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Singapore, 7 April 2026 – From games inspired by relatable experiences such as schoolyard mischief and precision food preparation, to experimental concepts shaped by popular online and social gameplay trends, 197 students from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have turned their ideas into 52 digital games in just two months.
The projects were developed as part of the inaugural Garena Ultimate Hackathon, a programme organised by Singapore-based game developer and publisher Garena in collaboration with NTU Singapore’s Career & Attachment Office. A total of 20 finalist teams were selected to showcase their projects at NTU on Friday, 27 March, drawing over 800 votes from the NTU community.
Student-built games showcase diverse ideas and perspectives
Across the programme, students from both technical and non-technical backgrounds — including Art, Design and Media, and Mathematical Sciences and Economics — worked in teams to design, test, and refine their ideas into playable experiences, highlighting the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of game development.
“Coming from a non-tech background, I previously took part in hackathons in banking and finance and wanted to try something different. I used to think that strong programming skills were essential for game design. However, this experience showed me that it is not necessary to be highly proficient in programming to create a good game, especially with AI as a support tool. What mattered more was understanding our target audience.” – Soong Peng You, Mathematical Sciences and Economics student.
The showcase featured a range of concepts, including:
- SIGMA ASCENT by Team Felix the Falcon (Champion; People’s Choice Award): A fast-paced, card-based roguelike where players ascend a mysterious tower through progressively challenging, procedurally generated encounters using character-specific decks.
- Reincarnated as a Noob by Team Oof (1st Runner-up; Director’s Choice Award) – A dungeon-crawling action RPG following a “zero-to-hero” journey as players battle enemies, collect loot, and grow into a formidable hero.
- Suck a Brainrot! by Team 404 (2nd Runner-up; Mentors’ Choice Award) – A tycoon-style collection simulator that blends precision-based capture mechanics with base-building and progression systems.
Honourable mentions included:
- S’pookie Bread: A narrative-driven simulation set in a factory environment, where players uncover unsettling developments while completing repetitive packing tasks.
- Meatchellin: A first-person, 3D puzzle game with light horror elements, where players complete precision-based meat preparation tasks with accuracy and efficiency.
- Treasure Rush: Dig To Get Rich: A resource management and treasure-hunting simulation that blends collection and progression mechanics with a pirate-themed system inspired by familiar optimisation behaviours.
- Escape the School: A roguelite centred on navigating and escaping school environments through replayable runs.
- Rabbit Warren: A hybrid idle farming and stealth exploration game that combines collection mechanics, base customisation, and mission-based gameplay.
Hands-on industry exposure through mentorship
Beyond the games themselves, the hackathon was designed as a hands-on learning experience grounded in real-world development workflows. Participants received over five hours of structured training across two workshops, alongside close to 10 hours of one-on-one mentorship through in-person consultations with eight industry professionals from Garena.
Mentors shared insights not only on game design and development, but also on publishing considerations such as player engagement, retention mechanics, and how games are brought to market, offering students a closer look at the full lifecycle of game creation.
“We gained insights into player retention and game monetisation — areas that are not typically covered in school projects.” – Colleen Chia, Art, Design and Media student
“The energy and professionalism shown by the students really stood out, and offered a glimpse of what the next generation of game creators can achieve,” said Nicholas Ting, Assistant Manager, Strategy, at Garena. “We’re grateful to NTU and everyone who supported this hackathon, and hope participants come away with the mindset that great games are built with players in mind, by understanding what they enjoy, testing ideas early, and iterating the experience until it becomes genuinely fun.”
The initiative also marks NTU Career & Attachment Office’s first collaboration with a games company for a hackathon, supported by faculty including Lecturer, Mr. Xuanming Zhou and Professor Benjamin Seide from the School of Art, Design and Media.
“Partnerships like these give students a chance to explore non-traditional pathways and new opportunities in gaming and technology,” said Enna Tan, Director at NTU Career & Attachment Office. “This initiative helped bridge classroom learning with real-world game development. We’re encouraged by the strong interest from students across diverse disciplines, and proud of the passion and effort they’ve shown throughout the programme.”
“As both an educator and a game developer, I focused on helping students think through their design decisions, from core gameplay ideas to how players might experience their games,” said Mr. Zhou. “Having their course projects tied to a live hackathon also gave them a stronger sense of ownership and motivation, as they could see their ideas come to life and be played by others.”
Supporting the next generation of game creators
Beyond the immediate outcomes, the programme reflects Garena’s broader focus on building local capability in game creation. Through mentorship, hands-on development, and exposure to publishing considerations, the Garena Ultimate Hackathon gives students practical experience in game development, enabling them to apply their ideas in a real-world, collaborative setting.
Across Southeast Asia, the games market is projected to surpass 320 million players by 2029, according to Niko Partners. With growing interest in social, interactive gameplay experiences (Statista Market Insights) — and 87% of players in the region valuing localised and culturally relevant content — there is increasing demand for creators who can combine technical expertise with a strong understanding of player behaviour.
Garena is exploring opportunities to expand similar initiatives to other educational institutions, building on its broader efforts to nurture emerging talent in the region. In 2025, the company hosted its first Garena Game Jam in Singapore, bringing together more than 50 participants, largely from local post-secondary institutions, to develop original game concepts within two days.
About Garena
Garena is a leading global online games developer and publisher. Free Fire, its self-developed mobile battle royale title, is the most downloaded mobile game in its genre for seven consecutive years, according to Sensor Tower App Performance Insights. The title has also ranked as the world’s most downloaded mobile game across multiple years since 2019.
Garena is run by passionate gamers and has a unique understanding of what gamers want. It exclusively licenses and publishes hit titles from global partners – such as Arena of Valor and Call of Duty: Mobile – in selected markets globally. Garena champions social and entertainment experiences through games, enabling its communities to engage and interact. Garena is also a leading esports organiser and hosts some of the world’s biggest esports events.
Garena is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a global technology company. In addition to Garena, Sea’s other core businesses include its e-commerce arm, Shopee, and digital financial services arm, Monee. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.
