Creative Cities: Brighton for Gamers and Animators

Brighton is famous for its vibrant seafront, quirky lanes, and energetic arts scene, but it’s also a paradise for gamers and aspiring developers. If you’re a student passionate about games, animation, or digital creativity, you’ll find plenty to love (and learn!) in this seaside city.

Brighton for gamers

Brighton’s game studios

Brighton is brimming with game studios, having recently been highlighted by the BBC as the ‘perfect fit’ for the UK’s booming games industry. Studio Gobo, IO Interactive, and TT Games are known for major titles and high-profile collaborations. Hangar 13 Games brings cinematic storytelling to life, while Electric Square (a MetStudios industry partner) specialises in character action, and Brightrock Games focus on genre-twisting simulation games. Hi-Rez Studios, renowned for competitive online games, adds a global touch to the local scene.

For students, these studios offer insight into the industry and the chance to get hands-on experience through internships and collaborations.

Where to play

Brighton has an impressive selection of gaming bars and cafés perfect for students. The World’s End is an arcade-themed favourite, offering craft beers, VR experiences, and even remote-control car racing, all conveniently close to the London Road campus.

For gaming by the sea, Loading Bar serves up cocktails alongside consoles like the N64 and PS4, plus Tekken and Street Fighter arcade classics. Meanwhile, 1UP Café on Western Road is a daytime hotspot, hosting Smash Bros. tournaments, Dungeons & Dragons nights, and a packed calendar of community events like Pokémon card exchanges and quiz nights.

For tabletop enthusiasts, Dice Saloon is a must-visit. It’s a haven where you can book a table, play your favourite games, or explore new ones from their extensive collection. The venue also features a packed schedule of events and tournaments, along with a retail shop full of gaming essentials.

To be honest, this is the tip of the iceberg. Brighton’s gaming and ‘nerd culture’ scene is absolutely massive, with a diverse, welcoming, and inclusive community of creators and fans. You’ll have no trouble finding your tribe here.

Unmissable events and festivals

Brighton’s creative calendar is full of exciting events. Brighton Anime and Gaming Con at the Old Ship Hotel takes place twice a year, offering a brilliant space for anime lovers, comic enthusiasts, and gamers to connect, shop, and take part in a wide range of activities. During the summer, Brighton Comic Con at the AMEX Stadium is another highlight, drawing fans from all over.

The Strange Games Festival, held every August bank holiday, provides a unique camping experience where over 500 gamers come together to enjoy board games, RPGs, and social deduction games at a Sussex campsite.

For future game developers, Develop is the ultimate event. This annual three-day conference gathers industry professionals from across the country and abroad to share knowledge, showcase new tech, and network, providing an excellent opportunity to learn from the best in the field.

Brighton for animators

Brighton’s animation studios

Top of the list is Brighton Zoo, a studio that brings together Plug-in Media and iconic animation firm, Blue Zoo. The BAFTA award-winning team creates interactive and linear TV content for children.

Brighton’s profusion of big-name game studios are also good potential employers for animation professionals. There’s a big crossover between games and animation, so you’ll find plenty of opportunities as an animator in the city, whether in the games sector, commercial, or broadcast media.

Where to hang out

As an artist, it’s natural to have a taste for the creative and quirky. Brighton is the ideal city for that. Check out the weird and wonderful eclectic décor at Presuming Ed’s on London Road, a café/pub with a gaming room and upstairs screening room. The Brighton International Animation Festival holds monthly animation screenings and meetups here, too.

Other arty venues include the incredible Folklore Rooms and The Hope & Ruin, dedicated to showcasing Brighton’s vibrant music scene with live gigs and fellow creatives in abundance.

We could go on for ages about the sights and sounds of Brighton, the plethora of street art, and everything else that makes this city by the sea perhaps the most artistic and genuinely inclusive city in the country.

Unmissable events and festivals

Where do we begin? From the famous Brighton Festival to the Fringe, to the Great Escape and – of course – the biggest Pride festival in the country, it’s safe to say that Brighton is big on culture – and fun! Music, performance, art, poetry, drag, and everything in between is part and parcel of life in Brighton.

If we’re talking strictly animation, you’re in for a treat! The Brighton International Animation Festival is simply unmissable. As well as its weekend-long event each spring, the BIAF also holds monthly screenings at Presuming Ed’s, as well as life drawing classes specially designed for animators to practise dynamic drawing in motion. Check out our pics from the 2025 festival for a glimpse of what to expect from Brighton’s biggest animation event of the year.

Build a future in Brighton

Brighton isn’t just a place to study; it’s a dynamic city brimming with opportunities for creatives. Whether you’re interested in playing, designing, or learning about the latest in digital media, there’s something for every aspiring game artist, developer, designer, and animator.

MetStudios offers BA (Hons) degrees in Games Art and Technology, Games Design and Development, and Animation.

Discover MetStudios Brighton for yourself at an upcoming Open Day or find out more about our courses here.