With awards shows turning more and more into game trailer showcases, it’s refreshing to see an awards show that’s all about the awards. Organised by Six One Indie, hosts of the zero-barriers Six One Indie Showcase, the Indie Game Awards is an annual awards-only ceremony dedicated to honoring excellence in indie gaming.
The IGAs were livestreamed on December 19th, awarding categories in innovation, storytelling, artistry, and more. Its developer-focused approach had game creators taking center stage to present awards, recognise their peers, and highlight developers and games that are often overlooked by the wider games industry.
The awards show also introduced a new category, the Storyteller Award, which was awarded to the late Mohammad Fahmi, the creator of What Comes After, Coffee Talk, and Afterlove EP. Henceforth, the category will also be named the Mohammad Fahmi Storyteller Award. The award was received on behalf of Fahmi by the Toge Productions and Pikselnesia teams, as well as his parents.
Check out the full list of nominees and winners at The Indie Game Awards 2024 below.
Best Debut Game
- Arranger, Furniture & Mattress LLC
- Lil’ Guardsman, Hilltop Games
- Little Kitty, Big City, Double Dagger Studio – WINNER
- Loddlenaut, Moon Lagoon
- MULLET MADJACK, HAMMER95
- Worldless, Noname Studios
Notable Achievement In Accessibility
- Another Crab’s Treasure, Aggro Crab – WINNER
- 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
Best Music
- Core Keeper, Pugstorm
- Flock, Hollow Ponds
- Pacific Drive, Ironwood Studios – WINNER
- The Cub, Demagog Studio
- Thrasher, Puddle Studio
- Wild Bastards, Blue Manchu
Best Visual Design
- Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus, Squid Shock Studios
- Crow Country, SFB Games
- Harold Halibut, Slow Bros. – WINNER
- Hauntii, Moonloop Games
- The Plucky Squire, All Possible Futures
- Ultros, Hadoque
Best Bite-Sized Games
- 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 – WINNER
Best Innovation
- Cryptmaster, Paul Hart, Lee Williams, & Akupara Games – WINNER
- KarmaZoo, Pastagames
- Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Simogo
- ODDADA, Sven Ahlgrimm, Mathilde Hoffman, & Bastian Clausdorff
- Rusty’s Retirement, Mister Morris Games
- UFO 50, Mossmouth
Best Emotional Impact
- In Stars and Time, insertdisc5
- Kind Words 2, Popcannibal
- Neva, Nomada Studio – WINNER
- Selfloss, Goodwin Games
- Thirsty Suitors, Outerloop Games
- Until Then, Polychroma Games
Best Gameplay Design
- Balatro, LocalThunk – WINNER
- Grunn, Sokpop Collective
- Minishoot Adventures, SoulGame Studio
- Nine Sols, RedCandleGames
- Tiny Glade, Pounce Light
- Victory Heat Rally, Skydevilpalm
Best Community Management
Best Narrative
- 1000xRESIST, sunset visitor 斜陽過客 – WINNER
- ARCO, Arco Team
- Caravan SandWitch, Studio Plane Toast
- Fear The Spotlight, Cozy Game Pals
- Last Time I Saw You, Maboroshi Artworks
- Mouthwashing, Wrong Organ
Best Storyteller
- Mohammad Fahmi
Best Women-Led Game
- Gourdlets, AuntyGames
- Keylocker, Moonana
- Love, Ghostie, Janbeh Games
- Mexico, 1921. A Deep Slumber, Macula Interactive – WINNER
- Nightmare Kart, LWMedia
- The Crimson Diamond, Julia Minamata
Best Solo Development
- Aerial_Knight’s We Never Yield, Aerial_Knight
- Animal Well, Billy Basso – WINNER
- Children of the Sun, René Rother
- Crypt Custodian, Kyle Thompson
- Knuckle Sandwich, Andy Brophy
- Magical Delicacy, Skaule
Best Industry Impact
- Day of the Devs
- Strange Scaffold
- New Blood
- Outersloth
Game of the Year
- 1000xRESIST, sunset visitor 斜陽過客
- Animal Well, Billy Basso
- ARCO, Arco Team
- Balatro, LocalThunk – WINNER
- Crypt Custodian, Kyle Thompson
- Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Simogo
- Mouthwashing, Wrong Organ
- Neva, Nomada Studio
- Nine Sols, RedCandleGames
- UFO 50, Mossmouth
