval monk managing maintenance repairs, fighting games, puzzle games, and a game created by the young people at Tinderbox Games Club as a collaborative group.
Beth Bate, Director of DCA, said:
We’re so pleased to be able to welcome this year’s DARE Academy finalists to DCA, celebrating our city’s rich tradition of games design and nurturing creative talent. Drop in and Play is a hugely successful event and I know audiences will have a wonderful time trying out all of the selected games.
