The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is presenting a unique celebration of Canadian video game artistry this week with its Video Game Arts Appreciation Night. The special event will take place on Friday, September 5, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., offering visitors an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at artwork from some of Canada's most acclaimed video games.

Organized by writer and game developer Jim Munroe in collaboration with the Game Arts International Network, the event will spotlight artistic contributions from nine distinguished Canadian game development studios. The featured games represent a diverse range of creative achievements from across the country, spanning from coast to coast.

The showcase will include artwork from several notable titles and their respective developers. Featured games include Balatro from Localthunk based in Saskatoon, Goodbye Volcano High from Montreal's KO_OP, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist from Vancouver's Northway Games, and A Little to the Left from Halifax-based Max Inferno. Additional works will be displayed from Loser Lane by Toronto's Marie LeBlanc Flanagan, South of Midnight from Montreal's Compulsion Games, Tactical Breach Wizards from Vancouver's Suspicious Developments, Tunic from Halifax's Isometricorp, and Venba from Toronto's Visai Games.

One of the event's highlights will be the presence of several artists who will attend in person to discuss their work. Confirmed attendees include representatives from KO_OP, Max Inferno, Marie LeBlanc Flanagan, Compulsion Games, and Visai Games, providing visitors with rare opportunities to engage directly with the creators behind these celebrated games.

At 7 p.m., Munroe will conduct a guided tour through the exhibition, offering detailed explanations about the reasoning behind each game's inclusion in the showcase. During the tour, he will engage with the attending developers, asking them about their creative processes and the artistic vision behind their work, giving visitors insider perspectives on the Canadian gaming industry.

The Video Game Arts Appreciation Night is included with regular AGO admission, which costs $30 for general entry. However, AGO Members and Annual Pass holders will be able to attend the event at no additional charge, making it accessible to the gallery's regular patrons and gaming enthusiasts alike.