The Independent Games Festival (IGF) is an annual

festival A festival is an event celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, Melā, mela, or Muslim holidays, eid. A ...

at the

Game Developers Conference The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is an annual conference for video game developers. The event includes an expo, networking events, and awards shows like the Game Developers Choice Award for Game of the Year, Game Developers Choice Awards and ...

(GDC), the largest annual gathering of the independent video game industry. Originally founded in 1998 to promote independent

video game developer A video game developer is a software developer specializing in video game development – the process and related disciplines of creating video games. A game developer can range from one person who undertakes all tasks to a large business with em ...

s, and innovation in

video game development Video game development (sometimes shortened to gamedev) is the process of creating a video game. It is a multidisciplinary practice, involving programming, design, art, audio, user interface, and writing. Each of those may be made up of more speci ...

by CMP Media,About the IGF
, www.IGF.com. later known as

UBM Technology Group UBM Technology Group, formerly CMP Publications, was a business-to-business multimedia company that provided information and integrated marketing services to technology professionals worldwide. It offered marketers and advertisers services such a ...

, IGF is now owned by

Informa Informa plc is a British publishing, business intelligence, and exhibitions group based in London, England. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. It has offices in 30 countries and around 12,000 ...

after UBM's acquisition. The IGF competition awards a total of $50,000 in prizes to independent developers in Main Competition and Student Competition categories and held around the same time as the

Game Developers Choice Awards The Game Developers Choice Awards are awards annually presented at the Game Developers Conference for outstanding video game developer, game developers and video game, games. Introduced in 2001, the Game Developers Choice Awards were preceded by ...

event. From 2007 to 2010, there was a separate event called IGF Mobile for mobile phone games.

Competition Structure

The festival awards ceremony is split into two broad categories: the main IGF competition and the IGF Student Showcase. The main Independent Games Festival, held in March 2012 at San Francisco's GDC 2012, distributed nine major awards: *

Seumas McNally Grand Prize The Seumas McNally Grand Prize is the main award given at the Independent Games Festival (IGF), an annual event that takes place during the Game Developers Conference, one of the largest gatherings of the indie video game industry. It was first aw ...

($30,000) *

Nuovo Award The Nuovo Award or Innovation Award is an award given at the Independent Games Festival (IGF), an annual event that takes place during the Game Developers Conference, one of the largest gatherings of the indie video game industry. The award is g ...

($5,000) *Excellence In Visual Art ($3,000) *Excellence In Audio ($3,000) *Excellence in Design ($3,000) *Technical Excellence ($3,000) *Best Mobile Game ($3,000) *Audience Award ($3,000) An additional award, "Excellent in Narrative", was added for the 2013 IGF. In addition, the IGF's Student Showcase competition gives out the following awards each year: *IGF Student Showcase Winner (eight winners, $500) *Best Student Game ($3000) Prior to the Festival, developers have the opportunity to submit their game in a playable state to the IGF organization committee for a small fee. These titles are then sent to approximately 300 game industry representatives on the Nominating Committee; these representatives include both indie developers and more mainstream developers and publishers. Each Committee member can nominate any of the provided games to one or more of the categories. Then, for each award category, a pre-selected jury of between seven and fifteen members reviews the nominations and makes a final selection of six finalists (eight for the Nuovo award) and a number of honorable mentions. The selected finalists are expected to present their games at the IGF during the Games Developers Conference; the show provides them a booth space and access to the convention, but finalists either must secure their own travel and lodgings, or name a proxy to demonstrate their games. During the convention, a separate jury selected by the IGF organization committee will review each game, and just prior to the awards, vote for one game in each category. The only exception is the Audience Award, which is voted through online forms by anyone interested.

IGF Competition award history

Years given below indicate the year when the award was given, with the games or developers being recognized from the previous year.

(Main) IGF Competition

Seumas McNally Grand Prize ($30,000)

*2025: '' Consume Me'' *2024: '' Venba'' *2023: '' Betrayal at Club Low'' *2022: ''

Inscryption ''Inscryption'' is a 2021 roguelike deck-building game developed by Daniel Mullins Games and published by Devolver Digital. Directed by Daniel Mullins, it was originally released for Windows on October 19, 2021, and on Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4 ...

'' *2021: ''

Umurangi Generation ''Umurangi Generation'' is a first-person photography simulation video game developed by Origame Digital and released for Microsoft Windows in May 2020. Ports for Nintendo Switch and Xbox One followed in June 2021 and May 2022, respectively. Ver ...

'' *2020: ''

A Short Hike ''A Short Hike'' is a 2019 adventure video game by Canadian indie game designer Adam Robinson-Yu, also known as adamgryu. It is an open world exploration game in which the player is tasked with reaching the summit of a mountain to get cell phone ...

