Triple 7 Studios announced as winner of Dare Academy 2024

Student game developers scoop the top prize at Abertay’s annual competition

The winner of Abertay University's Dare Academy 2024 games design competition was crowned at the UK's biggest video games expo, EGX. 

Triple 7 Studios scooped the Dare trophy and £5,000 in prize money when their game, “Left Upon Read”, was chosen by a panel of top industry judges at the London event. In addition, the team also won 'Best Team' prize at the ceremony. 

The innovative game blends contemporary internet humour with dark fantasy, inviting players to step into the role of a knight on a quest to rescue a princess. 

The awards ceremony at EGX marked the end of the annual summer-long Dare Academy competition that has seen talented teams of students from across the breadth of Abertay's video games degree programmes create a diverse range of prototype games, backed by industry mentors. 

Team leader Alice Kerr said:  

We had an incredible experience showcasing our game at EGX, and we are thrilled to have won the Dare trophy! Participating in Dare has been an amazing journey, filled with valuable learning opportunities. Connecting with fellow developers, game studios, and publishers has been truly rewarding, and we’re grateful for all the friendships and insights we've gained along the way.

The runner-up prize went to Holdup Games! for their game “Partners in Slime”, an accessibility-focused puzzle game featuring a slime protagonist navigating the local transport system in a Scottish setting. 

Four other student groups – Misfit Moths, Sloth Doctor Games, SplatterCow Studios, and Pretty Interesting Experiences - made it to the final and had the opportunity to showcase their games at EGX. 

This year’s Dare Academy was sponsored by long-standing partners, Lindsays and Henderson Loggie, along with Epic Games. 

Dr Dayna Galloway, Head of the Department of Games and Arts, said: 

Congratulations to our talented Dare Academy students for producing exceptional and engaging games that feature a high standard of creativity, technical achievement, and awareness of audience accessibility. We would like to express our deep gratitude to our sponsors and partners for their invaluable support for this year's competition. Their generous investment of time, mentorship, and expertise has equipped our teams with further knowledge and skills that will benefit them throughout their careers in the industry.