MIGS 2024 Gaming Innovation and Indie Spirit

The Montreal International Game Summit (MIGS) returned in 2024 with a renewed energy, bringing together industry leaders, developers, and enthusiasts for two days and three nights of networking, insights, and celebration at Marché Bonsecours. Hosted by La Guilde du jeu vidéo du Québec and XP Gaming Inc., MIGS reaffirmed its position as Canada’s premier B2B gaming conference, highlighting the resilience and growth of Québec’s gaming industry.

This year’s event featured an impressive lineup of panels, workshops, and dedicated networking lounges, including the Game Caviar ExDev Lounge for external development partnerships and the Business Lounge powered by MeetToMatch, where attendees engaged in targeted networking with global industry decision-makers.

Throughout the event, attendees explored topics that spanned the latest industry trends, from multiplayer game development and IP collaboration to securing funding and content creator programs. Highlights included the MIGS Indie Pitch Competition, where indie developers pitched their projects live on stage, and the much-anticipated VIP Welcome Cocktail hosted by Keywords Studios. For a festive touch, MIGS closed with a Halloween-themed celebration sponsored by Game Caviar, bringing together the gaming community in a lively send-off.

MIGS 2024 was a strong reminder as to why Quebec (and Canada as a whole) has such a strong gaming industry. It’s the people. Countless times I watched strangers connect and quickly become friends who supported one another’s success. Even in the face of challenging times our industry rallied together with a tenacious optimism. It’s just remarkable – and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Ryan Sno-Wood, Director of Communications for XP Gaming

Amid the bustling conference halls and networking lounges, one area consistently drew crowds and captured hearts: the Loto-Québec Indie Zone. This dedicated indie showcase highlighted the incredible creativity, innovation, and passion of emerging developers. Games ranged from whimsical platformers and historical strategy games to science-based adventures and AI-driven mysteries, demonstrating the diversity of the indie scene and the boundless creativity that smaller studios bring to the industry.

Quebec’s and Canada’s Thriving Indie Scene: Innovation in Every Genre

The indie game scene at MIGS 2024 showcased just how vibrant and varied independent game development has become. Québec has long supported indie developers with funding initiatives and community programs, allowing smaller studios to take creative risks and experiment with new ideas. This year’s Indie Zone was a testament to the effectiveness of this support, with a lineup of games that not only entertained but also offered fresh perspectives and experiences that larger studios may not often explore.

Among the standout titles was Croak by Wood Runner Games, a Quebec-based studio founded by two friends during the pandemic. Croak is a challenging platformer that strikes a balance between accessibility and difficulty, inviting players of all skill levels to master its mechanics. With charming, hand-drawn animation and a quirky protagonist, Croak captivated audiences and kept players coming back for more. Julia, the community manager, emphasized the studio’s focus on engaging players through their Discord server and social media, where they foster a close-knit community of fans.

Another fascinating indie title, Albert Innovation by Delirium Den, took players inside a futuristic tech innovation company, where they explored scientific concepts like light, magnetism, and gravity. Developed by a small team of four, Albert Innovation blends educational themes with gameplay, inviting players to think critically about science and society. The game, currently available as a demo on Steam, demonstrates the power of indie games to inspire curiosity and learning while delivering an engaging experience.

Meanwhile, The Last Drive, a narrative-driven murder mystery by B2T, took an innovative approach by integrating AI-generated art and scripts. Set in the 1970s, players take on the role of detective Olivia Sullivan, investigating mysterious car accidents in the small town of Rosewood. Using AI tools for visual assets and narrative prompts, the developers crafted a visually stunning and immersive experience. The game’s accessible, web-based format and episodic structure make it easy to dive into, with plans for more cases to be added over time. Will you uncover the truth before it’s too late?

In Avant-Garde, players step into the role of a military commander, navigating the same limited resources and strategic dilemmas faced by historical generals during the Napoleonic era. Every decision, from troop placement to timing, can alter the outcome of the battle, challenging players to apply historical knowledge in real-time. With carefully researched battle scenarios and attention to historical accuracy, Avant-Garde not only entertains but also educates, offering an interactive experience that brings pivotal moments in history to life. Thomas Crozet, the visionary solo developer behind the game, hopes to expand it with additional battles and eras, inviting players to explore the nuances of military strategy across different historical periods.

The Indie Zone: A Gateway for Emerging Developers

MIGS’ Indie Zone provided a critical platform for these emerging developers to connect with industry veterans, publishers, and a passionate gaming audience. Through live demos, hands-on gameplay sessions, and direct engagement, indie developers were able to gather valuable feedback, build relationships, and share the unique stories behind their games.

For many of these developers, the journey to MIGS was a significant milestone, symbolizing the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. Quebec’s government programs and funding opportunities have been essential in supporting small studios allowing them to take creative risks that bring fresh ideas and innovation to the gaming landscape.

