The IndieBeat: Puzzles shine at Brazil’s Independent Games Festival

It’s a good week for games in São Paulo — and not just because Brazil advanced in the World Cup. Brazil’s Independent Games festival is running for the sixth year in a row, an annual event that celebrates a diverse array of games from Latin America and abroad. It’s free to the public and runs from June 23 to July 1 in both São Paulo and, for the first time this year, it has a satellite festival in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil is the biggest games market in Latin America, and it’s slated to generate $1.48 billion this year. This steady growth is attracting investments from organizations like Agência Nacional do Cinema (Ancine), which is more than doubling its investments into the industry this year. In 2016 and 2017, Ancine provided $3 million in funds; this year, it has pledged over $10 million. One of the beneficiaries of its contributions is BIG, which counts it as one of its main sponsors.