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 Informa after UBM's acquisition.[3]
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)
Ceremonies
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]
- 2021: Blaseball[15]
- 2020: The Space Between[16]
- 2019: Black Room[17]
- 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
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]
- 2020: Knights and Bikes[16]
- 2019: Mirror Drop[17]
- 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 (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]
- 2020: Mutazione[16]
- 2019: Paratopic[17]
- 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 (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]
- 2020: Patrick's Parabox[16]
- 2019: Opus Magnum[17]
- 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 (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]
- 2020: Heaven's Vault[16]
- 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
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]
- 2019: Ethereal[17]
- 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
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]
- 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
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]
Sponsor Awards (2004-2019)
- 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, 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
Former competitions
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.
- 2008: Iron Dukes
- 2007: Samorost 2
- 2006: Dad 'N Me
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
External links
References
- Maggie Shiels. Indie game awards showcase future Technology Reporter, BBC News, San Francisco, BBC, 2009-03-26, retrieved 28 October 2021^
- "About the IGF", www.IGF.com.^
- Matthew Garrahan. Informa to buy exhibitions rival UBM for £4bn Financial Times, 16 January 2018, retrieved 1 June 2018^
- IGF Competition Rules igf.com, retrieved 2026-03-14^
- IGF Competition Rules Independent Games Festival, 12 September 2016, retrieved January 3, 2018^
- Marina Díez To Host 2023 IGF Awards At GDC January 11, 2023^
- Trinidad (Hermida) Black to Host the 2024 IGF Awards gdconf.com, retrieved 2026-01-10^
- Emma Kidwell Is Your Host for the 2025 IGF Awards gdconf.com, retrieved 2026-01-10^
- Karrie Shao and Sam Maggs Are Your 2026 IGF Awards and GDCA Hosts gdconf.com, retrieved 2026-03-06^
- Titanium Court honoured with grand prize at IGF awards Game Developer, retrieved 2026-03-14^
- Beth Elderkin. 'Consume Me' Wins Grand Prize, Nuovo Award at the 2025 IGF Awards 19 March 2025, retrieved 26 March 2025^
- Beth Elderkin. Venba wins Grand Prize at the 2024 Independent Games Festival Awards Game Developer, retrieved 21 March 2024^
- Edmond Tran. IGF Awards 2023: Full list of winners and finalists – GamesHub www.gameshub.com, March 23, 2023, retrieved 23 July 2023^
- Marie Dealessandri. Inscryption wins big at GDC and IGF Awards GamesIndustry.biz, March 24, 2022, retrieved March 24, 2022^
- Umurangi Generation leads the way at the 23rd annual Independent Games Festival Awards Gamasutra, July 21, 2021, retrieved July 21, 2021^
- A Short Hike wins Grand Prize at the 2020 Independent Games Festival! Gamasutra, March 18, 2020, retrieved March 18, 2020^
- Return of the Obra Dinn takes Grand Prize at the 21st IGF Awards! Gamasutra, March 20, 2019, retrieved March 20, 2019^
- Stephanie Chan. Night in the Woods wins the grand prize at the Independent Games Festival Venture Beat, March 21, 2018, retrieved March 21, 2018^
- Game Developers Conference 2020 announces virtual awards and talk schedule Gamasutra, March 10, 2020, retrieved March 10, 2020^
- Independent Games Festival Mobile retrieved 11 June 2022^