Independent Games Festival

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 ($30,000)
• Nuovo Award ($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)

Main article: Seumas McNally Grand Prize

• 2025: * Consume Me*
• 2024: * Venba*
• 2023: Betrayal at Club Low
• 2022: Inscryption
• 2021: Umurangi Generation
• 2020: A Short Hike
• 2019: Return of the Obra Dinn
• 2018: Night in the Woods
• 2017: Quadrilateral Cowboy
• 2016: Her Story
• 2015: Outer Wilds
• 2014: Papers, Please
• 2013: Cart Life
• 2012: Fez
• 2011: Minecraft
• 2010: Monaco
• 2009: Blueberry Garden
• 2008: Crayon Physics Deluxe
• 2007: Aquaria
• 2006: Darwinia
• 2005: (Open Category) Gish and (Web/Downloadable) Wik and the Fable of Souls
• 2004: (Open Category) Savage: The Battle for Newerth and (Web/Downloadable) Oasis
• 2003: Wild Earth
• 2002: Bad Milk
• 2001: Shattered Galaxy
• 2000: Tread Marks
• 1999: Fire and Darkness

Nuovo (Innovation) Award ($5,000)

Main article: Nuovo Award

• 2025: * Consume Me*
• 2024: Anthology of the Killer
• 2023: Betrayal at Club Low
• 2022: Memory Card
• 2021: Blaseball
• 2020: The Space Between
• 2019: Black Room
• 2018: Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
• 2017: Oiκοςpiel, Book I
• 2016: Cibele
• 2015: Tetrageddon Games
• 2014: Luxuria Superbia
• 2013: Cart Life
• 2012: Storyteller
• 2011: Nidhogg
• 2010: Tuning
• 2009: Between

Excellence In Visual Art ($3,000)

• 2025: * Hauntii*
• 2024: Phonopolis
• 2023: RPG Time: The Legend of Wright
• 2022: Papetura
• 2021: Genesis Noir
• 2020: Knights and Bikes
• 2019: Mirror Drop
• 2018: Chuchel
• 2017: Hyper Light Drifter
• 2016: Oxenfree
• 2015: Metamorphabet
• 2014: Gorogoa
• 2013: Kentucky Route Zero
• 2012: Dear Esther
• 2011: BIT.TRIP RUNNER
• 2010: Limbo
• 2009: Machinarium
• 2008: Fez
• 2007: Castle Crashers
• 2006: Darwinia
• 2005: (Open Category) Alien Hominid and (Web/Downloadable) Wik and the Fable of Souls
• 2004: (Open Category) Spartan and (Web/Downloadable) Dr. Blob's Organism
• 2003: Wild Earth
• 2002: Banja Taiyo
• 2001: Hardwood Spades
• 2000: King of Dragon Pass
• 1999: Crime Cities

Excellence In Audio ($3,000)

• 2025: Despelote
• 2024: Rhythm Doctor
• 2023: The Forest Quartet
• 2022: Inscryption
• 2021: Genesis Noir
• 2020: Mutazione
• 2019: Paratopic
• 2018: Uurnog Uurnlimited
• 2017: GoNNER
• 2016: Mini Metro
• 2015: Ephemerid: A Musical Adventure
• 2014: DEVICE 6
• 2013: 140
• 2012: Botanicula
• 2011: Amnesia: The Dark Descent
• 2010: Closure
• 2009: BrainPipe
• 2008: Audiosurf
• 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
• 2002: Bad Milk
• 2001: Chase Ace 2
• 2000: Blix
• 1999: Terminus

Excellence in Design ($3,000)

• 2025: Tactical Breach Wizards
• 2024: Cryptmaster
• 2023: The Case of the Golden Idol
• 2022: Inscryption
• 2021: Teardown
• 2020: Patrick's Parabox
• 2019: Opus Magnum
• 2018: Baba is You
• 2017: Quadrilateral Cowboy
• 2016: Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
• 2015: Outer Wilds
• 2014: Papers, Please
• 2013: FTL: Faster Than Light
• 2012: Spelunky
• 2011: Desktop Dungeons
• 2010: Monaco
• 2009: Musaic Box
• 2008: World of Goo
• 2007: Everyday Shooter
• 2006: Braid
• 2005: (Open Category) Gish and (Web/Downloadable) Wik and the Fable of Souls
• 2004: (Open Category) Bontãgo and (Web/Downloadable) Oasis
• 2003: Wild Earth
• 2002: Insaniquarium
• 2001: Shattered Galaxy
• 2000: Tread Marks
• 1999: Resurrection

Excellence in Narrative

• 2025: Caves of Qud
• 2024: Mediterranea Inferno
• 2023: Immortality
• 2022: Inscryption
• 2021: Umurangi Generation
• 2020: Heaven's Vault
• 2019: Return of the Obra Dinn
• 2018: Night in the Woods
• 2017: Ladykiller in a Bind
• 2016: Her Story
• 2015: 80 Days
• 2014: Papers, Please
• 2013: Cart Life