'' *2019: ''

Return of the Obra Dinn ''Return of the Obra Dinn'' is a 2018 adventure and puzzle video game created by Lucas Pope and published by 3909 LLC. It was Pope's second commercial game, following 2013's ''Papers, Please'', and was first released for macOS and Windows before ...

'' *2018: ''

Night in the Woods ''Night in the Woods'' is a 2017 single-player adventure video game developed by Infinite Fall and Secret Lab and published by Finji. Set in a world of zoomorphic humans, the story follows a young feline person named Mae, who drops out of col ...

'' *2017: '' Quadrilateral Cowboy'' *2016: '' Her Story'' *2015: ''

Outer Wilds ''Outer Wilds'' is a 2019 action-adventure game developed by Mobius Digital and published by Annapurna Interactive. The game follows the player character as they explore a planetary system stuck in a 22-minute time loop that resets after the ...

'' *2014: ''

Papers, Please ''Papers, Please'' is a puzzle simulation video game created by indie game developer Lucas Pope, developed and published through his production company, 3909 LLC. The game was released on August 8, 2013, for Microsoft Windows and OS X, for ...

'' *2013: ''

Cart Life ''Cart Life'' is a simulation video game developed by Richard Hofmeier using Adventure Game Studio for Microsoft Windows released in 2010. The game was added to Steam in March 2013 but later removed when Hofmeier released the full source code for ...

'' *2012: '' Fez'' *2011: ''

Minecraft ''Minecraft'' is a 2011 sandbox game developed and published by the Swedish video game developer Mojang Studios. Originally created by Markus Persson, Markus "Notch" Persson using the Java (programming language), Java programming language, the ...

'' *2010: ''

Monaco Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a Sovereign state, sovereign city-state and European microstates, microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Regions of Italy, Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, ...

'' *2009: ''

Blueberry Garden ''Blueberry Garden'' is a puzzle-platform game. It was developed by Erik Svedäng and released on June 10, 2009, for Microsoft Windows, and on January 24, 2014, for Mac OS X and Linux via Steam. It has a piano soundtrack written by Daduk. It is t ...

'' *2008: ''

Crayon Physics Deluxe ''Crayon Physics Deluxe'' is a puzzle video game designed by Petri Purho and released on January 5, 2009. An early version, titled ''Crayon Physics'', was released for Windows in June 2007. ''Deluxe'' won the grand prize at the Independent Games ...

'' *2007: '' Aquaria'' *2006: ''

Darwinia Darwinia may refer to: * ''Darwinia'' (plant) Rudge 1815, a genus of Myrtaceae found only in Australia *''Darwinia'' Raf., a synonym of the legume genus '' Sesbania'' Adans. * ''Darwinia'' (video game), a 2005 video game by Introversion Software * ' ...

'' *2005: (Open Category) ''

Gish ''Gish'' is the debut studio album by the American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on May 28, 1991, by Caroline Records. The album was produced by Butch Vig and frontman Billy Corgan, with the latter describing ''Gish'' as ...

'' and (Web/Downloadable) '' Wik and the Fable of Souls'' *2004: (Open Category) '' Savage: The Battle for Newerth'' and (Web/Downloadable) ''

Oasis In ecology, an oasis (; : oases ) is a fertile area of a desert or semi-desert environment Wild Earth ''Wild Earth'' was an environmentalist magazine published in the United States by the Wildlands Project between 1991 and 2004. The magazine was based in Richmond, Vermont. History and profile ''Wild Earth'' came about when the original ''Earth ...

'' *2002: ''

Bad Milk ''Bad Milk'' is a puzzle video game developed by New York City-based developer Dreaming Media, the working name of brothers Ted and Mick Skolnick. It was originally released in November 2000 for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS. Created entirely in ...

'' *2001: ''

Shattered Galaxy ''Shattered Galaxy'' is a massively multiplayer online real-time strategy game (MMORTS) that was released in 2000 by KRU Interactive, now known as Nexon Inc., after an extensive open beta period. In the US, it was published by Tri Synergy. It ...

'' *2000: ''

Tread Marks ''Tread Marks'' is a 3D, third-person perspective, multiplayer-focused tank combat and racing computer game developed by independent video game developer Longbow Digital Arts. The game won the 2000 Independent Games Festival grand prize, later r ...

'' *1999: '' Fire and Darkness''

Nuovo (Innovation) Award ($5,000)

*2025: '' Consume Me'' *2024: ''

Anthology of the Killer ''Anthology of the Killer'' is a series and collection of nine comedy horror, horror comedy games that were developed by Irish independent game creator Stephen Gillmurphy under the pseudonyms "garmentdistrict" and "thecatamites". The nine horror ...

