Ready to game? The much-anticipated GAMES 2025 festival has kicked off, offering three days of esports, cosplay and community fun at Perpaduan Hall from 5 to 7 December.
Returning for its second and larger edition as part of the Brunei December Festival 2025, the event transforms the venue into a lively hub celebrating all aspects of gaming culture, with organisers expecting to welcome 5,000 visitors over the weekend.
The opening day was highlighted by the start of the official esports tournament for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, where 32 competing teams launched the action with high-energy gameplay for a share of an $800 prize pool. The festival atmosphere was further amplified by a cosplay community, with attendees dressed as their favourite gaming characters adding colour and energy to the halls.
Beyond the competitions, the event offers a varied experience for all visitors. Tickets are priced at $2 per day and include a welcome pack featuring a Starbucks coffee voucher, a free Pokémon card, a Mountain Dew drink and an Event BINGO Card. Participants who complete all nine side quests on the BINGO card stand a chance to win a Nintendo Switch 2.
The wider festival programme boasts a total esports prize pool worth $2,500 in vouchers across multiple competitions, alongside tournaments for Trading Card Games like Grand Archive and Gundam. Attendees can explore offerings from 30 vendors, including retro gaming sellers and the Brunei Gunpla community, and enjoy food and beverages from popular local outlets such as Charcoal, Mamisarie, Lum and Erti Café. A dedicated Cosplay Competition with a gaming retro theme offers a $200 prize pool. The event is supported by student volunteers from Cosmopolitan College, who are gaining firsthand experience in event operations.
GAMES 2025 is supported by Pizza Hut Brunei as the Main Event Sponsor. Official Sponsors include Mountain Dew, Kingston, Rapidbump, Play Next, Starbucks, Jerudong Park, McDonald’s, Boeffi International, and Chong Hock. The official telco partner is Imagine, and the official contractor is RYS Entertainment.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
