A lively showcase of creativity, investment, and community marked this year’s Playtest and Pitch Competition at Innovation Station Flemingsberg.
On September 4, 2025, Press Start Game Hub gathered developers, players, and investors for an afternoon of game testing, pitching, and networking in Stockholm, Sweden. The event brought together 150 attendees across two buzzing floors of Innovation Station Flemingsberg.
Five Game Pitches, One Big Stage
The competition featured five official pitches, giving developers the chance to present their projects in front of an experienced jury. The panel included respected industry leaders such as:
- Per-Arne Lundberg, CEO of Amplifier Game Invest AB
- Bibbi Wikman, Founder of PlayCap
- Besime Uyenik, CEO of ION Game Design
The session was hosted with energy and warmth by Leslie Alfredsson from Drivhuset Stockholm, ensuring both pitchers and audience felt welcome.
Some of the companies pitching their games were:
Picture credits: Sargon Zazi
Playtesting Across Two Floors
The venue was split into two experiences. Upstairs, developers demoed their video games to both jury members and curious players. Meanwhile, the lower floor turned into a hub for board gaming, where design met play in real time.
One highlight was Downstream, demonstrated by Dennis from Adala Studios to Midnight Lantern Games. The board game takes players on a journey as water droplets traveling to Lake Mwisho. Along the way, they must overcome pollution, bad luck, and wasteful townsfolk while answering questions and helping communities. The goal is to conserve and collect as much water as possible.
Downstream’s blend of fun and education stood out. It teaches players about sustainable water usage, the water cycle, and community responsibility, making it suitable for both children and adults. The concept resonated strongly with Midnight Lantern Games, especially given Sweden’s strong cultural commitment to environmental preservation.
As the Prophet Muhammad once said: “Do not waste water, even if you are on a running river.” The message reflected the spirit of the game, which includes environmental awareness.
Demo Impressions
Midnight Lantern Games also got hands-on experience on Deep Clash, an underwater survival shooter. Built with the new Hology Engine, the game immerses players in tense, aquatic combat. Its technical innovation and atmospheric setting made it a standout on the digital floor, showing the diversity of projects presented during the day.
Hology, founded by Adam Ringhede and Annie Tsai, is behind the Hology Engine — a lightweight 3D game engine built with web technologies (TypeScript, Three.JS, WebGL). Hology recently began developing Deep Clash, an underwater survival shooter, to refine the engine and showcase its potential for AA-quality games across web, PC, and mobile.
Why It Matters
The Playtest and Pitch Competition went beyond being just a showcase. It offered creators valuable face time with investors and industry veterans, while also fostering meaningful connections between developers and players. With a vibrant mix of video and board games and a 10,000 SEK prize awarded to the team behind Mythbreak, the event underscored the energy and growth of Stockholm’s game development scene.
For both new creators and experienced studios, the day reinforced a simple truth: the future of gaming thrives where community, creativity, and innovation meet.