'' *2023: '' Betrayal at Club Low'' *2022: ''Memory Card'' *2021: '' Blaseball'' *2020: ''The Space Between'' *2019: ''Black Room'' *2018: ''

Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy Receiving may refer to: * ''Kabbalah'', "receiving" in Hebrew * Receiving department (or receiving dock), in a distribution center * Receiving house, a theater * Receiving line, in a wedding reception * Receiving mark, postmark * Receiving partn ...

'' *2017: ''Oiκοςpiel, Book I'' *2016: '' Cibele'' *2015: '' Tetrageddon Games'' *2014: ''Luxuria Superbia'' *2013: ''

'' *2012: '' Storyteller'' *2011: '' Nidhogg'' *2010: '' Tuning'' *2009: '' Between''

Excellence In Visual Art ($3,000)

*2025: '' Hauntii'' *2024: ''

Phonopolis ''Phonopolis'' is an upcoming video game developed by Amanita Design. Plot Felix, an inconspicuous young man, lives in Phonopolis; a city ruled by the authoritarian Leader. He unknowingly faces a great threat with his fellow citizens. Leader cr ...

'' *2023: '' RPG Time: The Legend of Wright'' *2022: ''

Papetura ''Papetura'' is a 2021 point-and-click adventure game developed by Petums and published by Feardemic. Gameplay Players control Pape, a paper doll who lives in world made of paper. When creature made of sentient darkness attempts to set the pape ...

'' *2021: ''

Genesis Noir ''Genesis Noir'' is an adventure game developed by Feral Cat Den and published by Fellow Traveller Games. The game follows the main character, No Man, as he visits different parts of the universe while trying to save his love. The game was releas ...

'' *2020: ''

Knights and Bikes ''Knights and Bikes'' is a cooperative action-adventure game inspired by ''The Goonies'' and ''Secret of Mana''. It is created by Foam Sword, a British indie game development company made up of former Media Molecule staff. Other media Three tie- ...

'' *2019: ''

Mirror Drop A mirror, also known as a looking glass, is an object that reflects an image. Light that bounces off a mirror forms an image of whatever is in front of it, which is then focused through the lens of the eye or a camera. Mirrors reverse the ...

'' *2018: ''

Chuchel ''Chuchel'' () is a 2018 video game developed by Amanita Design. Story The game follows the protagonist Chuchel, a Dust-style creature, as he tries to retrieve a cherry stolen by a giant one early morning, with his all-in-one best friend, enemy ...

'' *2017: ''

Hyper Light Drifter ''Hyper Light Drifter'' is an action role-playing game developed and published by Heart Machine. The Microsoft Windows, Linux and OS X versions were released in March 2016, and the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions in July 2016. A ''Special E ...

'' *2016: ''

Oxenfree ''Oxenfree'' is a graphic adventure game developed and published by Night School Studio. It was released for OS X, Windows, and Xbox One in January 2016. PlayStation 4 and Linux versions were released later in 2016, followed by iOS, Android, ...

'' *2015: ''

Metamorphabet ''Metamorphabet'' is a 2015 puzzle video game developed by Vectorpark. Gameplay The player interacts with each letter to proceed through the alphabet. For instance, the letter A grows antlers, becomes an arch, and begins to amble. Then it ...

'' *2014: ''

Gorogoa ''Gorogoa'' is a puzzle video game developed by Jason Roberts and published by Annapurna Interactive. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, and iOS on 14 December 2017, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on 22 May 2018, and short ...

'' *2013: '' Kentucky Route Zero'' *2012: ''

Dear Esther ''Dear Esther'' is a 2012 adventure game developed and published by The Chinese Room. First released in 2008 as a free modification for the Source game engine, the game was entirely redeveloped for a commercial release in 2012. The commercial v ...

'' *2011: ''

BIT.TRIP RUNNER ''Bit.Trip Runner'' (stylized as ''BIT.TRIP RUNNER'') is an arcade game, arcade-style music video game, rhythm game developed by Gaijin Games and published by Aksys Games for the Wii's WiiWare download service. It is the fourth game to be released ...

'' *2010: ''

Limbo The unofficial term Limbo (, or , referring to the edge of Hell) is the afterlife condition in medieval Catholic theology, of those who die in original sin without being assigned to the Hell of the Damned. However, it has become the gene ...

'' *2009: ''

Machinarium ''Machinarium'' is a puzzle point-and-click adventure game developed by Amanita Design. It was released on 16 October 2009 for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, on 8 September 2011 for iPad 2 on the App Store, on 21 November 2011 for BlackBerry P ...

'' *2008: '' Fez'' *2007: ''

Castle Crashers ''Castle Crashers'' is a beat 'em up video game developed and published by The Behemoth for the Xbox 360. It was originally released on August 27, 2008 by Microsoft Game Studios via Xbox Live Arcade as part of the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade. A Pl ...

