Earlier this week, the Independent Games Festival announced details of the main competition finalists for the 14th annual IGF Awards. One of the most influential awarding bodies in the world for independent games, the IGF recognises the best in indie games development and encourages innovation and excellence in games design. With cash prizes ranging up to $30,000 for the Seamus McNally Grand Prize, the awards are highly sought after and regularly attract the best independent games releases for the upcoming year. WhatCulture favourites Fez and Johann Sebastian Joust feature heavily on the shortlist, with both in the running for the Grand Prize as well as receiving nominations for Technical Excellence (Fez) and the Nuovo Award for abstract, shortform, and unconventional game development (Johann Sebastian Joust). Here's a full rundown of all the finalists and honourable mentions:
Seumas McNally Grand Prize
Dear Esther (thechineseroom) Fez (Polytron) Frozen Synapse (Mode 7 Games) Johann Sebastian Joust (Die Gute Fabrik) Spelunky (Mossmouth) Honorable mentions: Antichamber (Demruth); FTL (Justin Ma & Matthew Davis); Proteus (Ed Key and David Kanaga); SpaceChem (Zachtronics Industries); Where Is My Heart (Die Gute Fabrik)
Excellence In Visual Art
Botanicula (Amanita Design) Dear Esther (thechineseroom) Lume (State Of Play Games) Mirage (Mario von Rickenbach) Wonderputt (Damp Gnat) Honorable mentions: Beat Sneak Bandit (Simogo); Dustforce (Hitbox Team); Fader (Chris Makris); Proun (Joost van Dongen); Toren (Swordtales)
Technical Excellence
Antichamber (Demruth) Fez (Polytron) Prom Wee (Expressive Intelligence Studio, UC Santa Cruz) Realm of the Mad God (Wild Shadow Studios & Spry Fox) Spelunky (Mossmouth) Honorable mentions: Frozen Synapse (Mode 7 Games); Nitronic Rush (DigiPen Institute of Technology); Reflow (Xymatic); Super T.I.M.E Force (Capy); Tiny and Big - Grandpa's Leftovers (Black Pants)
Excellence In Design
Atom Zombie Smasher (Blendo Games) English Country Tune (Stephen Lavelle) Frozen Synapse (Mode 7 Games) Gunpoint (Tom Francis, John Roberts and Fabian van Dommelen) Spelunky (Mossmouth) Honorable mentions: Faraway (Steph Thirion); FTL (Justin Ma & Matthew Davis); Johann Sebastian Joust (Die Gute Fabrik); SpaceChem (Zachtronics Industries); Where Is My Heart (Die Gute Fabrik)
Excellence In Audio
Botanicula (Amanita Design) Dear Esther (thechineseroom) Pugs Luv Beats (Lucky Frame) To The Moon (Freebird Games) Waking Mars (Tiger Style) Honorable mentions: Beatbuddy (THREAKS); Beat Sneak Bandit (Simogo); Fez (Polytron); Proteus (Ed Key and David Kanaga); Where Is My Heart (Die Gute Fabrik)
Best Mobile Game
ASYNC Corp (Powerhead Games) Beat Sneak Bandit (Simogo) Faraway (Steph Thirion) Ridiculous Fishing (Vlambeer) Waking Mars (Tiger Style) Honorable mentions: Fingle (Game Oven Studios); Hundreds (SemiSecret and aeiowu); iBlast Moki 2 (Godzilab); Temple Run (Imangi Studios); Tentacles (Press Play ApS)
Nuovo Award
Designed 'to honor abstract, shortform, and unconventional game development'. At a Distance (Terry Cavanagh) Dear Esther (thechineseroom) Fingle (Game Oven Studios) GIRP (Bennett Foddy) Proteus (Ed Key and David Kanaga) Johann Sebastian Joust (Die Gute Fabrik) Storyteller (Daniel Benmergui) Way (CoCo & Co.) Honorable mentions: Deep Sea (WRAUGHK); Four Letter Word (Terry Cavanagh); GlitchHiker (Aardbever); Hundreds (SemiSecret and aeiowu); POP (Rob Lach) All of the finalists will available to play at the Independent Games Festival in San Francisco on 5th-9th March.