Independent Games Festival — BrandWiki
BrandWiki / Independent Games Festival Independent Games Festival Overview
Independent Games Festival
awarded for Outstanding independent video game developers and games presenter Game Developers Conference year 1999
The Independent Games Festival (IGF) is an annual festival at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), the largest annual gathering of independent developers in the industry. [1] Originally founded in 1998 to promote independent video game developers , and innovation in video game development by CMP Media, [2]
later known as
UBM Technology Group
, IGF is now owned by
after UBM's acquisition.
The IGF competition awards a total of approximately $28,000 in prizes to independent developers in Main Competition and Student Competition categories and held around the same time as the Game Developers Choice Awards event.
Competition Structure As of 2026, there are ten award categories: [4]
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 250-300 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 ten 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. [5]
Seumas McNally Grand Prize ($10,000) Excellence In Visual Art ($2,000) Excellence In Audio ($2,000) Excellence in Design ($2,000) Excellence in Narrative ($2,000) Nuovo Award ($2,000) Best Student Game ($2,000) Audience Award ($2,000) WINGS Awards (€2,000)
IGF competition winners Years given below indicate the year when the award was given, with the games or developers being recognized from the previous year.
Seumas McNally Grand Prize (1999-, $10,000) 2026: Titanium Court [10] 2025: Consume Me [11] 2024: Venba [12] 2023: Betrayal at Club Low [13] 2022: Inscryption [14] 2021: Umurangi Generation [15] 2020: A Short Hike [16] 2019: Return of the Obra Dinn [17] 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 Award (2009-, $2,000) Awarding innovative games:
2026: Horses [10] 2025: Consume Me [11] 2024: Anthology of the Killer [12] 2023: Betrayal at Club Low [13] 2022: Memory Card [14] Excellence In Visual Art (1999-, $2,000) 2026: Eclipsium [10] 2025: Hauntii [11] 2024: Phonopolis [12] 2023: RPG Time: The Legend of Wright [13] 2022: Papetura [14] 2021: Genesis Noir [15] Excellence In Audio (1999-, $2,000) 2026: Baby Steps [10] 2025: Despelote [11] 2024: Rhythm Doctor [12] 2023: The Forest Quartet [13] 2022: Inscryption [14] 2021: Genesis Noir [15] Excellence in Design (1999-, $2,000) 2026: Titanium Court [10] 2025: Tactical Breach Wizards [11] 2024: Cryptmaster [12] 2023: The Case of the Golden Idol [13] 2022: Inscryption [14] 2021: Teardown [15] Excellence in Narrative (2013-, $2,000) 2026: Perfect Tides: Station to Station [10] 2025: Caves of Qud [11] 2024: Mediterranea Inferno [12] 2023: Immortality [13] 2022: Inscryption [14] 2021: Umurangi Generation [15] Audience Award (1999-, $2,000) 2026: Wednesdays [10] 2025: The WereCleaner [11] 2024: RAM: Random Access Mayhem [12] 2023: Potionomics [13] 2022: Mini Motorways [14] 2020: A Short Hike [16] Best Student Game (2004-, $2,000) 2026: Poco [10] 2025: Slot Waste [11] 2024: Once Upon a Jester [12] 2023: Slider 2022: Live Adventure 2021: Vessels 2020: Bore Dome [16] 2019: After Hours [17] WINGS Award (2026-, $2,000) 2026: 13Z: The Zodiac Trials Other awards without prize money alt.ctrl.GDC Award (2017-) For games that feature unusual controls or user interactions. In 2020, due to the cancellation of the physical GDC conference as a result of the coronavirus outbreak , this award wasn't given. [19]
2026: Proyecto EXO 2025: ChromaCorp [11] 2024: Chú Mó [12] 2019: Hot Swap [17] 2018: Puppet Pandemonium 2017: Fear Sphere 2019 ID@Xbox Gaming Heroes Award: Jerry Lawson [17] 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 Technical Excellence (1999-2013, $3,000) 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 (2011-2012, $3,000) From 2007 to 2010, there was a separate event called IGF Mobile for mobile phone games. [20]
2012: Beat Sneak Bandit 2011: Helsing's Fire Best Web Browser Game (2006-2008, $2,500) This category replaced the separate prizes for Web/Downloadable games awarded in 2004 & 2005.
IGF Modding Competition (2006-2007) A separate annual video game modding competition was held in 2006 and 2007.
2007 Mod Awards ($7,000):
2006 Mod Awards ($10,000):
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) 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 See also Indiecade Independent video game development 2020: The Space Between [16] 2018: Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy [18]
2017: Oiκοςpiel, Book I
2016: Cibele
2015: Tetrageddon Games
2014: Luxuria Superbia
2013: Cart Life
2012: Storyteller
2011: Nidhogg
2010: Tuning
2009: Between 2020: Knights and Bikes [16]
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
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 2020: Patrick's Parabox [16]
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 2019: Return of the Obra Dinn [17]
2018: Night in the Woods
2017: Ladykiller in a Bind
2016: Her Story
2015: 80 Days
2014: Papers, Please
2013: Cart Life
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
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 , Quadradius
2007 GameTap Awards (1x $10,000, 2 x $5,000): Everyday Shooter , Blast Miner, Roboblitz 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 