'' *2006: ''

'' *2005: (Open Category) ''

Alien Hominid ''Alien Hominid'' is a run and gun video game developed by The Behemoth and first released as a Flash game on the multimedia website Newgrounds on August 7, 2002. It was originally developed in Adobe Flash by programmer and Newgrounds founder, ...

'' and (Web/Downloadable) '' Wik and the Fable of Souls'' *2004: (Open Category) ''

Spartan Sparta was a prominent city-state in Laconia in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (), while the name Sparta referred to its main settlement in the valley of Evrotas river in Laconia, in southeastern Pe ...

'' and (Web/Downloadable) ''Dr. Blob's Organism'' *2003: ''

Wild Earth ''Wild Earth'' was an environmentalist magazine published in the United States by the Wildlands Project between 1991 and 2004. The magazine was based in Richmond, Vermont. History and profile ''Wild Earth'' came about when the original ''Earth ...

'' *2002: ''Banja Taiyo'' *2001: ''Hardwood Spades'' *2000: ''

King of Dragon Pass ''King of Dragon Pass'' is a 1999 strategy simulation fantasy video game published by A Sharp. Set in the fictional world of Glorantha, the player controls the fate of a barbarian clan settling in the dangerous frontier region of Dragon Pass. ...

'' *1999: ''

Crime Cities ''Crime Cities'' is a video game for Microsoft Windows. Developed and published by Techland and EON Digital Entertainment in 2000-2001 (and later by Big City Games and Gathering of Developers), ''Crime Cities'' is an action game that incorporat ...

Excellence In Audio ($3,000)

*2025: ''

Despelote ''Despelote'' is a first-person adventure video game released on 1 May 2025. ''Despelote'' is Slice of life, slice-of-life set in Quito during Ecuador's qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL), 2002 FIFA World Cup, whe ...

'' *2024: ''Rhythm Doctor'' *2023: ''

The Forest Quartet ''The Forest Quartet'' is a 2022 video game created by Danish independent developer Mads Vadsholt under the name Mads and Friends, and published by Bedtime Digital Games. The game is a puzzle game, puzzle-based adventure game in which the player ...

'' *2022: ''

'' *2021: ''

'' *2020: ''

Mutazione ''Mutazione'' is a 2019 adventure video game developed by Die Gute Fabrik and published by Akupara Games. It launched for Linux, Windows, MacOS, PlayStation 4, and on iOS through Apple Arcade on September 19, 2019. It released on the Atari VCS o ...

'' *2019: ''

Paratopic ''Paratopic'' is a 2018 first-person Surrealism, surrealist video game, released for Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series, Xbox Series X/S. The game uses a graphical style reminiscent of 32-bit era ...

'' *2018: ''Uurnog Uurnlimited'' *2017: '' GoNNER'' *2016: '' Mini Metro'' *2015: ''Ephemerid: A Musical Adventure'' *2014: ''

DEVICE 6 ''Device 6'' (stylized as ''DEVICE 6'') is a text-based adventure game developed by Swedish game developer Simogo for iOS. The game uses text, images and sounds to guide the player through a set of puzzles, which the in-game protagonist, Anna, n ...

'' *2013: '' 140'' *2012: ''

Botanicula ''Botanicula'' is a Adventure game#Point-and-click adventure games, point-and-click adventure game developed by Amanita Design. The game was released on 19 April 2012, for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. The game was later ported to iOS an ...

'' *2011: '' Amnesia: The Dark Descent'' *2010: '' Closure'' *2009: ''

BrainPipe ''Brainpipe: A Plunge to Unhumanity'' is an action video game developed by Digital Eel for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and handhelds and was released on December 24, 2008. The game received "Excellence in Audio" award at Independent Games Festival ...

'' *2008: ''

Audiosurf ''Audiosurf'' is a 2008 music-based puzzle video game created by Invisible Handlebar, a company founded by Dylan Fitterer. Its track-style stages visually mimic the music the player chooses, while the player races across several lanes collecting ...

'' *2007: '' Everyday Shooter'' *2006: '' Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space'' *2005: (Open Category) '' Steer Madness'' and (Web/Downloadable) ''Global Defense Network'' *2004: (Open Category) '' Anito: Defend a Land Enraged'' and (Web/Downloadable) ''Dr. Blob's Organism'' *2003: ''

Terraformers Terraforming or terraformation ("Earth-shaping") is the hypothetical process of deliberately modifying the atmosphere, temperature, surface topography or ecology of a planet, moon, or other body to be similar to the environment of Earth to make ...

'' *2002: ''

'' *2001: ''Chase Ace 2'' *2000: ''Blix'' *1999: ''

Terminus Terminus may refer to: Ancient Rome *Terminus (god), a Roman deity who protected boundary markers Transport *Terminal train station or terminus, a railway station serving as an end destination *Bus terminus, a bus station serving as an end des ...

