In a livestream Tuesday, the inaugural Indie Game Awards — a new awards show focused on “creativity, innovation, and passion” in the independent games space — announced its 2024 nominees for a slate of awards including Debut Game, Bite-Sized Game, Solo Development, and of course, Game of the Year.
The Indie Game Awards announces its nominees for Game of the Year 2024
Yes, Balatro’s on the list
Zoë Hannah is the games editor at Polygon, where she covers mobile games, Zelda, and indie games. She has about a decade of experience in journalism.
The show is presented by collective Six One Indie, which also puts on the Six One Indie Showcase that highlights upcoming indie games. According to the website, The Indie Game Awards nominees are selected by a “panel of indie-focused games industry professionals and media outlets,” though it says open submissions will be available for the second installment of the show in 2025. The winners are selected by “a diverse jury of judges” that includes influencers and experts, as well as journalists and industry pros.
Naturally, indie games feature in The Indie Game Awards nominations, many of which address titles some felt were missing from The Game Awards nominations that were announced Monday.
Here are all of the 2024 nominees for The Indie Game Awards, which take place on Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. EST.
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
Bite-Sized Game
- Buckshot Roulette
- Clickholding
- Duck Detective: The Secret Salami
- Minami Lane
- Please Touch the Artwork 2
- Thank Goodness You’re Here
Narrative
- 1000xResist
- Arco
- Caravan Sandwitch
- Fear the Spotlight
- Last Time I Saw You
- Mouthwashing
Solo Development
- Aerial_Knight’s We Never Yield
- Animal Well
- Children of the Sun
- Crypt Custodian
- Knuckle Sandwich
- Magical Delicacy
Emotional Impact
- In Stars and Time
- Kind Words 2
- Neva
- Selfloss
- Thirsty Suitors
- Until Then
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
Innovation
- Cryptmaster
- Karmazoo
- Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
- Oddada
- Rusty’s Retirement
- UFO 50
Gameplay Design
- Balatro
- Grunn
- Minishoot Adventures
- Nine Sols
- Tiny Glade
- Victory Heat Rally
Women-Led Game
- Gourdlets
- Keylocker
- Love, Ghostie
- Mexico, 1921. A Deep Slumber
- Nightmare Kart
- The Crimson Diamond
Notable Achievement in Accessibility
- Another Crab’s Treasure
- Elsie
- Periphery Synthetic
- Pine Hearts
- Steamworld Heist 2
- Surmount: A Mountain Climbing Adventure
Community Management
- Aggro Crab
- Black Tabby Games
- LocalThunk
- Massive Monster
- NPC Studio
- Pounce Light
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