Fed Square will light up this October as Big Games Night Out returns, bringing Australia’s largest free gaming festival back to the heart of Melbourne.
Happening on Thursday, 9 October, the 2025 edition leans into nostalgia with a full-scale retro installation, Electric Arcadia.
Designed by local artists Callum Preston and Louie Roots, the playable exhibit channels the spirit of the 80s and 90s arcade scene – classic upright machines, neon-lit aesthetics, and a futuristic techno twist. Open daily from 3–9 October, Electric Arcadia will extend its hours on festival day, inviting Melburnians to relive arcade culture in the middle of the city.
Programming kicks off at 4pm with Little Games Night Out, a family-friendly prelude featuring face painting, games, and Joey Lightbulbs’ Family Rave. From there, the action rolls into the evening with cosplay parades, free-to-play gaming zones, and Just Dance competitions, all leading to late-night sessions across Fed Square and ACMI.
ACMI will open its doors after hours, offering access to its Game Worlds exhibition and hosting Power Move: Cypher Quest – an interactive dance battle inspired by classic video games. More than 100 free-to-play games will be spread across the precinct, from retro favourites to indie titles and modern esports.
New additions to this year’s lineup include the Indiginerd Stranger Things-themed Dungeons & Dragons campaign at the Koorie Heritage Trust, as well as a full tabletop takeover by Melbourne Meeples at The Edge Theatre.
Big Games Night Out is presented by Melbourne International Games Week in partnership with Fed Square, and supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.
