|| DStars - Celebrating Italian Game Developers || All rights reserved || All trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners and are used with written permission or are for identification purposes only ||

VIII EDITION - MARCH 27, 2026

BEST SPECIAL INITIATIVE

BEST DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL

BEST NEW STUDIO

STUDIO OF THE YEAR

Awarded to a special initiative not directly connected with game devmaking an impact on the community
 

Awarded to the best school (public or private) with a dedicated development program or complete focus on it

Awarded to the Italian  studio with the best debut game released on the market (console/PC/mobile) in 2025

Awarded to the studio that achieved the most important international results in terms of positioning/brand awareness

Little Sewing Machine

PANIK ARCADE [38.6%]

3D Clouds
Tiny Bull
Santa Ragione

IVIPRO DAYS [41.2%]

Zona Warpa
Milano Indies

Quickload

Checkpoint

Digital Bros Game Academy

AIV [33.4%]
Big Rock
SAE
NABA

LITTLE SEWING MACHINE [42.6%]

Power Up Team

Voxel Studio

Tambu Games

Smallthings Studios

GAME OF THE YEAR

PRODUCTION STAR

ART & ANIMATION STAR

PROGRAMMING STAR

Awarded to the best Italian videogame released on the market (console/PC/mobile) in 2025. No Early Access

Awarded to an individual for his/her outstanding contribution in production, leading the studio to a/multiple smart release/s.

Awarded to an individual for his/her outstanding contribution in art (concept/2D/3D) or animation for his/her studio/game 

Awarded to an individual for his/her outstanding contribution in programming or tech-related tasks for his/her studio/game 

CLOVER PIT [42%]

Horses

Steel Seed

Bye Sweet Carole

The Lonesome Guild

Christian Liberatore [Storm in a Teacup]

Luca Cafasso [Tiny Bull]

PIETRO R. RIVA [Santa Ragione 33%]

Chris Darril [Little Sewing Machine]

Massimiliano Calamai [Smallthings Studios]

Dario Pianese [3D Clouds]

MATTEO GONANO [Panik Arcade 37%]

Rocco Luigi Tartaglia [Tiny Bull]

Fabio Suriano [Storm in a Teacup]

Stefano Campodall'Orto [Smallthing Studios]

Lorenzo Tombesi [Panik Arcade]
Giancarlo Arrisicato [Storm in a Teacup]
Federica Fringuellini [Smallthing Studios]
ALEXIA SAPIENZA [LSM 49.4%]

Carmine Cassese [Tiny Bull]

DESIGN STAR

MARKETING, PR & BIZ DEV STAR

MANAGEMENT STAR

FAR STAR

Awarded to an individual for his/her outstanding contribution in design or creativity related tasks for his/her studio/game

Awarded to an individual for his outstanding contribution in PR, marketing or business development for his studio/game

Awarded to a an individual for his/her outstanding contribution in managing a game studio (brand awareness/financial results)

Awarded to an individual that achieved outstanding results doing his/her job in a development abroad as an Italian game developer

TOMMASO BONANNI [Caracal 37%]

Fabio Ferrara [Mai]

Matteo Breda [3D Clouds]

Enrico Martina [Tiny Bull]

Francesco Cafarella [Storm in a Teacup]

Francesco Bruschi [3D Clouds] 

Massimiliano Calamai [Smallthing Studios]
Pietro Righi Riva [Santa Ragione]
Chris Darril [Little Sewing Machine]

MATTEO LANA [Tiny Bull 33.5%]

Massimiliano Calamai [Smallthing Studios]
PIETRO R. RIVA [Santa Ragione 39%]

Matteo Lana [Tiny Bull]

Carlo Bianchi [Storm in a Teacup]

Chris Darril [Little Sewing Machine]

GERO MICCICHE' [EA 36%]

Saverio Caporusso [Troglobytes]
Christian Cantamessa [Day4Night]

Lisa Gobbi [Wushu]

Dario Tartagni [Larian Studios]

JOURNALISM STAR

INDUSTRY STAR

GUIDING STAR

Awarded to the best Italian journalist writing about game development and related topics on major mainstream outlets (online/print)

Awarded to an individual that has earned  personal visibility worldwide, helping to bring attention on the Italian game development scene 

Awarded to an individual or a company whose leadership and contribution have proved outstanding for the whole game development scene in Italy

DARIO MARCHETTI [RAI 41.3%]]
Alessandra Contin [La Stampa]
Fabrizia Malgieri [Corriere]

Lorenzo Fantoni [RAI]
Luca Tremolada [Il Sole 24 Ore]

Francesco Bruschi [3D Clouds]
MATTEO LANA [Tiny Bull 46%]
Chris Darril [Little Sewing Machine]

Assigned by DStars Board 

MILESTONE