Cosplay Fight Club, massive arcade & rave: What to expect from Game On Dreamers at MBS this Dec. 11-13

If your idea of gaming is a quick round at the arcade with friends, here’s something you might want to check out with them.

From Dec. 11-13, the first edition of “Game On, Dreamers!” is taking place at Marina Bay Sands, bringing together immersive gaming zones, esports and gaming, cosplay, family and arcade play, collectibles, game-inspired food and drinks, and an electronic music experience.

The playfest is split into three themed zones: Dream World for immersive game environments and the after-dark R.E.M rave, Dream Battle for the competitions, and Dream Play for casual and family fun.

Whatever your playstyle, here’s where to find your fun.

Dream World

If you want to step inside a game

Ever wished you could ditch the screen and walk straight into your favourite game?

That’s the idea behind Dream World, which brings blockbuster gaming universes to life through immersive environments and storytelling.

Gaming fans get their own dedicated areas, celebrating the milestones and legacy of iconic video games through curated displays and character showcases, plus nostalgic arcade experiences for revisiting the classics.

Here’s what to look out for:

• Immersive game zones: Game worlds come to life here, with sneak-peek playable demos and interactive exhibitions that put you right inside the action.
• Interactive gaming stations: Put your skills to the test and go head-to-head with your friends to prove you’re the best.
• Themed photo spots: Step into different game universes and capture the moment, with photo spots that make you feel like part of the world.

And when the sun goes down, Dream World goes one step further with R.E.M, the festival’s after-hours rave.

If your playstyle is the dance floor

After dark, the main stage turns into R.E.M, the finale of Dream World and the festival’s official afterparty.

Named after the stage of sleep where dreams come alive, R.E.M turns the dance floor into a living game world called The Grid, a fictional dystopian universe where every DJ set becomes a playable stage and the crowd steps in as “Dreamers”.

Electrifying DJ sets, immersive stage design and dynamic laser displays drive the night, built to bring gamers and ravers onto one massive dance floor.

Across two nights on Dec. 11 and 12, R.E.M takes the spirit of play into the night, where the dance floor becomes a whole new playground.

For those who remember the heydays of Ultra Singapore and ZoukOut, R.E.M promises a taste of that big-festival energy, spanning progressive house, trance, techno, hardstyle, and drum & bass.

Expect international names like Brennan Heart, Dimension, Fantasm, Lilly Palmer, Lost Frequencies, Maddix, and Wujackers. Plus a lineup of homegrown and regional favourites including Ezra Hazard, Joshua Dillon, Mr. Yang, and Tchuno.

There will also be R.E.M-exclusive festival tees, statement sunglasses, and folding fans to keep you cool while the dance floor heats up.

Heads up, the fine print:

• R.E.M is separately ticketed, not included under Festival passes.
• R.E.M is strictly 18 and above.
• R.E.M runs from 8pm to 3am nightly on Dec. 11 and 12.
• General admission Phase 1 tickets are S$155 for a single day (Dec. 11 or 12) or S$310 for both days. Boiler tickets are also available.
• For those looking for a more exclusive experience, VIP table and sofa packages are available for booking.

Get your tickets on Ticketmelon.

Dream Battle

If you live for esports & gaming

The competitive action happens in Dream Battle, where the stage will host the first-ever Red Bull Wings Cup EA Sports FC27 tournament. Top players from Singapore will battle for a spot to represent the country at the Global Finals in Miami.

There are also tournaments across fan-favourite titles including Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), Street Fighter 6 and Kill Streak.

Players across the tournaments will compete for a total of S$30,000 in cash prizes, plus in-game diamonds and even an all-expenses-paid trip to Miami.

Not competing? Spectators can catch the tournament action too, and nobody is checking your rank at the door.

If you like to dress up

Both local and international cosplay are on the line-up, and the centrepiece is Cosplay Fight Club, Singapore’s first cosplay battle arena.

It’s a cosplay competition where cosplayers and creators bring characters to life through choreographed sequences and stage performances.

The judging panel includes Richard Cetrone, a Hollywood stunt and action veteran. His credits include stunt work on “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”, “Wonder Woman” and “Captain America: Civil War”.

Alongside him is Nobuyuki Takahashi, a Japanese cosplay pioneer who is credited with coining the word “cosplay”.

There are two categories:

• Open category: Open to public registration. You can sign up solo or as a team of up to three.
• All Star division: An international line-up led by ambassador Neneko from Taiwan, joined by cosplayers Qiu Ji from Taiwan, Paris and Iverson from the UAE, Hiyoko from South Korea, Rangga Kanchiel from Indonesia, Sergio Sta. Ana from the Philippines, Donald Ducky from India and Pongwat Bas from Thailand.

Participants across the categories will compete for cash prizes of up to S$11,800 and special category awards.

Dream Battle will also host the Singapore qualifier for the Gyeonggi International Cosplay Festival Championship (GICOF). The winning team earns an all-expenses-paid trip to compete in South Korea.

Dream Play

If you just want to hit the arcade

Not everyone at a gaming festival is there to go pro, and Dream Play is for them.

It’s the festival’s social hub for casual players, families and pop culture fans, blending arcade gaming, lifestyle retail and community culture in one space.

Timezone is bringing arcade and family play to the event, so you can go from “I haven’t played in years” to “one more round” in about five minutes.

• For rhythm fans: Try Mai Mai and Taiko.
• For racing fans: Hop into racing simulators such as Initial D and Asphalt 9 VR.
• For everyone else: Families can enjoy carnival-style classics like Skee Ball and Break the Plate, which means easy, casual fun for all ages.

If you’re here for the merch

At the Loot Vault, festivalgoers can get their hands on festival collectibles and rare merchandise drops.

The headline drop is an exclusive collaboration with local independent streetwear collective Projectslacksss.

The limited-edition capsule collection will see co-branded hoodies, tees, slacks, tote bags, socks, and caps. You can also pick up official lifestyle gear such as custom desk mats, keycap keychains and DIY phone strap sets.

Cosplay fans can also head to the Cosplay Marketplace, a dedicated space to browse original art, meet independent creators and connect with the wider cosplay community.

And for card players, your next great pull might just come from the trading card game zone in collaboration with Playground Collective. You’ll even get to bask in the celebratory mood with fellow enthusiasts here.

Sort out your tickets

Festival passes start at S$35 for a Single Day Day Pass (10am to 5pm), S$20 for a Single Day Night Pass (6pm to 10pm), and S$53 for a Single Day Full Day Pass (10am to 10pm). To cover all three days (10am-10pm), the Multi-Day Pass is S$150.

Festival passes can be obtained through Megatix, while R.E.M tickets are sold separately on Ticketmelon.

For the full schedule and updates, visit the Game On Dreamers website or follow @gameondreamers on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.

Whatever kind of visitor you are, there’s something here for you this December.

• Dec. 11 to 13, 2026
• 10am to 10pm
• Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Halls D, E and F, Basement 2

This Game On Dreamers-branded article made this writer want to challenge her friends to a round at the arcade.