Level Up KL SEA Game Awards
SEA Game Awards logo (2017-2023).
The Level Up KL SEA Game Awards is a Southeast Asian game development competition held during Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation's (MDEC) annual Level Up KL event (no relation to the live service publisher Level Up!). The awards have been held annually since 2017.
About
The SEA Game Awards was started during the third year of the annual Level Up KL Malaysian game festival in 2017, as part of MDEC's initiative to promote cross-border alliances with other Southeast Asian countries.[1] The awards have been held annually since.
Games that are still under development can participate in the awards.
Award categories
As of the 2025 edition, the following awards are given out:[2]
| Award | Description |
|---|---|
| Audience Choice Award | Given to the game that receives the most public votes from the attendees at the Level Up KL Conference. |
| Rising Star Award | Given to the game that is deemed the most anticipated to be released by a new Studio that has not won any awards before. |
| Best Technology Award | Given to the game that showcases cutting-edge technology advancements in game programming, graphics, physics, artificial intelligence, networking, and other technical aspects that push the boundaries of interactive entertainment. |
| Best Visual Art Award | Given to the game that displays excellence in art direction, visually stunning graphics, characters, and world design, technical excellence, and artistic cohesion. |
| Best Game Design Award | Given to the game that showcases a harmonious cohesion between innovative gameplay mechanics and overall user experience, resulting in an immersive and engaging interactive experience. |
| Best Audio Award | Given to the game with the most outstanding use of audio in a game, inclusive of sound effects, sound design, and voice acting that brings game worlds to life. |
| Best Score & Music Award | Given to the game with the most memorable themes and melodies associated with the game’s world and characters, as well as technical excellence in music production to deliver a professional soundtrack. |
| Best Storytelling Award | Given to the game with the best use of narrative, storytelling, complex characters, world-building, and emotional impact. |
| Best Student Game Award | Given to the best Game developed by student(s) from the Southeast Asia region. |
| Grand Jury Award | Given to the best Game unanimously selected by the Jury from the list of finalists. |
| Best International Game Award | Given to the game to recognise the best overall game in terms of gameplay, quality of direction, popularity, and critical acclaim across any country around the world. |
| Sponsored Award | Selected by the Sponsor for the game that most suits their business objectives and direction. |
List of SEA Game Awards competitions
The table below lists the annual SEA Game Awards and finalist games from the Philippines. 40-50 games per year are nominated to become finalists for various categories. The finalists participate in the on-ground Level Up KL Expos in Malaysia, among other benefits.
| Event | Finalists from the Philippines |
|---|---|
| SEA Game Awards 2017 |
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| SEA Game Awards 2018 |
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| SEA Game Awards 2019 |
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| SEA Game Awards 2020 |
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| SEA Game Awards 2021 |
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| SEA Game Awards 2022 |
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| SEA Game Awards 2023 |
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| SEA Game Awards 2024 |
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| SEA Game Awards 2025 |
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Note
- There were no games made by Philippine game developers that made it into the 40 finalists of SEA Game Awards 2022.[3]
References
- Level Up KL 2017 wants to bump up SEA through cross-border links. November 14, 2017. Chong Jinn Xiung. Digital News Asia. Retrieved on 2025-01-11.
- Level Up KL SEA Game Awards page during 2025 edition. Circa 2025. Level Up KL team. Level UP KL website. Retrieved on 2025-09-09.
- SEA Game Awards 2022 Announces Finalists From Southeast Asia and Beyond. Sept. 21, 2022 at 6:02 PM. Dale Bashir. IGN Southeast Asia. Retrieved on 2025-01-12.