Dive into the Innovative Projects in Canada and Across the Globe

As Quebec and Canada’s gaming industry continues to grow, the support for indie developers remains vital. MIGS 2024 was a reminder of the important role that indie games play in pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation in gaming. For those in attendance, the Indie Zone offered not only entertainment but also inspiration—a testament to the remarkable talent and creativity that defines the future of gaming.

• Hexwind by Charm Games – is an ambitious new VR roguelike by Charm Games, blending immersive exploration with challenging, procedurally generated environments. Set in a mysterious, ever-shifting world, HexWind invites players to embark on thrilling journeys filled with elemental magic, unique enemies, and ancient secrets waiting to be uncovered. Players must strategically harness spells and abilities while adapting to unpredictable landscapes, testing both reflexes and resourcefulness in each playthrough. Designed for VR (Free Trial). Using Unreal Engine 5, HexWind emphasizes player feedback, with early access serving as a platform for the community to shape its ongoing evolution with game release partner Neptune Agency. It’s a fresh, exhilarating take on the roguelike genre, optimized for VR’s most adventurous players.

• Chowdown Kitty by Matrioshka Games – A cozy Match 3 game where players line up treats to feed cats and unlock adorable accessories in a fun, feline-themed experience.
  

• Lemonhead Audio – Providing comprehensive audio services, from composition to team building, to enhance game audio experiences across platforms.
  

• Photon Quantum by Photon Engine – A high-performance, deterministic multiplayer engine with advanced prediction and rollback capabilities for Unity games.
  

• Battle Shapers by Metric Empire – A sci-fi FPS where players wield powerful weapons and abilities to battle swarms of corrupt robots. Available on Steam

• DeathTower by Headbang Club – An intense roguelite tactical RPG that challenges players to survive each floor of a towering megastructure with stealth, hacking, and powerful weapons.
  

• Deadtime Defenders by Arcane Embers – A side-scrolling looter shooter RPG where players complete bounties, collect loot, and upgrade gear to fend off invading monsters.
  

• Beat the Heat by Blazing Soft – A strategy game that encourages environmental awareness through resource management in a dynamically changing ecosystem.
  

• Pollito & Xiang Xiang: Adventure in the Forest by R-Next – A cooperative action-adventure game where players switch between two adorable robot brothers on a wild vacation.
  

• Squeakross: Home Squeak Home by Alblune – A puzzle game where players transform furniture and decorate a perfect home for a rodent friend.
  

• Prison Boss Prohibition by TREBUCHET – A VR crafting game where players smuggle and sell prohibited items in a lively, immersive prison environment.

• Shishi: Timeless Prelude by Shishi Studios – A vibrant dungeon RPG where players, as the mage Elia, explore a sacred sanctuary to complete their training and Shishi: Ballad of the Oracle by Shishi Studios – An open-world adventure RPG where Elia, an Oracle, embarks on a journey of self-discovery to awaken her latent powers.

• Fallen Angel by Matrioshka Games – Play as Lucifer in this 2D RPG, battling through the afterlife to reclaim a birthright and seek vengeance.

• Élisa: Generative AI for Level Design by Elisa Interactive – An AI tool that drastically reduces level design time with natural language prompts, boosting productivity by up to 80%.

• CrossPlanet by True Bots – From the makers of Carnage Wars, a third-person free to play arena shooter offering classic PvP modes and cooperative gameplay for fans of fast-paced action. Available on Steam.

• Everstorm by Thousand Hour Games – An extraction dungeon crawler where players survive against monsters and rival players, choosing classes and leveling up.

• Scarred Mansion by Focal Point Game Studio – A strategic card game that combines crafting and puzzle-solving to help players escape a haunted mansion.

• Croak by WoodRunner Games – A precision platformer featuring unique movement mechanics as players control a frog prince on a challenging adventure.

• Shards Between Us by Queensguard + Studio Lazulite – A narrative-driven puzzle game set in a crumbling stained-glass castle, where players solve puzzles with magical plants.

• Aniquilation by R-Next – A twin-stick shooter where players can terraform planets, using their environment as a weapon in fast-paced multiplayer battles.

• Sunrise’s Order by Misstic Studio – A tranquil farming simulation game where players manage an island farm and deliver goods via “Animazon.”

• Make a Hit! by Billys Cookies – A music creation puzzle game that challenges players to compose hit songs and climb the music industry ladder.

• The Signal by Goose Byte – An open-world survival game on an alien planet where players gather resources and build to uncover its mysteries.

• Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults by BKOM Studios is the first-ever co-op Hack and Slash ARPG based on the Adventure Path, in which players lead iconic Pathfinder heroes into the depths of Gauntlight Keep and battle deadly abominations to reach the evil sorceress Belcorra Haruvex and end her vile schemes. From the makers of Sunday Gold.

