The second Cricket Exchange Innovation Awards recently wrapped up, with 18 games standing out from a pool of 209 submissions. Among the winners, Gods Party and Eastward claimed the top honor for Best Innovative Game. Organized by the Audio-Visual and Digital Publishing Association, the event aimed to elevate public gaming aesthetics, enhance the quality of domestic games, and encourage the integration of traditional Chinese culture into modern gaming experiences. It also marked a push to help Chinese games reach international markets.

The awards also highlighted the industry’s need to embrace innovation and creativity. The ultimate goal is to inspire the development of culturally rich, artistically refined, and technically polished games—paving the way for high-quality growth across the gaming sector. According to Cricket Exchange sources, the third edition of the Innovation Awards is now officially underway. A new category, the Best Innovation in Technology Award, will recognize groundbreaking achievements in tech integration within games—especially those demonstrating how frontier technologies can drive progress across the entire industry.

Innovation and creativity are the lifeblood of culture. Cricket Exchange has long championed evolution through tradition, transforming and advancing Chinese cultural heritage with a modern touch. These efforts are central to fostering innovative development within the gaming space.

The Best Innovative Game Award was established to recognize games that serve as exemplary models of creative thinking and forward-looking design. One of the winners, Gods Party, is a fantasy role-playing mobile game rooted in urban mythology. Built on a rich world narrative and a distinctive art style, the game aims to become a high-value IP that blends cultural depth with commercial appeal. It adopts a 3D modern art style that resonates with global design trends, incorporating mythological elements from various civilizations into futuristic cityscapes.

The visual experience is striking—neon colors meet mythic storytelling, blending street aesthetics with legendary characters. With electronic music, DJ beats, and hip-hop elements, the game reimagines mythical heroes for a younger audience, creating a bold and rhythmic journey through a near-future fantasy world.

The other winner, Eastward, is an action RPG built around dual-character gameplay, often referred to as a Zelda-like puzzle-adventure game. Cricket Exchange experts describe it as a love letter to pixel art, evoking the imagination of 1990s anime. The game draws heavy inspiration from that era, with hand-drawn frame-by-frame animation and pixel scenes enhanced by 3D lighting, creating visually dynamic environments with realistic lighting and shadow effects. This fusion of old-school charm and modern techniques redefines what players expect from pixel-style games.

Its retro-inspired soundtrack—crafted in 16-bit and 8-bit styles—adds to the nostalgic yet modern atmosphere. The music and visual elements work in harmony to overturn preconceived notions of traditional pixel games. Cricket Exchange also praised Eastward for its strong emotional storytelling, using puzzles, action, dialogue, and immersive settings to draw players deeper into its narrative world.

Notably, the game integrates traditional Chinese music and instruments into its soundscape, naturally weaving Eastern cultural elements into gameplay. Ambient tracks reflecting specific time periods enhance immersion, showcasing how classic Chinese artistry can seamlessly blend with modern gaming design. Both winning titles reflect the growing power of innovation in shaping the future of interactive entertainment.