Excellence in Design ($3,000)

*2025: ''

Tactical Breach Wizards ''Tactical Breach Wizards'' is a 2024 turn-based tactics video game by Suspicious Developments. Players control a team of wizards who fight to stop an international conspiracy. The missions are humorous and involve espionage thriller elements. ...

'' *2024: ''Cryptmaster'' *2023: ''

The Case of the Golden Idol ''The Case of the Golden Idol'' is a 2022 puzzle video game developed by Color Gray Games and published by Playstack. The game depicts a narrative spanning 40 years in the 18th century, in which players collect clues to piece together concepts, ...

'' *2022: ''

'' *2021: '' Teardown'' *2020: ''

Patrick's Parabox ''Patrick's Parabox'' is a puzzle video game created by Indie game development, indie developer Patrick Traynor. Originating as a short demo built in 2020, the game was expanded and released on 29 March 2022 for Personal computer, PC, followed by ...

'' *2019: ''

Opus Magnum ''Opus Magnum'' is a puzzle-based programming game developed by Zachtronics. It was released for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac in December 2017, following about two months of early access. In the game, the player must assemble a series of m ...

'' *2018: ''

Baba is You ''Baba Is You'' is a puzzle video game created by Arvi Teikari (known professionally as Hempuli), a Finnish independent developer. The game centers around the manipulation of "rules"—represented in the play area by movable tiles with words w ...

'' *2017: '' Quadrilateral Cowboy'' *2016: ''

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes ''Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes'' is a puzzle video game developed and published by Canadian studio Steel Crate Games. The game tasks a player with disarming procedurally generated bombs with the assistance of other players who are reading a ma ...

'' *2015: ''

'' *2014: ''

'' *2013: '' FTL: Faster Than Light'' *2012: ''

Spelunky ''Spelunky'' is a 2008 platform video game created by independent developer Derek Yu and released as source-available freeware for Microsoft Windows. It was remade for the Xbox 360 in 2012, with ports of the new version following for various ...

'' *2011: ''

Desktop Dungeons ''Desktop Dungeons'' is a single-player video game, single-player roguelike-like puzzle video game developed and published by QCF Design. Released in November 2013, the game underwent a lengthy public beta phase, during which it was available to c ...

'' *2010: ''

'' *2009: ''Musaic Box'' *2008: ''

World of Goo ''World of Goo'' is a physics-based puzzle video game developed and published by independent game developer 2D Boy. The game was released on Microsoft Windows and Wii on October 13, 2008, with releases on Nintendo Switch, Mac OS X, Linux, and ...

'' *2007: '' Everyday Shooter'' *2006: ''

Braid A braid (also referred to as a plait; ) is a complex structure or pattern formed by interlacing three or more strands of flexible material such as textile yarns, wire, or hair. The simplest and most common version is a flat, solid, three-strand ...

'' *2005: (Open Category) ''

'' and (Web/Downloadable) '' Wik and the Fable of Souls'' *2004: (Open Category) ''Bontãgo'' and (Web/Downloadable) ''

'' *2002: ''

Insaniquarium ''Insaniquarium'' is a 2001 virtual pets simulator video game, developed by George Fan, Flying Bear Entertainment and published by PopCap Games and MumboJumbo. Before PopCap Games's involvement, the game was a web-based Java (programming langu ...

'' *2001: ''

'' *2000: ''

'' *1999: ''Resurrection''

Excellence in Narrative

*2025: ''

Caves of Qud ''Caves of Qud'' is a roguelike role-playing video game developed by American studio Freehold Games set in an open world that is partially pre-made and partially randomly generated. The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic science fantasy setti ...

'' *2024: ''

Mediterranea Inferno ''Mediterranea Inferno'' is a 2023 video game created by independent developer Eyeguys and published by Santa Ragione. The game received generally positive reviews from critics, and won the Excellence in Narrative award at the 2024 Independent Ga ...

'' *2023: ''

Immortality Immortality is the concept of eternal life. Some species possess "biological immortality" due to an apparent lack of the Hayflick limit. From at least the time of the Ancient Mesopotamian religion, ancient Mesopotamians, there has been a con ...

'' *2022: ''

'' *2021: ''

'' *2020: ''

Heaven's Vault ''Heaven's Vault'' is an archaeological science-fiction adventure game released by Inkle for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 on April 16, 2019, and for Nintendo Switch on January 28, 2021. Gameplay In ''Heaven's Vault'', the player takes the ...

'' *2019: ''

'' *2018: ''

'' *2017: ''

Ladykiller in a Bind ''My Twin Brother Made Me Crossdress as Him and Now I Have to Deal with a Geeky Stalker and a Domme Beauty Who Want Me in a Bind!!'', or ''Ladykiller in a Bind'', is a 2016 erotic visual novel by Love Conquers All Games, with writing and programm ...

