Student Game of the Year 

 

    Smoke Break

Smoke Break! 

 

by Applewood Studios 

 
Smoke Break! is a lighthearted 3D stealth puzzle game where you play as Applewood — a living puff of smoke. By breaking machinery, dashing past bakers, and using smoke to grow, you can hunt down the ultimate, yet elusive, burnt pie!  
 
Smoke Break was developed at the University of Southern California as part of the Advanced Games Project under USC Games. 
 
Play Free on Steam

Category Winners 

Design

Visual

Technical

    Smoke Break
    Scarecrow Capsule
    Duo Q Capsule

Smoke Break! 

by Applewood Studios 

 
Smoke Break! is a lighthearted 3D stealth puzzle game where you play as Applewood — a living puff of smoke. By breaking machinery, dashing past bakers, and using smoke to grow, you can hunt down the ultimate, yet elusive, burnt pie!  
 
Play Free on Steam

Scare Crow  

by Puckish Games 

 
Play as a mischievous crow in this stealth-meets-tower-defense game. Outsmart invading squirrels with traps and jump-scares to drive them out of your backyard. 
 
Play Free on Steam

DuoQ 

by The Duo Crew 

 
Squad up with Tala, a mysterious (and flirty!) player you meet in the lobby of a fictional FPS game. Use your real-life voice to talk with Tala over comms, solve puzzles, and outwit enemies. By the end, you’ll answer the most important question: Is she into you? 
 
Play Free on Steam

 
 

Runners Up 

 

Design

Visual

Technical

    Overdawn Capsule
    Deepworld Capsule
    Scarecrow Capsule

Overdawn 

by Overdawn Studio 

 
Wishlist on Steam

A Deep World  

by Jose Striedinger 

 
Wishlist on Itch.io

Scare Crow  

by Puckish Games 

 
Play Free on Steam

About the Awards 

 
The SAGE Awards are an independent student game festival to platform and promote student work in the games industry. 
 
We are a non-profit effort organized by students, industry professionals and educators. Our volunteer members have backgrounds that include the University of Southern California, University of Texas at Dallas, Columbia University, Epic Games, Warner Brothers Interactive, and Sierra Online. 
 
Submissions for the 2025 SAGE Awards have now closed. Check back here for more info about the 2026 awards in early 2026.

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