Oeiras Pole Communication, Events and Partnerships Office (NCEP)

The atrium of Instituto Superior Técnico’s Oeiras Campus hosted the 18th edition of the Game Showcase (MOJO 2025) on June 16 — an annual event organized by the Game Lab that presents projects developed over the past academic year by students in the field of game development.

This year, MOJO featured 17 projects created by student groups as part of the course Game Development Methodology (MDJ), integrated in the Master’s in Computer Science and Engineering. In addition to being open to the public, the showcased games were also assessed by the course instructors.

The 2025 edition was the most participated in recent years, with around 70 students across 17 student groups, along with 8 guest projects. These guest projects were presented by members of GameDev Técnico, students from INESC-ID, as well as alumni who used the event to share personal or research-based work.

According to Vasco Rodrigues and Tiago Camarinhas, coordinators of this year’s edition, MOJO has increasingly established itself as a bridge between academia and the gaming industry. The 2025 edition welcomed representatives from Miniclip and the Portuguese Video Game Association (APVP), who participated to test the games and provide direct feedback to students.

“MOJO aligns with the Game Lab’s mission of connecting academia to industry, allowing students to present their work to external audiences, receive feedback, and better understand the sector,” highlighted Vasco Rodrigues.

Maria Gomes, Técnico alumna and current member of GameDev Técnico, shared how valuable this kind of event is for those launching a career in game development:

“As independent developers, testing our games with the public is essential. We don’t always have access to large international events, so this showcase is a great opportunity to get feedback and promote our projects.”

In addition to playable games, some projects focused on game engine development — such as CUBOS. — highlighting the thematic diversity of the showcase.

For Professor Rui Prada, coordinator of the MDJ course, MOJO plays a key role in students’ learning journey:

“It’s vital that students test their games with real users, validate their ideas, and understand what actually works. The level of commitment and diversity of the projects show that this goal is being successfully met — they can be proud of what they’ve achieved.”

Year after year, MOJO continues to grow as a space for experimentation, collaboration, and recognition, reflecting the strength of Técnico Oeiras’ game development community and its commitment to innovation.