ACMI’s Games Worlds exhibit expands to include new major titles

Melbourne’s iconic digital culture museum ACMI is the best place to learn the rich history of Australian film and gaming. Announced earlier this year, the upcoming Games World exhibit aims to explore the connection between game developers, players and their technology. Premiering in September 2025, the exhibit features more than 30 video games spanning across the last 50 years.

Recently ACMI discussed the new wave of games that will be featured at the upcoming exhibit. The list includes massive hits such as Final Fantasy XIV, Minecraft, SimCity and The Elder Scrolls Online. The games star alongside the previously announced World of Warcraft, The Sims and Neopets. Game Worlds aims to capture a broad range of gamers by including major online titles from a variety of generations.

Game Worlds will also shine a spotlight on the smaller independent games that form the backbone of the industry. Smash hits such as Stardew Valley and Celeste will be included, as well as local Australian projects such as Isopod by Sbug Games. Even the highly anticipated Silksong will have a playable demo at Game Worlds.

The exhibit also honours historical games that played a major role in the industry’s history. The original Doom and Team Fortress are present alongside pioneering 70’s titles such as Maze War and Zork.

Across the 21st Century, ACMI has made a big effort to incorporate video game history into their museum. The free exhibit “Story of the Moving Image” has grown to include displays on Australian games like Hollow Knight and Unpacking. Seeing those games next to models from Mad Max and The Dish is an amazing sight. Additionally, this is ACMI’s third major games exhibit following 2008’s Game On & 2012’s Game Masters.

ACMI Director & CEO Seb Chan states “Game Worlds is not just an exhibition for videogame fans and their families, but for those who are curious about why we say they are the ‘defining art form of this century. This exhibition celebrates the people, the players, the craft and technologies that make on-screen worldbuilding possible.”

Co-Curators Bethan Johnson and Jini Maxwell further elaborated: “Our exhibition honours the real-life experiences that are made possible by and through videogames, highlighting the players and developers – and stories that bring videogame worlds to life.”

ACMI’s Game Worlds opens September 18th 2025  and runs until 8th February 2026. Tickets are available now through the ACMI website.