Audience Award ($3,000)

• 2025: The WereCleaner
• 2024: RAM: Random Access Mayhem
• 2023: Potionomics
• 2022: Mini Motorways
• 2020: A Short Hike
• 2019: Ethereal
• 2018: Celeste
• 2017: Hyper Light Drifter
• 2016: Undertale
• 2015: This War of Mine
• 2014: The Stanley Parable
• 2013: FTL: Faster Than Light
• 2012: Frozen Synapse
• 2011: Minecraft
• 2010: Heroes of Newerth
• 2009: Cortex Command
• 2008: Audiosurf
• 2007: Castle Crashers
• 2006: Dofus
• 2005: (Open Category) Alien Hominid 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
• 2001: Shattered Galaxy
• 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, 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 Rising Star Award: Girls Make Games — The Hole Story
• 2012 Microsoft Xbox Live Arcade Award: Super T.I.M.E. Force
• 2011 Direct2Drive Vision Award: Amnesia: The Dark Descent
• 2010 Direct2Drive Vision Award: Max and the Magic Marker
• 2009 Direct2Drive Vision Award: Osmos
• 2008 Gleemie Awards (1x $5,000, 1x $3,000, 1x $2,000): Desktop Tower Defense, Skyrates, Quadradius
• 2007 GameTap Awards (1x $10,000, 2 x $5,000): Everyday Shooter, Blast Miner, Roboblitz
• 2006 Adultswim.com Award ($5,000): Dodge That Anvil
• 2005 Cartoon Network "Project Goldmaster" Award (making a game for Cartoon Network): Digital Builders
• 2004 AOL/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
• 2012: Antichamber
• 2011: Amnesia: The Dark Descent
• 2010: Limbo
• 2009: Cortex Command
• 2008: World of Goo
• 2007: Bang! Howdy
• 2006: Darwinia
• 2005: (Open Category) Alien Hominid 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: Shattered Galaxy
• 2000: Tread Marks
• 1999: Terminus

Best Mobile Game ($3,000)

• 2012: Beat Sneak Bandit
• 2011: Helsing's Fire

Best Web Browser Game (2006-2008)

• 2008: Iron Dukes ($2,500)
• 2007: Samorost 2 ($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 (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 :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
• 2017: Un pas fragile
• 2016: Beglitched
• 2015: Close Your
• 2014: Risk of Rain
• 2013: Zineth
• 2012: Way
• 2011: Fract *Octodad *
• 2010: Continuity Dreamside Maroon Gear Igneous
• 2009: Tag: The Power of Paint
• 2008: Synaesthete
• 2007: Toblo
• 2006: Ballistic Cloud Colormental Narbacular Drop 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 Treefort Wars Xazzon

Ceremonies

References

References

1. (2009-03-26). "Indie game awards showcase future". BBC.
2. "[http://www.igf.com/01about.html About the IGF]", www.IGF.com.
3. (16 January 2018). "Informa to buy exhibitions rival UBM for £4bn". Financial Times.
4. "Independent Games Festival Mobile".
5. (2013-01-07). "2013 Independent Games Festival announces Main Competition finalists". [[Gamasutra]].
6. (12 September 2016). "IGF Competition Rules". Independent Games Festival.
7. (19 March 2025). "'Consume Me' Wins Grand Prize, Nuovo Award at the 2025 IGF Awards".
8. "Venba wins Grand Prize at the 2024 Independent Games Festival Awards".
9. Tran, Edmond. (March 23, 2023). "IGF Awards 2023: Full list of winners and finalists – GamesHub".
10. Dealessandri, Marie. (March 24, 2022). "Inscryption wins big at GDC and IGF Awards". [[GamesIndustry.biz]].
11. (July 21, 2021). "Umurangi Generation leads the way at the 23rd annual Independent Games Festival Awards". [[Gamasutra]].
12. (March 18, 2020). "A Short Hike wins Grand Prize at the 2020 Independent Games Festival!". [[Gamasutra]].
13. (March 20, 2019). "Return of the Obra Dinn takes Grand Prize at the 21st IGF Awards!". [[Gamasutra]].
14. Chan, Stephanie. (March 21, 2018). "Night in the Woods wins the grand prize at the Independent Games Festival". [[Venture Beat]].
15. (March 10, 2020). "Game Developers Conference 2020 announces virtual awards and talk schedule". [[Gamasutra]].
16. (January 11, 2023). "Marina Díez To Host 2023 IGF Awards At GDC".
17. "Trinidad (Hermida) Black to Host the 2024 IGF Awards".
18. "Emma Kidwell Is Your Host for the 2025 IGF Awards".