'' *2016: '' Her Story'' *2015: '' 80 Days'' *2014: ''

'' *2013: ''

Audience Award ($3,000)

*2025: ''

The WereCleaner ''The WereCleaner'' is a 2024 freeware video game. It was developed by Howlin' Hugs and published by USC Games for Windows, iOS, and Android. Gameplay In ''The WereCleaner'', the player controls Kyle, an ordinary janitor who is secretly a were ...

'' *2024: '' RAM: Random Access Mayhem'' *2023: '' Potionomics'' *2022: ''

Mini Motorways ''Mini Motorways'' is a puzzle strategy game released by New Zealand studio Dinosaur Polo Club. It is a follow-up to their 2015 video game '' Mini Metro''. The game tasks the player with creating a network of roads to connect coloured houses ...

'' *2020: ''

'' *2019: ''

Ethereal Ethereal may refer to: * Ethereal (horse), a horse that won Australia's Caulfield Cup as well as Melbourne Cup in 2001 * Ethereal (musician), American rapper and record producer * Ethereal wave, or simply ethereal, a subgenre of dark wave music * W ...

'' *2018: ''

Celeste Celeste may refer to: Geography * Mount Celeste, unofficial name of a mountain on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada * Celeste, Texas, a rural city in North Texas ** Celeste High School, public high school located in the city of Celes ...

'' *2017: ''

'' *2016: ''

Undertale ''Undertale'' is a 2015 role-playing video game created by American indie developer Toby Fox. The player controls a child who has fallen into the Underground: a large, secluded region under the surface of the Earth, separated by a magical b ...

'' *2015: ''

This War of Mine ''This War of Mine'' is a war survival video game developed and published by the Polish game development company 11 Bit Studios. The game, inspired by the siege of Sarajevo among other conflicts, differs from most war-themed video games by fo ...

'' *2014: ''

The Stanley Parable ''The Stanley Parable'' is a 2013 story-based video game designed and written by developers Davey Wreden and William Pugh (game designer), William Pugh. The game carries themes such as choice in video games, the relationship between a game cre ...

'' *2013: '' FTL: Faster Than Light'' *2012: ''

Frozen Synapse ''Frozen Synapse'' is a turn-based tactics video game developed by independent game developer Mode 7 Games, in which players plan their moves at their leisure and turns are resolved simultaneously. Players attempt to win by giving orders to a ...

'' *2011: ''

'' *2010: ''

Heroes of Newerth ''Heroes of Newerth'' (''HoN'') was a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game originally developed by S2 Games for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. The game idea was derived from the '' Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne'' custom ...

'' *2009: ''

Cortex Command ''Cortex Command'' is a two-dimensional side-scrolling action game developed by Swedish studio Data Realms since 2001. Gameplay The player takes the role of a stationary or mobile "brain", which can take control of other purchased units in or ...

'' *2008: ''

'' *2007: ''

'' *2006: ''

Dofus ''Dofus'' is a tactical turn-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by Ankama Games, a French video game manufacturer. Originally released only in French, it has since been translated into many ot ...

'' *2005: (Open Category) ''

'' and (Web/Downloadable) '' N'' *2004: (Open Category) '' Savage: The Battle for Newerth'' and (Web/Downloadable) '' Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates'' *2003: ''Pontifex II'' *2002: ''

Kung-Fu Chess Kung-Fu Chess is a chess variant that removes the concept of turns and allows multiple pieces to move simultaneously. It was created by Shizmoo Games as a "real-time" in the early 2000s and remained on the company's website until the website shu ...

'' *2001: ''

'' *2000: '' The Rift (Far Gate)'' *1999: '' Fire and Darkness''

alt.ctrl.GDC Award ($3,000)

For games that feature unusual controls or user interactions. *2025: ''ChromaCorp'' *2024: ''Chú Mó'' *2020: None. Due to the cancellation of the physical GDC conference as a result of the

coronavirus outbreak The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, this award wasn't given in 2020; the other IGF awards were given in a virtual presentation. *2019: ''Hot Swap'' *2018: ''Puppet Pandemonium'' *2017: ''Fear Sphere''

Sponsor Awards

*2019 ID@Xbox Gaming Heroes Award: Jerry Lawson *2018 ID@Xbox Award: SpecialEffect *2016

ID@Xbox ID@Xbox (Independent Developers @ Xbox) is a program by Microsoft allowing independent video game developers to self-publish titles for Windows, and the Xbox One and Xbox Series X and Series S home video game consoles. Overview ID@Xbox was ann ...

Rising Star Award: Girls Make Games — ''The Hole Story'' *2012

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company, technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975, the company became influential in the History of personal computers#The ear ...

Xbox Live Arcade Xbox Live Arcade (or XBLA) was a video game Digital distribution in video games, digital distribution service that was available for the Xbox (console), Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles. It focused on smaller downloadable games from both major publisher ...

