EXE 2025: Inside Sri Lanka's All-Island Game Development Competition
EXE is LEVELSTAIR's flagship all-island game development competition. Here's how EXE 2025 ran: 300+ applicants, 30 playable games, an LKR 200,000 prize pool, and every category winner.
EXE is LEVELSTAIR’s flagship all-island game development competition, open to secondary school and university students across Sri Lanka. The 2025 edition ran from August 1 to August 30. It drew 300+ applicants and produced 30 playable games across two categories, competing for a combined LKR 200,000 prize pool. CHRONO-STRIKE was named Overall Champion.
- Competition Window
- August 1 – August 30, 2025
- Organizer
- LEVELSTAIR
- Categories
- School · University
- Applicants
- 300+
- GDDs & Concepts
- 50+
- Playable Games
- 30
- Prize Pool
- LKR 200,000
- Overall Champion
- CHRONO-STRIKE
- Team Size
- 1 – 5 members
- Platform
- Windows or Web build
What Is EXE?
EXE is organized by LEVELSTAIR as an all-island, student-focused game development competition, testing production-level execution rather than pitch decks. Entrants must submit a playable, polished build. It runs across two divisions: a School Category for students currently in secondary education, and a University Category for university students and recent graduates.
How Many Teams Entered EXE 2025?
EXE 2025 narrowed from a wide field of applicants to a set of finished, playable games:
Every team began with a Game Design Document (GDD). Those that made it through the development phase submitted a playable Windows or Web build for judging. Both the School and University categories contributed to the final 30 games.
The EXE 2025 Timeline
EXE 2025 was structured as a multi-week production sprint, with community sessions built in to support first-time entrants:
- Jul 21 – 23, 20252D Game Sessions
Community workshop sessions ahead of the competition kickoff.
- Jul 28, 2025Registration Ends
Individual and team registration closed.
- Aug 1, 2025EXE Introduction
The competition officially opened.
- Aug 2 – 8, 2025GDD Phase
Teams drafted their Game Design Document, supported by a "How to Make a GDD" session on Aug 2.
- Aug 10 – 23, 2025Game Dev Phase
The core development window, including community Development Sessions, a Timeless Toucan session (Aug 15), and a GDG Sri Lanka session (Aug 19).
- Aug 24, 2025Game Submissions Ends
Final builds were due on itch.io.
- Aug 30, 2025EXE Final
Judging and the awards ceremony.
Who Won EXE 2025?
CHRONO-STRIKE took 1st place in the University Category and was named the EXE 2025 Overall Champion, the best game across both categories. In the School Category, Hollow Blight: Havenwood won 1st place, Best Design, and People’s Choice.
| Award | School Category | University Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Place | Hollow Blight: Havenwood | CHRONO-STRIKE |
| 2nd Place | Floatlands | Whispers in the Woods |
| 3rd Place | The Bridge of Letters | Letters of Lavender |
| Best Design | Hollow Blight: Havenwood | The Shadows Listen |
| Best Audio-Visual | Floatlands | Sneaky Pizza Drop |
| People’s Choice | Hollow Blight: Havenwood | Legacy of Kashyapa |
Submissions and winners are listed on the EXE submissions page.
Prizes & Awards
Each category, School and University, carried an identical prize structure:
The EXE Overall Champion also received a trophy. Submissions were reviewed by an expert judging panel against the competition’s published criteria.
Rules Snapshot
Teams of 1–5 members, participants 13 or older, any game engine or programming language, AI-assisted development permitted, and a playable Windows or Web build with source code required for review. Full rules are published at exe.levelstair.com/rules.
Partners & Collaborators
EXE 2025 was supported by partners across several categories: Lenovo and LaptopLK (Title Partners), Graffon (Strategic Partner), Space Timer (Game Design Award), Rivertune, RAM Studios, and HelaDev (Curation Partners), Timeless Toucan, Behaviol, Friendly GameDev, and Yunash Gaming (Knowledge Partners), ISCS (Scholarship Award Sponsor), GDG Sri Lanka, Generation Alpha, and Checkmate Alley (Community Outreach), Code Chefs, Chokolaate, and Good PR (Digital Media), Black Mirage Studio and Cynth Space (Creative Design), Rakaara (Apparel), and Yashoda Opticians (Gift Partner). The University of Colombo Faculty of Science LEO Club and the Divisional Federation of Youth Club Ja-Ella also collaborated on the ground.
From Jam to Stage
EXE sits between LEVELSTAIR’s entry-level Level Zero game jam and its national showcase. In 2026, an EXE Extended jam fed directly into LKGDC: its top 5 teams presented their games on the conference’s Spotlight Stage.
Registration for the next edition, and the full submissions gallery, are available at exe.levelstair.com.
Thank You
EXE 2025 was made possible by its organizing committee and by every partner and collaborator listed above. Thank you to everyone who helped bring the competition to life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is EXE?
EXE is LEVELSTAIR's flagship all-island game development competition in Sri Lanka, open to secondary school and university students. Teams build an original game around a set period and submit it for judging.
Who won EXE 2025?
CHRONO-STRIKE won 1st place in the University Category and was named the EXE 2025 Overall Champion. Hollow Blight: Havenwood won 1st place in the School Category, along with the School Category's Best Design and People's Choice awards.
How much prize money did EXE 2025 award?
EXE 2025 had a total prize pool of LKR 200,000, split across a School Category and a University Category. Each category awarded LKR 30,000 for 1st place, LKR 10,000 for 2nd, LKR 10,000 for 3rd, plus special awards of LKR 20,000 for Best Design, LKR 20,000 for Best Audio-Visual, and LKR 10,000 for People's Choice.
Who can enter EXE?
EXE is open to individuals and teams of up to 5 members. Participants must be 13 or older. Any game engine or programming language is allowed, AI-assisted development is permitted, and games must be playable on Windows or in a web browser.
How many people entered EXE 2025?
EXE 2025 received 300+ applicants. Teams produced 50+ Game Design Documents and project concepts, and 30 playable games were completed across the School and University categories.