Over 80 students aged 12 – 19 from across Cambridgeshire showcased their creativity and technical skills at FXP Festival 2025, held on 7 – 8 July at Cambridge Regional College and Anglia Ruskin University. The annual game development competition saw the students compete to create the best original games under the theme of transport and/or locomotion, with this year Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), FXP Festival’s main sponsor.

With 21 teams from 11 schools and colleges in Cambridgeshire competing against one another to create the best game, it was Rizing Edge from Greater Peterborough UTC who were crowned champions of FXP Festival in the FE category, and Train of Thought from Swavesey Village College who won the secondary school category.

The competition challenged participants with two tracks – concept and build. Teams undertaking the concept track focused on game design, conceptualisation, art and character development. The build focused teams used their time to develop a playable game. Industry professionals provided real-time feedback during testing and pitching sessions, offering students authentic industry experience.

Mark Ogilvie, FXP Festival Co-founder and Trustee, reflected on the event’s ninth year: “This year’s participants showed us raw creativity – from goat shaped islands to epic Viking voyages, evil train conductors and even salt and vinegar crisps that lure zombies! On top of that, we witnessed the highest level of team collaboration and professionalism from the students since FXP’s inception, which meant some of the highest quality pitches that rival seasoned industry professionals. Each and every student who took part should be exceptionally proud of what they accomplished. They are the future of the games industry who are going to take games to the next level and I look forward to seeing their unbridled passion make waves in the industry.”

Throughout the event, professional support was provided by mentors including Martyn Simmons and Matthew Holland from ARU, and Jordan Fox and Jack Hopkins from World Makers. Judges included Dr Adam Twycross and Dr Lee Cheng from ARU, Mark Ogilvie, Co-founder and Trustee of FXP Festival, Michael Farrow-Killick from Rizing Games at Cambridge Regional College, and James Thompson, CEO of World Makers.

FXP Festival culminated at ARU’s Cambridge campus, where students experienced university-level gaming facilities during exclusive tours and attended a careers session led by Matthew Holland, ARU’s Lecturer in Computer Games, before celebrating all the teams’ hard work at the awards ceremony.

Winners across eight categories received prizes donated by major gaming industry partners including Insert Coin, Driving Test Success, Maximum Entertainment, GameMill, Tamagotchi, Firefly Worlds and Activision.

Professor Catherine Lee, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Arts Humanities Education and Social Sciences at ARU, emphasised the university’s commitment to supporting young talent: “As a major provider of computer games degrees in the region, this festival aligns with our commitment to developing future talent in the rapidly growing games industry. We’re delighted to open our facilities to these talented students and show them the possibilities within game development and creative technology careers which are right on their doorstep.”

“We’re delighted to welcome students back for another year of FXP Festival,” said Alison Taylor, FXP Festival Co-founder and CEO of Conscious Communications. “Our event gives students across the region the chance to learn skills specific to the games industry, while also building foundational abilities like teamwork, communication, leadership and problem-solving. We’re grateful to our judges, industry experts, prize donors and sponsors who help make this event possible each year.”

FXP Festival is a registered UK charity which aims to improve social mobility and stimulate aspiration in students within the region, helping them to develop valuable life skills and encouraging them to identify potential career opportunities in the creative digital sector.