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Game Worlds Exhibition: Celebrates 50+ Years of Video Games and Play
The Game Worlds Exhibition at ACMI is a celebration of over fifty years of video games, game design, and the communities that have grown around them. Walking into the exhibition feels like stepping through a living timeline of gaming history, where more than thirty iconic video games from the 1970s to today are ready to be explored.
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The exhibition brings together rare design materials, concept art, original objects and forty-four different opportunities for visitors to play. It highlights both pioneering games of the past and the latest releases, allowing you to experience the evolution of play — from the first home-computer adventures to the online worlds that connect millions of players today.
As you move through the exhibition, you will see how developers, players, and technology have shaped gaming culture. Global favourites such as Minecraft, Final Fantasy XIV Online, World of Warcraft, The Sims, The Elder Scrolls Online, Neopets, SimCity, Stardew Valley, and the eagerly awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong are featured.
Alongside these are independent titles that have inspired players around the globe, including Guardian Maia, Terra Nil and Celeste. Historical classics also have their place, from groundbreaking 1970s titles like Maze War, Colossal Cave Adventure and Zork through to influential games of the 80s and 90s such as The Sentinel, The Hobbit, DOOM and Team Fortress.
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Australian creativity is also showcased throughout the exhibition, with displays showing the development of Isopod by Queensland’s Sbug Games and playable prototypes from Melbourne’s 2pt Interactive. Visitors can also experience four newly commissioned microgames created by Australian developers exclusively for ACMI, including the interactive ACMI EGG by Apartment 809, the visually striking Salix8 Sunset by Tim Koch, the perspective-shifting What’s Your Angle by Callum Chatfield and Mally He, and the nostalgic Hint Line ’93 by Secret Lab and Yarn Spinner.
For me, Game Worlds was a fascinating journey through the history of video games. I reconnected with games from my own childhood, like The Sims, while also sharing favourites with my son, such as Minecraft. My kids especially enjoyed experimenting with EyeMine, an adaptive technology that enables people with physical disabilities to play Minecraft using only their eye movement. Other highlights were the giant console running the game Isopod and the fun of playing Kass Basher.
The exhibition is a strong reminder that innovation in gaming goes beyond entertainment, with creativity, accessibility and inclusivity at its core.
Important Information
The Game Worlds Exhibition at ACMI is open until 8 February 2026
Ticket prices are $30 for full entry, with special rates for concessions, students, ACMI members, school groups, and under-16s. Children under 4 enter free.
Museum opening hours: daily 10 am – 5 pm (closed Christmas Day).
Throughout the exhibition run, ACMI is also offering late-night access, curator talks, accessible exhibition visits, and themed Player Nights for fans.
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