Seumas McNally Grand Prize

{{Short description|Main award given at the Independent Games Festival}}

File:GDC 2016 awards 16-19 25 52-01-7D1 0130 (25731555212).jpg

The Seumas McNally Grand Prize is the main award given at the Independent Games Festival (IGF), an annual event that takes place during the Game Developers Conference, one of the largest gatherings of the indie video game industry.{{cite web|last=Dominguez|first=James|title=Locals indie game studios recognised in major industry event|url=http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/games/blogs/screenplay/locals-indie-game-studios-recognised-in-major-industry-event-20140314-34q3y.html|work=Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|accessdate=6 April 2014|date=14 March 2014}} It was first awarded as the Independent Games Festival Grand Prize to Fire and Darkness in the 1999 edition of the festival. The next year, it was awarded to Seumas McNally for his game Tread Marks; following McNally's passing from Hodgkin's lymphoma shortly after, the award was renamed in his honor in 2001.

Twenty-six video games have received the award, and more than 50 have been selected as finalists. The award is given alongside a prize of US$10,000. For the 2004 and 2005 years, it was divided into two categories, "Open Category" and "Web/Downloadable", although they were merged back into a single prize in 2006. From 2011 onwards, a list of "Honorable Mentions" was introduced, composed of games that had been considered for the prize but had not become finalists.

Gish and Seed are the only games to become finalists in multiple editions of the event. Additionally, Gish is the only finalist to win the prize in a subsequent edition of the festival. FTL: Faster Than Light was the first game to have been both an honorable mention and a finalist, achieving the former in 2012 and the latter in 2013. The Stanley Parable achieved the same feat, becoming an honorable mention in 2013 and a finalist in 2014. Games do not have to be published in order to qualify for the prize; when Fez won the award in 2012, it was still undergoing pre-release certification.{{cite web|last=de Matos|first=Xav|title=Fez wins 2012 IGF 'Seumas McNally Grand Prize'|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/fez-wins-2012-igf-seumas-mcnally-grand-prize/|work=Joystiq|publisher=AOL Inc.|accessdate=10 April 2014|date=7 March 2012}} Some developers have won the prize twice, either solo or as part of a larger team: Alec Holowka for Aquaria and Night in the Woods, and Lucas Pope for Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn.

