If there’s one positive thing in recent years that’s been a real mark on the world of games, it’s in how many people are playing fewer and fewer big-budgeted blockbusters, and instead getting their video gaming kicks from independently produced and published games.
As has been the case for ages, it’s in independent games where you’ll find the games willing to break new ground, be more creative and push a few boundaries. And indie games have their own awards and accolades, because smaller developers like pats on the back (and recognition of their hard work!) too. The finalists for this year’s Independent Games Festival haven been announced, and as has become usual, the awards themselves will be handed out during GDC 2016 which takes place in San Francisco from March 14-18.
The game that’s garnered the most nominations is the only one in the list I’ve played, Her Story – An unusual FMV game that’s probably the most superb Detective game I’ve played. I do, however, have plans to tackle UNDERTALE (which I’m told is wonderful) very, very soon.
Here’s the list of nominees:
Seumas McNally Grand Prize
- Darkest Dungeon
- Her Story
- Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
- Mini Metro
- SUPERHOT
- UNDERTALE
Excellence in Visual Art
- Armello
- Darkest Dungeon
- GNOG
- Mini Metro
- OXENFREE
- PANORAMICAL
Excellence in Design
- Her Story
- Infinifactory
- Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
- Kingdom
- Mini Metro
- SUPERHOT
Excellence in Audio
- Darkest Dungeon
- Lumini
- Mini Metro
- PANORAMICAL
- That Dragon, Cancer
- UNDERTALE
Excellence in Narrative
- Black Closet
- Her Story
- That Dragon, Cancer
- The Beginner’s Guide
- The Magic Circle
- UNDERTALE
Nuovo Award
- Cibele
- Fantastic Contraption
- Her Story
- Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
- orchids to dusk
- PANORAMICAL
- Progress
- The Beginner’s Guide
Best Student Game
- Ape Out
- Beglitched
- Chambara
- Circa Infinity
- orchids to dusk
- Pitfall Planet
Past winners of the Seumas McNally Grand Prize include the likes of Crayon Physics Deluxe, Darwinia, Minecraft, Fez and Papers Please.
Last Updated: January 7, 2016
Milesh Bhana
January 7, 2016 at 09:57
i really need to grab Her Story and Undertale. People can’t stop talking about it.
Hammersteyn
January 7, 2016 at 10:11
Agreed!
Geoffrey Tim
January 7, 2016 at 10:22
Hr Story was really, really interesting. People won;t shut up about UNDERTALE so it’s next on my list of things I must play.
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 7, 2016 at 11:16
*her
I read about Her Story, and it does not seem like something I’m interested in
(still miffed that Geralt did not win…grrr)
Milesh Bhana
January 8, 2016 at 08:29
PSA: Her Story is like R60 on Steam at the moment.
lordjhb22
January 7, 2016 at 13:56
and a big notepad with a pen!
oVg
January 7, 2016 at 10:40
Just as my favourite narrative of the year from the creators of Remember Me was about to snatch the Best Narrative award at the VGAs, Her Story comes out of nowhere and side swipes Life Is Strange 🙁
2015, what a crazy year.
Milesh Bhana
January 8, 2016 at 08:28
how damn embaressing was Jade Raymond at the VGA? Calling out the Her Story actress for the award and saying “From Witcher 3”. She just got so much less attractive to me.
oVg
January 8, 2016 at 08:48
She works at EA now. The company that was able to fcuk up something as simple as Tetris.
I actually think it was a marketing tactic. It got everybody talking. The same with Miss Canada 2013 when the crown was given to the wrong person and the recent Miss World. How does one fcuk up on something so simple?
Milesh Bhana
January 8, 2016 at 09:13
i was wondering about that. Jade Raymond has been in the industry for a long time. And as you said, running a studio for EA, so even if the card/teleprompter was printed incorrectly, there’s no way she would have got it wrong, unless she did it on purpose.
oVg
January 8, 2016 at 09:52
I think she gives no fucks. She has been Jaded by the Industry. Get it? Jaded?
Bwahahahahaha Im on form today.