• Dozo by Baobab Games – A multiplayer survival game inspired by West African empires, where players hunt for powerful artifacts in a magical world. Dozo is a multiplayer survival game set in a world inspired by West African Empires. Step into the shoes of an hunter and embark on daring raids to obtain powerful sorcery artifacts as well as technologies from other eras.

• Defenders of the Omniverse by Frostpine Games – A reverse bullet-hell game with a retro 80’s cartoon vibe, where players battle to save the Omniverse from a dark wizard.

• Avant-Garde by Vitam Aeternam Studio – Avant-Garde is a 3D real-time strategy game focused on the reconstruction of authentic historical battles. The player embodies the commander of one of the armies and must deal with the same conditions and resources that were available at the time. The player is able to discover, understand and interact with the key events that shaped the outcome of the battle. The player can therefore put his knowledge to the test, gaining a particular advantage if he already knows the chosen battle.

• Carmilla by Sloe Burn Games – A gothic romance adventure set in a haunted castle where players explore dark ruins and uncover secrets.

• Sea Raiders by Watcha Games – A social game that combines the worlds of Club Penguin and Twitch, allowing streamers and communities to play together in real-time.

• Endless Night by Jake’s Odyssey by Little Guy Games – A narrative-driven 2.5D adventure where players journey through dream worlds shaped by trauma and healing.

• Pickle Party by Arcane Embers – A multiplayer party game where players use strategy, sabotage, and luck in a game show setting hosted by Dill Diamond.

• Nemorsis by Oneiric Games Studio – A challenging rogue-like stealth game with action, strategy, and puzzles set in a high-definition 2D world.

• MUKKE by APETENSE Interactive – A music RPG where players create music, meet diverse characters, and aim to get their tapes on the radio.
  
• GenMotion.AI – a new tool by Winking Studios designed to simplify 3D animation creation for both professional and amateur creators. Using AI, it generates realistic animations from text descriptions, making the animation process faster and more accessible.

• Pinion Tales by Silver Monk Studios – A physics-based point-and-click puzzle adventure for mobile, featuring a whimsical world and engaging story.

• Selina: Mind at Large by Trotzkind – A VR adventure game where players dive into Selina’s mind to restore her memories and uncover hidden truths.

• 6-Sided Stories by DarZal Games Inc. – A cozy puzzle game with lofi beats where players flip pieces to reveal images and progress through a story.

• Mythic Realms by Petricore – A mixed reality RPG that turns real-world spaces into fantasy adventures with skills, loot, and quests.

• LoomyBlooms by Honour Bound Game Studios – From the makers of Relic Odyssey, a sci-fi farming game where players nurture seedlings and create unique creatures through genetic combinations.
  
• Roman Sands by Serenity Forge – A genre-bending, apocalyptic adventure set across two broken realities in a manic, narrative-driven experience.

• Albert Innovation by Delirium Den – Albert Innovation is first person narrative horror game about the deep flaws of technological progress and the adulation of innovation. You walk through the abandoned premises of what was once the flagship of technological research in the 1940s. With Oscar Miles, a paranormal investigator, you’ll be drawn into a story that ‘s far more complex than it seems. Confront the madness of those still confined and master the prodigious sciences that await you.

• Edgegap – Game Servers Hosting & Orchestration – Provides automated multiplayer server hosting with a global edge network for seamless player experiences.

• Expedition Agartha by Matrioshka Games – A high-stakes slasher game where players loot treasures, battle mythical foes, and escape to safety.

• Cell to Singularity: Evolution by Computer Lunch – An idle game that lets players explore the story of evolution from primordial origins to future possibilities.

• CODE MAESTRO – AI CoPilot by iLogos Game Studios – An AI tool offering coding assistance and documentation, revolutionizing game development workflows.

• True Bots Demo by True Bots – A live, interactive browser demo showcasing ML-trained bots and user-driven learning platforms.

• Cell Scientist: Beyond by R-Next – A sci-fi Nintendo puzzle game with 50 levels where players work to save a world from a dangerous virus.

• Photon Fusion by Photon Engine – A multiplayer SDK that brings advanced networking features like lag compensation and VR inputs for smooth gameplay experiences.

• Mercury by Shishi Studios – A puzzle game about hacking where players control Lucy, a programmer who navigates the complex tasks set by the world’s largest multinational corporation. Shishi Studios is an indie game studio based in Montreal, Canada. We want to make a difference by creating games that are accessible to everyone, by innovating ambitious games and by experimenting new visual styles and new genres.

• Abyssus Deep Under by Studio OUEBSSON – A modern RTS that combines MMO and 4X elements, placing players in a strategic underwater world teeming with challenges.

• Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! by Serenity Forge – A psychological horror game where players write poems and experience dark, unexpected twists within a seemingly simple school romance.

• Infinite Onslaught by Bonkers Builders Inc. – A retro-inspired, fast-paced arcade shooter that introduces an innovative “Keyboard Basher™” input system for thrilling on-rails action.

• Sock Dating Simulator by Hannagie Productions Inc. – A quirky dating game where players can find their true “sockmate” in a world filled with humorous, 100% cotton love stories.

• Boast – is the only R&D tax credit solution that combines an AI-driven platform with decades of combined tax and tech expertise, helping 1500+ companies across North America access more than half a billion dollars in government funding since 2011.

• Creaturing – Sea Wonders by A Little Smarter – An educational game where players create and evolve unique sea creatures to tackle challenges in a physics-based world.

• Raygun Gadabout by Quantum Duck Studio – A hand-drawn 2D space adventure packed with dark humor, quirky characters, and thrilling cosmic exploration.

• SyncTools by Titan1Studios – Advanced game AI that allows developers to create emotionally-driven, story-rich experiences and bring characters to life. By the makers of Love is a Roguelite

• NovaMundi by Slashware Interactive – An open-world exploration game with tactical combat, leading players through the Andes to uncover ancient mysteries comes a new game by the developers of NovaMundi, Ananias Roguelike, and Emerald Woodsfrom from Medellín, Colombia.

• NPC Studio by Paralog – A suite of AI tools designed to simplify and scale NPC behavior programming for game studios of any size.

• Slay the Princess by Serenity Forge – A narrative-driven horror game where players are tasked with a dark mission in a mysterious cabin to confront a manipulative princess.

• ROG Ally by ASUS – A handheld gaming console combining high performance with ASUS’s engineering expertise, offering next-level mobile gaming experiences.

• LOW-FI by Titan1Studios – A vast open-world cyberpunk simulation where players can explore a neon city and craft their own fate.

• THE HORROR by Titan1Studios – A horror RPG inspired by classic 70s-90s films, combining strategic depth with a chilling atmosphere in a terrifying experience.

Closing the Event with the MIGS Indie Pitch Competition

As MIGS 2024 drew to a close, all eyes turned to the much-anticipated MIGS Indie Pitch Competition. This event brought together five indie studios with games poised for greatness, giving them the unique opportunity to pitch their creations to a panel of esteemed game publishers and investors. The competition wasn’t just about the pitch itself; each studio received one-on-one coaching and detailed feedback on their pitch decks, helping them refine their presentations for maximum impact.

Hosted by Jason Della Rocca, a respected game business consultant, investor, and the co-founder of Execution Labs, the competition highlighted the indie spirit that MIGS is all about. Each pitch was not only a bid for potential funding and partnerships but also a chance to win the coveted “Best Pitch at MIGS” title. This honor came with VIP passes to all XP-produced events in Canada for 2025, opening doors to further industry exposure and networking for the winning studio.

The Finalists were announced

BASILISK! de Galactic Glow Software (Vancouver)

Everstorm de Thousand Hour Games (Everstorm) (Calgary)

Homeward de Mahogany Interactive (Montreal)

Love is a Roguelite de Titan1Studios (Toronto/Calgary)

Planetary Engine de City From Naught (Keyword: A Spider’s Thread) (Toronto)

The panel of judges brought an impressive mix of expertise and insight, ensuring that each game was evaluated from multiple angles. Matthew Handrahan, Senior Portfolio Manager at Kepler Interactive, brought his rich background as both a games journalist and publishing manager, offering a unique blend of editorial and business perspectives. Chloé Giusti, ID@Xbox Regional Lead – Americas, leveraged her two decades of experience supporting game creators, particularly those seeking to publish on Xbox. And K.A. Pederson, Head Game Scout at Fireshine Games, added his expertise in content acquisition and global retail, connecting indies with both digital and physical publishing opportunities.

And the winner of the Indie Game Pitch Competition was “Love is a Rogue Lite“, pitched by Evelyn Weech who is a producer designer at Titan1 Studios!

The Indie Pitch Competition was the perfect finale to MIGS 2024, capturing the heart of what this summit is all about: celebrating the indie scene, fostering creativity, and helping developers turn their dreams into reality. With each pitch, the future of gaming felt just a little closer, reminding attendees that innovation can come from anywhere. As the event closed and attendees reflected on the partnerships and insights gained, the spirit of collaboration and ambition lingered—promising that Quebec’s gaming industry, powered by events like MIGS, is only just beginning to realize its potential.

From game showcases and engaging panels to inspiring competitions, MIGS 2024 affirmed Montreal’s place at the center of Canadian gaming innovation, bringing together industry veterans, emerging talents, and everything in between.