Abertay University has announced the finalists for its flagship video game design competition, DARE Academy.

The six undergraduate teams will now spend the summer developing and refining their game prototypes, competing for the prestigious DARE trophy, as well as a grand prize of £5,000.

Among the shortlisted finalists selected by a panel of expert judges are Fishbowl Studio, Bonny Bandits, Final Prism Interactive, Cosmic Coda, Hyperfix, and Riverboat Games.

Over the coming months, the teams will perfect their concepts at Abertay’s Centre for Excellence in Computer Games, using the university’s professional studio environment to create playable prototypes.

The teams will then have the opportunity to showcase their games at two events in Dundee. First, at the “Drop in and Play”, which will be held at the DCA on Saturday, 30 August, before the final awards ceremony at the CoSTAR Realtime Lab on Thursday, 11 September.

“We’ve been absolutely blown away by the standard of submissions for this year’s DARE Academy. The creativity, ambition and quality on display have been incredibly exciting to see,” said Dr Dayna Galloway, head of Abertay’s department of games and arts.

“A huge thank you goes to our judging panel for their time and input, and we’re thrilled to be working with such brilliant industry mentors and sponsors again this year. 

“Their support will be vital in helping our students grow – not just during DARE, but as they move forward into careers in the games industry.”

DARE has a strong track record of launching careers and start-ups, with former teams going on to form successful indie studios including Pocket Sized Hands and Bit Loom.

Last year’s DARE Academy winners were Triple 7 Studios with their game “Left Upon Read”, a game blending contemporary internet humour with dark fantasy, inviting players to step into the role of a knight on a quest to rescue a princess. 

Triple 7 Studios scooped the Dare trophy, £5,000 in prize money, and also the ‘Best Team’ prize at the UK’s biggest video games expo, EGX.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have made it to the DARE Academy finals – it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Torin Pellegrini, team leader of Fishbowl Studio.

“As Abertay students, we know how much this competition can open doors in the industry, and we’re ready to make the most of it. 

“This year’s line-up is packed with originality and fun, and we can’t wait to work with mentors to develop the best version of our game and contribute to DARE’S amazing legacy.”