Award: '' Super T.I.M.E. Force'' *2011

Direct2Drive Direct2Drive (commonly D2D) is an online game store offering PC games via Digital distribution, direct download. History Launched in 2004, IGN reported "exponential growth in sales" since that time. It offered over 3,000 titles through relat ...

Vision Award: '' Amnesia: The Dark Descent'' *2010

Vision Award: '' Max and the Magic Marker'' *2009

Vision Award: ''

Osmos ''Osmos'' is a 2009 puzzle video game developed by Canadian developer Hemisphere Games for various systems such as Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, OnLive, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Android. It was designed by Eddy Boxerman, founder of H ...

'' *2008 Gleemie Awards (1x $5,000, 1x $3,000, 1x $2,000): ''

Desktop Tower Defense ''Desktop Tower Defense'' is a Flash-based tower defense browser game created by Paul Preece in March 2007. The game had been played over 15.7 million times as of July 2007, and was one of Webware 100's top ten entertainment web applications of 2 ...

'', ''

Skyrates ''Skyrates'' is a discontinued browser based massively multiplayer online game with a focus on sporadic play in a persistent world. It was in open beta. The development team was initially composed of students from the Entertainment Technology Cent ...

'', ''Quadradius'' *2007

GameTap GameTap was an online video game service established by Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) in 2006. It provided users with video games and game-related video content. The service was acquired by French online video game service Metaboli in 2008 as ...

Awards (1x $10,000, 2 x $5,000): '' Everyday Shooter'', ''Blast Miner'', ''

Roboblitz ''RoboBlitz'' is an indie puzzle action video game for Microsoft Windows through Steam and the Xbox 360 through Xbox Live Arcade. The game was developed by Naked Sky Entertainment and released on November 6, 2006. It was the first Unreal Engine 3 ...

'' *2006 Adultswim.com Award ($5,000): ''Dodge That Anvil'' *2005

Cartoon Network Cartoon Network (CN) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the Cartoon Network, Inc., a sub-division of the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks division of Warner Bros. Discovery. It launched on ...

"Project Goldmaster" Award (making a game for Cartoon Network): ''Digital Builders'' *2004

AOL AOL (formerly a company known as AOL Inc. and originally known as America Online) is an American web portal and online service provider based in New York City, and a brand marketed by Yahoo! Inc. The service traces its history to an online ...

/Cartoon Network "Project Goldmaster" Award (making a game for Cartoon Network): ''Flashbang Studios''

Retired awards

Technical Excellence ($3,000)

This award was retired starting from the 2014 competition onward. *2013: ''

Little Inferno ''Little Inferno'' is a puzzle video game developed and published by American independent game developer Tomorrow Corporation. The game was released for the Wii U in November 2012 in North America, Europe and Australasia. Microsoft Windows, iOS ...

'' *2012: '' Antichamber'' *2011: '' Amnesia: The Dark Descent'' *2010: ''

'' *2009: ''

'' *2008: ''

'' *2007: '' Bang! Howdy'' *2006: ''

'' *2005: (Open Category) ''

'' and (Web/Downloadable) '' RocketBowl'' *2004: (Open Category) '' Savage: The Battle for Newerth'' and (Web/Downloadable) '' Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates'' *2003: ''Reiner Knizia's Samurai'' *2002: ''Ace Of Angels'' *2001: ''

'' *2000: ''

'' *1999: ''

Best Mobile Game ($3,000)

*2012: '' Beat Sneak Bandit'' *2011: ''

Helsing's Fire ''Helsing's Fire'' is a 2010 puzzle video game developed by Ratloop and published by Clickgamer.com. The protagonist, monster hunter Van Helsing, and his assistant Raffton battle Dracula and his minions by revealing monsters using a torch and defe ...

Best Web Browser Game (2006-2008)

*2008:
Iron Dukes
($2,500)'' *2007: ''

Samorost 2 ''Samorost 2'' is a puzzle point-and-click adventure game developed by Amanita Design. Released for Windows, OS X and Linux on 8 December 2005, the game is the second video game title in the ''Samorost'' series and the sequel to '' Samorost''. ...

($2,500)'' *2006:
Dad 'N Me
($2,500)'' * This category replaced the separate prizes for Web/Downloadable games awarded in 2004 & 2005.

IGF Mod Competition (2006–2007)

2007 Mod Awards

:Best Mod ($5,000 overall): ''Weekday Warrior'' (''Half-Life 2'') :Best Singleplayer FPS Mod ($500): ''Weekday Warrior'' (''Half-Life 2'') :Best Multiplayer FPS Mod ($500): '' Eternal Silence'' (''Half-Life 2'') :Best RPG Mod ($500): ''

Darkness over Daggerford ''Darkness over Daggerford'' is a expansion pack, premium module for BioWare's ''Neverwinter Nights (2002 video game), Neverwinter Nights'' role-playing video game. It was released for digital distribution on August 16, 2006. Considered a user-mad ...

