The Indie Game Awards have announced the full list of award categories and nominees for its inaugural show on December 19.
In total, there are 15 awards up for grabs at the event with 63 games vying for awards in music, gameplay design, innovation, narrative, and more. Two awards, Storyteller and Industry Impact, didn’t have a list of nominees announced. Instead, those two awards will be announced specifically during The Indie Game Awards show.
“Narrowing down 365 days of remarkable indie games across the 15 categories was a gargantuan task for our curation jury,” The Indie Game Awards co-creator Mike Towndrow told Insider Gaming. “But the list we’ve landed on is a killer reflection of how much the indie scene has stepped up this year.
He added: “Take the Game of the Year category, for example. Those 10 games represent an incredibly diverse range of elements we all look for when discussing some of the greatest games of all time. They’re a perfect snapshot of how indies continue to push the boundaries and drive the industry forward.”
As mentioned, Game of the Year, the biggest award of the show, has 10 games nominated. Those games include 1000xRESIST, ARCO, Animal Well, Balatro, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Neva, Nine Sols, UFO 50, Mouthwashing, and Crypt Custodian.
“Our goal is for The Indie Game Awards to become the definitive annual celebration of the indie scene,” Towndrow said. “That endgame vision is made possible through the deep collaboration we’ve built with fellow indie showcases, organizations, journalists, content creators, and, of course, the developers themselves.
“And this is just the beginning. We’re more motivated than ever to expand that collaboration and scale, bringing even more individuals into the fold to make The IGAs a staple of the indie scene—a celebration that breaks through into the wider gaming industry.”
You can check out the full list of nominees below. Insider Gaming will have full coverage of The Indie Game Awards when they air on December 19 at 7pm ET.
The Indie Game Awards Nominees
Game of the Year
- 1000xRESIST
- Animal Well
- ARCO
- Balatro
- Crypt Custodian
- Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
- Mouthwashing
- Neva
- Nine Sols
- UFO 50
Debut Game
- Arranger
- Lil’ Guardsman
- Little Kitty, Big City
- Loddlenaut
- MULLET MADJACK
- Worldless
Notable Achievement in Accessibility
- Another Crab’s Treasure
- Elsie
- Periphery Synthetic
- Pine Hearts
- SteamWorld Heist II
- Surmount: A Mountain Climbing Adventure
Music
- Core Keeper
- Flock
- Pacific Drive
- The Cub
- Thrasher
- Wild Bastards
Visual Design
- Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus
- Crow Country
- Harold Halibut
- Hauntii
- The Plucky Squire
- Ultros
Bite-Sized Game
- Buckshot Roulette
- Clickholding
- Duck Detective: The Secret Salami
- Minami Lane
- Please Touch the Artwork 2
- Thank Goodness You’re Here
Innovation
- Cryptmaster
- KarmaZoo
- Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
- ODDADA
- Rusty’s Retirement
- UFO 50
Emotional Impact
- In Stars and Time
- Kind Words 2
- Neva
- Selfloss
- Thirsty Suitors
- Until Then
Gameplay Design
- Balatro
- Grunn
- Minishoot Adventures
- Nine Sols
- Tiny Glade
- Victory Heat Rally
Community Management
- Aggro Crab
- Black Tabby Games
- LocalThunk
- Massive Monster
- NPC Studio
- Pounce Light
Narrative
- 1000xRESIST
- ARCO
- Caravan SandWitch
- Fear The Spotlight
- Last Time I Saw You
- Mouthwashing
Women-Led Game
- Gourdlets
- Keylocker
- Love, Ghostie
- Mexico, 1921. A Deep Slumber.
- Nightmare Kart
- The Crimson Diamond
Solo Development
- Aerial_Knight’s We Never Yield
- Animal Well
- Children of the Sun
- Crypt Custodian
- Knuckle Sandwich
- Magical Delicacy
