The 28th annual Independent Game Festival (IGF) Awards have officially been celebrated, with an array of excellent, well-deserving video games being awarded across multiple arts-focused categories.
The IGF Awards are unusual in the global gaming space, as they focus on the creation and beauty of games with deep impact. Categories chart disciplines like narrative, audio, design and visual arts, with each nominee and winner considered against complex artistic criteria.
The grand prizes for the awards show, the Nuovo Award and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize, tend to go to games with unique perspectives on the world, that present new innovations in the gaming space, as well as meaningful, artful experiences.
If you’re looking for a game that will change you, then you’ll find many in this list.
IGF Awards 2026 roundup – quick links
IGF Awards 2026: finalists and winners
Best Student Game
- BubbleBeast DigiDungeon (EchoLane)
- Kiloton (Jack Morehart)
- Poco (Whalefall, Micah Boursier) – [WINNER]
- Prší (Herdek)
- Sip Fisher (Syphon Software)
- SPRKLS.exe (PesiiDom)
Honorable Mentions: Myth of Lumi (Luminara Games, USC Games), Candellum (ISART Digital), Summit Drive (Luke Kim), Grindset T.V. (Michael Overton Brown)
Excellence in Audio
- Baby Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital) – [WINNER]
- Ball x Pit (Kenny Sun & Friends, Devolver Digital)
- Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robot, Panic)
- Eclipsium (Housefire, CRITICAL REFLEX)
- Morsels (Furcula, Annapurna Interactive)
- Wheel World (Messhof, Annapurna Interactive)
Honorable Mentions: The Drifter (Powerhoof), Angeline Era (Analgesic Productions), Skate Story (by Sam Eng, Devolver Digital), Demonschool (Necrosoft Games, Ysbryd Games), Skin Deep (Blendo Games, Annapurna Interactive)
Excellence in Design
- Angeline Era (Analgesic Productions)
- Baby Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital)
- Öoo (NamaTakahashi, tiny cactus, NamaTakahashi)
- Skin Deep (Blendo Games, Annapurna Interactive)
- Titanium Court (AP Thomson, Fellow Traveler) – [WINNER]
- Time Flies (Playables, Time Flies)
Honorable Mentions: Strange Jigsaws (FLEB), Below The Crown (Misfits Attic, Shochiku), Is This Seat Taken? (Poti Poti Studio, Wholesome Games Presents), Henry Halfhead (Lululu Entertainment, popagenda), Type Help (William Rous)
Excellence in Narrative
- Baby Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital)
- Perfect Tides: Station to Station (Three Bees) – [WINNER]
- Promise Mascot Agency (Kaizen Game Works)
- Titanium Court (AP Thomson, Fellow Traveler)
- Type Help (William Rous)
- Wednesdays (The Pixel Hunt, ARTE France)
Honorable Mentions: Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robot, Panic), HORSES (Andrea Lucco Borlera, Santa Ragione), The Roottrees Are Dead (Evil Trout Inc.), Sorry We’re Closed (à la mode games, Akupara Games)
Excellence in Visual Arts
- Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robot, Panic)
- CARIMARA: Beneath the forlorn limbs (Bastinus Rex, CRITICAL REFLEX)
- Eclipsium (Housefire, CRITICAL REFLEX) – [WINNER]
- Loco Motive (Robust Games, Chucklefish)
- Morsels (Furcula, Annapurna Interactive)
- Skate Story (Sam Eng, Devolver Digital)
Honorable Mentions: Sol Cesto (Antoine Druaux, Géraud Zucchini, Chariospirale, Goblinz Publishing), Is This Seat Taken? (Poti Poti Studio, Wholesome Games Presents), The Drifter (Powerhoof), Demonschool (Necrosoft Games, Ysbryd Games), Henry Halfhead (Lululu Entertainment, popagenda), PBJ – The Musical (kamibox)
Nuovo Award
- Baby Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital)
- Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robot, Panic)
- HORSES (Andrea Lucco Borlera, Santa Ragione) – [WINNER]
- Mini Mini Golf Golf (Three More Years)
- Plum Road Tea Dream (Reveal Game Studio)
- Titanium Court (AP Thomson, Fellow Traveler))
- kevin’s PLAYING in berlin (Kevin Du
- Wednesdays (The Pixel Hunt, ARTE France)
Honorable Mentions: The End of Gameplay (droqen), No Players Online (Beeswax Games, Black Lantern Collective), The House Dreams Along With Them (Jeffrey Nordin), Type Help (William Rous), _ΩMEGA_POINT (cathroon), Dreamcore (Montraluz, Tlön Industries), Threshold (Julien Eveillé, Critical Reflex)
Seumas McNally Grand Prize
- Baby Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital)
- Angeline Era (Melos Han-Tani, Marina Kittaka, Analgesic Productions, Analgesic Productions)
- Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robot, Panic)
- HORSES (Andrea Lucco Borlera, Santa Ragione)
- Titanium Court (AP Thomson) – [WINNER]
- Perfect Tides: Station to Station (Three Bees, Three Bees)
Honorable Mentions: Eclipsium (Housefire, Critical Reflex), Time Flies (Playables, Time Flies), Skate Story (by Sam Eng, Devolver Digital), Skin Deep (Blendo Games, Annapurna Interactive), Ball X Pit (Kenny Sun & Friends, Devolver Digital), Demonschool (Necrosoft Games, Ysbryd Games), The Drifter (Powerhoof)
WINGS Award
- Ambrosia Sky (Soft Rains)
- Backpack Battles (PlayWithFurcifer, IndieArk)
- The Wandering Village (Stray Fawn Studio, Stray Fawn Publishing, Whisper Games)
- Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall (Brave at Night)
- 13Z: The Zodiac Trials (Mixed Realms Pte Ltd) – [WINNER]
alt.ctrl.GDC Award
ProyectoEXO (Todo Normal)
Audience Award
Wednesdays (Pierre Corbinais, The Pixel Hunt, exaheva, Christophe Galati, ARTE France)