'' (''Neverwinter Nights'') :Best 'Other' Mod ($500): ''Spawns Of Deflebub'' (''Unreal Tournament 2004'')

2006 Mod Awards

:Best Mod – ''Doom 3'' ($2,500): '' Last Man Standing Coop'' :Best Mod – ''Half-Life 2'' ($2,500): ''

Dystopia A dystopia (lit. "bad place") is an imagined world or society in which people lead wretched, dehumanized, fearful lives. It is an imagined place (possibly state) in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmen ...

'' :Best Mod – ''Neverwinter Nights'' ($2,500): ''Rose Of Eternity: Chapter 1'' :Best Mod – ''Unreal Tournament 2004'' ($2,500): ''Path Of Vengeance''

IGF Student Showcase Winner

*2025: ''Slot Waste'' *2024: ''Once Upon a Jester'' *2023: ''Slider'' *2022: ''Live Adventure'' *2021: ''Vessels'' *2020: ''Bore Dome'' *2019: ''After Hours'' *2018: ''

Baba Is You ''Baba Is You'' is a puzzle video game created by Arvi Teikari (known professionally as Hempuli), a Finnish independent developer. The game centers around the manipulation of "rules"—represented in the play area by movable tiles with words w ...

'' *2017: ''

Un pas fragile The United Nations (UN) is the global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among sta ...

'' *2016: '' Beglitched'' *2015: '' Close Your'' *2014: ''

Risk of Rain ''Risk of Rain'' is a 2013 roguelike platform game developed by Hopoo Games. Initially made by a two-student team from the University of Washington using the GameMaker engine. The game was funded through Kickstarter before being released on Mic ...

'' *2013: ''

Zineth ''Zineth'' is a 3D skating freeware video game by independent developer Arcane Kids released for Microsoft Windows and Mac in 2012. Gameplay ''Zineth'' takes place in a dystopian future in which the entire world has been "absorbed by a mobile g ...

'' *2012: ''Way'' *2011: ''Fract'' ''

Octodad ''Octodad'' is a freeware independent video game developed by a group of students at DePaul University, many of whom would go on to form Young Horses, Young Horses, Inc., the developers of its sequel ''Octodad: Dadliest Catch''. The game was de ...

'' *2010: ''Continuity'' ''Dreamside Maroon'' ''Gear'' ''Igneous'' *2009: '' Tag: The Power of Paint'' *2008: '' Synaesthete'' *2007: ''Toblo'' *2006: ''Ballistic'' ''

Cloud In meteorology, a cloud is an aerosol consisting of a visible mass of miniature liquid droplets, frozen crystals, or other particles, suspended in the atmosphere of a planetary body or similar space. Water or various other chemicals may ...

'' ''Colormental'' ''

Narbacular Drop ''Narbacular Drop'' is a 2005 Puzzle video game, puzzle-platform game developed by Nuclear Monkey Software. It was the senior game project of students attending DigiPen Institute of Technology. The gameplay consists of navigating a dungeon using ...

'' ''Ocular Ink'' ''Orblitz'' ''Palette'' ''Sea of Chaos'' ''Goliath'' ''NERO'' *2005: '' Dyadin'' ''Intergalactic Shopping Maniacs'' ''Mutton Mayhem'' ''Rock Station'' ''Scavenger Hunt'' ''Soccer Ref'' ''Squirrel Squabble'' ''Stars and Stripes'' ''Team Robot'' ''War, Siege & Conquest: Battle for Gaia'' *2004: ''Dark Archon 2'' ''Fatal Traction'' ''Growbot'' ''Hexvex'' ''Hyperbol'' ''Ice Wars'' ''Kube Kombat'' ''

Scrapped Scrap consists of recyclable Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. This concept often includes the recovery of energy from waste materials. The recyclability of a material depends on i ...

'' ''Treefort Wars'' ''Xazzon''

References

External links

* {{oweb, http://www.igf.com/
IGF's complete listing of finalists and winners (most recent year)
Festivals established in 1999 Indie game festivals Informa brands

Competition Structure

IGF Competition award history

(Main) IGF Competition

Seumas McNally Grand Prize ($30,000)

Nuovo (Innovation) Award ($5,000)

Excellence In Visual Art ($3,000)

Excellence In Audio ($3,000)

Excellence in Design ($3,000)

Excellence in Narrative

Audience Award ($3,000)

alt.ctrl.GDC Award ($3,000)

Sponsor Awards

Retired awards

Technical Excellence ($3,000)

Best Mobile Game ($3,000)

Best Web Browser Game (2006-2008)

IGF Mod Competition (2006–2007)

2007 Mod Awards

2006 Mod Awards

IGF Student Showcase Winner

See also

References

External links