It’s the end of the year and award season. The Game Awards is handling the major players of 2024 but in its shadow a new gaming showcase has been growing. The Indie Game Awards is here to focus on everything independent. It’ll cover developers and titles you may not be all that familiar with and others that have become household names. It’s the first year for the show and by my accounts has it all figured out. Complete with a stunning award and nominees, here’s why it’s worth paying attention to the Indie Game Awards.
Conceptualized by Mike Towndrow in 2022, the idea is to highlight indie professionals and games.
“We’re building towards a future where indie scene professionals work more harmoniously together, focusing on mutual support and collaboration,” said Towndrow, creative director at Six One Indie.
Introducing the nominees for The Indie Game Awards 2024, airing on December 19th at 4PM PT / 7 PM ET on @ign.com and YouTube.Visit indiegameawards.gg for the full list of nominees, presenters, and judges.
— The Indie Game Awards (@indiegameawards.gg) 2024-11-19T14:30:07.782Z
To get nominated for the awards, devs had to get their game out between November 1, 2023 and November 1, 2024. Each nomination and award choice was selected by a panel of judges made up of media professionals, influencers, and industry experts. The full list of judges and presenters can be found on the official website.
The awards are made up of 15 categories including Debut Game, Women-Led Game, Music, and Game of the Year.
Now of course you may be wondering what the nominees are. We at Game Sandwich have compiled a list of each category for you.
Game of the Year
1000xRESIST, sunset visitor 斜陽過客
Animal Well, Billy Basso
ARCO, Arco Team
Balatro, LocalThunk
Crypt Custodian, Kyle Thompson
Lorlei and the Laser Eyes, Simogo
Mouthwashing, Wrong Organ
Neva, Nomada Studio
Nine Sols, RedCandleGames
UFO 50, Mossmouth
Debut Game
Arranger, Furniture & Mattress LLC
Lil’ Guardsman, Hilltop Games
Little Kitty, Big City, Double Dagger Studio
Loddlenaut, Moon Lagoon
MULLET MADJACK, HAMMER95
Worldless, Noname Studio
Notable Achievement in Accessibility
Another Crab’s Treasure, Aggro Crab
Elsie, Knight Shift Games
Periphery Synthetic, shiftBacktick
Pine Hearts, Hyper Luminal Games
SteamWorld Heist II, Thunderful Development
Surmount: A Mountain Climbing Adventure, Jasper Oprel and Indiana-Jonas
Music
Core Keeper, Pugstorm
Flock, Hollow Ponds
Pacific Drive, Ironwood Studios
The Cub, Demagog Studio
Thrasher, Puddle Studio
Wild Bastards, Blue Manchu
Visual Design
Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus, Squid Shock Studios
Crow Country, SFB Games
Harold Halibut, Slow Bros.
Hauntii, Moonloop Games
The Plucky Squire, All Possible Futures
Ultros, Hadoque
Bite-Sized Game
Buckshot Roulette, Mike Klubnika
Clickolding, Strange Scaffold
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, Happy Broccoli Games
Minami Lane, Doot & Blipbloop
Please Touch the Artwork 2, Thomas Waterzooi
Thank Goodness You’re Here, Coal Supper
Innovation
Cryptmaster, Paul Hart, Lee Williams, & Akupara Games
KarmaZoo, Pastagames
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Simogo
ODDADA, Sven Ahlgrimm, Mathilde Hoffman, & Bastian Clausdorff
Rusty’s Retirement, Mister Morris Games
UFO 50, Mossmouth
Emotional Impact
In Stars and Time, insertdisc5
Kind Words 2, Popcannibal
Neva, Nomada Studio
Selfloss, Goodwin Games
Thirsty Suitors, Outerloop Games
Until Then, Polychroma Games
Gameplay Design
Balatro, LocalThunk
Grunn, Sokpop Collective
Minishoot Adventures, SoulGame Studio
Nine Sols, RedCandleGames
Tiny Glade, Pounce Light
Victory Heat Rally, Skydevilpalm
Community Management
Aggro Crab
Black Tabby Games
LocalThunk
Massive Monster
NPC Studio
Pounce Light
Narrative
1000xRESIST, sunset visitor 斜陽過客
ARCO, Arco Team
Caravan SandWitch, Studio Plane Toast
Fear The Spotlight, Cozy Game Pals
Last Time I Saw You, Maboroshi Artworks
Mouthwashing, Wrong Organ
Storyteller
Will be announced during the awards.
Women-Led Game
Gourdlets, AuntyGames
Keylocker, Moonana
Love, Ghostie, Janbeh Games
Mexico, 1921. A Deep Slumber, Macula Interactive
Nightmare Kart, LWMedia
The Crimson Diamond, Julia Minamata
Solo Development
Aerial_Knight’s We Never Yield, Aerial_Knight
Animal Well, Billy Basso
Children of the Sun, René Rother
Crypt Custodian, Kyle Thompson
Knuckle Sandwich, Andy Brophy
Magical Delicacy, Skaule
Industry Impact
Will be announced during the awards.
The Indie Game Awards are December 19 at 4 p.m. PT and will be streamed on YouTube.
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