Australia’s largest free celebration of games culture, Big Games Night Out, will return to Fed Square this October with a program of fun and family-friendly events to bring out the gamer in everyone.
Presented by Melbourne International Games Week, in partnership with Fed Square, Big Games Night Out 2025 will honour classic games, while paving the way for the future, from a retro-inspired games arcade to an interactive dance battle.
Backed by the Victorian Government, Big Games Night Out will feature more than 100 free to play games across multiple zones including indie, arcades, esports, tabletop and role–play games.
Taking centre stage is the interactive exhibition Electric Arcadia, designed in collaboration with Melbourne artist Callum Preston and curator Louie Roots.
For one week, a corner of Fed Square will be transformed into an exploration of games history, taking fans back to the amusement plazas of the 80s and 90s.
The nostalgia continues next door at Koorie Heritage Trust where Indiginerd will present a unique 80s-themed Dungeons and Dragons adventure inside a Stranger Things themed world.
Tabletop games will also take over Fed Square, with a special games market and life-sized playable games for visitors to enjoy, highlighting the way tabletop games can encourage connection in the digital age.
Little Games Night Out will give smaller game enthusiasts a chance to dress up, party and play together, with face painting, games, and Joey Lightbulb’s Family Rave.
ACMI, in collaboration with Melbourne Fringe, presents Power Move: Cypher Quest - Interactive Dance Battle, a freestyle dance battle where the audience decides who takes the crown.
Inspired by iconic video games featured in ACMI’s new playable exhibition Game Worlds – including The Sims, World of Warcraft, Neopets, and Hollow Knight: Silksong – dancers will channel iconic games through movement, energy, and style.
Big Games Night Out will take over Fed Square on Thursday October 9 2025, from 4pm until late.
For more information, visit the Big Games Night Out website.