Recipients

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" style="width:5em;" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Winner ! scope="col" \| Developer ! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:15em;" \| Finalists{{efn\|From 1999 and until 2005, a list of award-specific finalists was not given. Instead, overall finalists were revealed alongside specific award winners.}} ! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:15em;"\| Honorable mentions{{efn\|Honorable mentions were introduced in 2011.}} ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Ref.
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|1999 \| scope="row"\| Fire and Darkness \| scope="row"\| Singularity Software \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" \| Acidia Bulbous II BFRIS Zero-Gravity Fighter Combat Crime Cities EverNight Flagship: Champion Food Chain Journey Into The Brain Mind Rover Resurrection Seed Sleights Terminus V.D. \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}} \| scope="row"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/1999finalistswinners.html\|title=1999 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327123214/http://www.igf.com/1999finalistswinners.html\|archivedate=27 March 2014\|location=United States}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2000 \| scope="row"\| Tread Marks \| scope="row"\| Longbow Games \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" \| Blix Hardwood Hearts King of Dragon Pass Moonshine Runners Quaternion The Rift (Far Gate) Rogue Wars Seed \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}} \| scope="row"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/2000finalistswinners.html\|title=2000 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327130704/http://www.igf.com/2000finalistswinners.html\|archivedate=27 March 2014\|location=United States}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2001 \| scope="row"\| Shattered Galaxy \| scope="row"\| Nexon \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" \| Archmage: Stabat Mater Chase Ace 2 Hardwood Spades Hostile Space IronSquad SabreWing Strifeshadow Takeda Virtual U \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}} \| scope="row"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/2001finalistswinners.html\|title=2001 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327130722/http://www.igf.com/2001finalistswinners.html\|archivedate=27 March 2014\|location=United States}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2002 \| scope="row"\| Bad Milk \| scope="row"\| Dreaming Media \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Ace of Angels Banja Taiyo Championship Euchre The Egg Files Insaniquarium Kung-Fu Chess Pencil Whipped Static World Dance \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}} \| scope="row"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/2002finalistswinners.html\|title=2002 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327125722/http://www.igf.com/2002finalistswinners.html\|archivedate=27 March 2014\|location=United States}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2003 \| scope="row"\| Wild Earth \| scope="row"\| Super X Studios \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| BaseGolf Furcadia Mr. Bigshot Pontifex II Reiner Knizia's Samurai Strange Adventures In Infinite Space Teenage Lawnmower Terraformers Word Ninja \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}} \| scope="row"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/2003finalistswinners.html\|title=2003 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327125520/http://www.igf.com/2003finalistswinners.html\|archivedate=27 March 2014\|location=United States}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" \|2004{{efn\|name=re2004-5\|The Seumas McNally Grand Prize was split into two categories in 2004 and 2005: "Open Category" and "Web/Downloadable". A single award was given again from 2006 onwards.}} \| scope="row"\| Savage: The Battle for Newerth \| scope="row"\| S2 Games \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| acmi {{park}} Anito: Defend a Land Enraged Bontago Facade Fashion Cents Fuzzee Teevee Spartan Starshatter Take Command: 1861 The Civil War \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}} \| scope="row" rowspan="2"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/2004finalistswinners.html\|title=2004 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327123116/http://www.igf.com/2004finalistswinners.html\|archivedate=27 March 2014\|location=United States}}
scope="row"\| Oasis \| scope="row"\| Mind Control Software \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| AlphaQUEUE Beesly's Buzzwords Billiard Boxing Chomp! Chomp! Safari Dr. Blob's Organism Dungeon Scroll Gish Space Station Manager Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"\|2005{{efn\|name=re2004-5}} \| scope="row"\| Gish \| scope="row"\| Chronic Logic \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Alien Hominid Dark Horizons Lore Hyperbol Kisses Legion Arena Protöthea Steer Madness Supremacy: Four Paths To Power War! Age of Imperialism \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}} \| scope="row" rowspan="2"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/2005finalistswinners.html\|title=2005 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327122631/http://www.igf.com/2005finalistswinners.html\|archivedate=27 March 2014\|location=United States}}
scope="row"\| Wik and the Fable of Souls \| scope="row"\| Reflexive Entertainment \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Creatrix Detective Brand Golf Global Defense Network Lux N Revolved RocketBowl Star Chamber Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2006 \| scope="row"\| Darwinia \| scope="row"\| Introversion Software \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Dofus Professor Fizzwizzle Weird Worlds: Return To Infinite Space Wildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}} \| scope="row"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/2006finalistswinners.html\|title=2006 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327123939/http://www.igf.com/2006finalistswinners.html\|archivedate=27 March 2014\|location=United States}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2007 \| scope="row"\| Aquaria \| scope="row"\| Bit Blot \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Armadillo Run Bang! Howdy Everyday Shooter Roboblitz \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}} \| scope="row"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/2007finalistswinners.html\|title=2007 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327124546/http://www.igf.com/2007finalistswinners.html\|archivedate=27 March 2014\|location=United States}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2008 \| scope="row"\| Crayon Physics Deluxe \| scope="row"\| Kloonigames \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Audiosurf Hammerfall Noitu Love 2: Devolution World of Goo \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}} \| scope="row"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/2008finalistswinners.html\|title=2008 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213183803/http://www.igf.com/2008finalistswinners.html\|archivedate=13 February 2014\|location=United States}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2009 \| scope="row"\| Blueberry Garden \| scope="row"\| Erik Svedang \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| CarneyVale: Showtime Dyson Night Game Osmos \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}} \| scope="row"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/2009finalistswinners.html\|title=2009 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213200117/http://www.igf.com/2009finalistswinners.html\|archivedate=13 February 2014\|location=United States}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2010 \| scope="row"\| Monaco \| scope="row"\| Pocketwatch Games \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Joe Danger Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken Super Meat Boy Trauma \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}} \| scope="row"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/2010finalistswinners.html\|title=2010 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327122211/http://www.igf.com/2010finalistswinners.html\|archivedate=27 March 2014\|location=United States}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2011 \| scope="row"\| Minecraft \| scope="row"\| Mojang \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Amnesia: The Dark Descent Desktop Dungeons Nidhogg SpyParty \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Neptune's Pride Super Crate Box Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale Bit.Trip Runner Retro City Rampage \| scope="row"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/2011finalistswinners.html\|title=2011 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327123328/http://www.igf.com/2011finalistswinners.html\|archivedate=27 March 2014\|location=United States}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2012 \| scope="row"\| Fez \| scope="row"\| Polytron \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Dear Esther Frozen Synapse Johann Sebastian Joust Spelunky \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Antichamber FTL: Faster Than Light Proteus SpaceChem Where is my Heart? \| scope="row"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/2012finalistswinners.html\|title=2012 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327124703/http://www.igf.com/2012finalistswinners.html\|archivedate=27 March 2014\|location=United States}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2013 \| scope="row"\| Cart Life \| scope="row"\| Richard Hofmeier \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| FTL: Faster Than Light Hotline Miami Kentucky Route Zero Little Inferno \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Gone Home Starseed Pilgrim Super Hexagon The Stanley Parable Thirty Flights of Loving \| scope="row"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/2013finalistswinners.html\|title=2013 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923035906/http://www.igf.com/2013finalistswinners.html\|archivedate=23 September 2016\|location=United States\|url-status=live}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2014 \| scope="row"\| Papers, Please \| scope="row"\| Lucas Pope \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Device 6 Dominique Pamplemousse in "It's All Over Once the Fat Lady Sings!" Don't Starve Jazzpunk The Stanley Parable \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| 868-HACK Crypt of the NecroDancer Kerbal Space Program The Yawhg TowerFall Ascension \| scope="row"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.igf.com/2014finalists.html\|title=2014 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists\|work=Independent Games Festival\|publisher=UBM Tech\|accessdate=26 May 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324175746/http://www.igf.com/2014finalists.html\|archivedate=24 March 2016\|location=United States\|url-status=live}}{{cite web \| url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/213548/Papers_Please_takes_the_grand_prize_at_16th_annual_IGF_Awards.php \| title = Papers, Please takes the grand prize at 16th annual IGF Awards \| publisher = Gamasutra \| date = 19 March 2014 \| accessdate = 19 March 2014 }}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2015 \| scope="row"\| Outer Wilds \| scope="row"\| Team Outer Wilds \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| 80 Days Invisible, Inc. Metamorphabet The Talos Principle This War of Mine \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Donut County Endless Legend Killer Queen Shovel Knight The Sailor's Dream The Vanishing of Ethan Carter \| scope="row"\|
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2016 \| scope="row"\| Her Story \| scope="row"\| Sam Barlow \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Darkest Dungeon Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes Mini Metro Superhot Undertale \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Affordable Space Adventures Cibele Oxenfree Panoramical Soft Body That Dragon, Cancer The Beginner's Guide Twelve Minutes \| scope="row"\| {{cite web \|url=http://www.igf.com/02finalists.html \|title=The 17th Annual Independent Games Festival Finalists \|work=Independent Games Festival \|publisher=UBM plc \|accessdate=March 17, 2016 \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320235703/http://www.igf.com/02finalists.html \|archivedate=March 20, 2016 \|url-status=live }}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2017 \| scope="row"\| Quadrilateral Cowboy \| scope="row"\| Blendo Games \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Inside Stardew Valley Event[0] Hyper Light Drifter Overcooked \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| 1979 Revolution: Black Friday Orwell Imbroglio Virginia Duskers Oiκοςpiel, Book I \| scope="row"\| {{cite web \|url=http://www.polygon.com/2017/1/9/14214750/2017-igf-awards-nominees-inside-hyper-light-drifter-virginia-host-nina-freeman \| title = Hyper Light Drifter, Inside and Virginia among nominees for 2017 IGF Awards \| first = Charlie \| last = Hall \| date = January 9, 2017 \| accessdate = January 9, 2017 \| work = Polygon }}{{cite web \| url = http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-the-game-developers-choice-awards-right-here/1100-6448326/ \| title = Watch The Game Developers Choice Awards Right Here Tonight \| first1= Eddie \| last1 = Makuch \| first2= Jason \| last2= Imms \| date = March 1, 2017 \| accessdate = March 1, 2017 \| work = GameSpot }}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2018 \| Night in the Woods \| Infinite Fall \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy West of Loathing Into the Breach Heat Signature Baba Is You \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Tacoma Rain World Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator Cosmic Top Secret Hollow Knight Cuphead Everything is Going to Be OK \|{{cite web \| url = https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/312434/2018_Independent_Games_Festival_announces_Main_Competition_finalists.php \| title = 2018 Independent Games Festival announces Main Competition finalists! \| date = January 3, 2018 \| accessdate = January 3, 2018 \| work = Gamasutra }}{{Cite web \| url = https://venturebeat.com/2018/03/21/night-in-the-woods-wins-the-grand-prize-at-the-independent-games-festival/ \| title = Night in the Woods wins the grand prize at the Independent Games Festival \| first= Stephanie \| last = Chan \| date = March 21, 2018 \| accessdate = March 21, 2018 \| work =Venture Beat }}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2019 \| Return of the Obra Dinn \| Lucas Pope \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Minit Opus Magnum Noita Hypnospace Outlaw Do Not Feed the Monkeys \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Beat Saber Iconoclasts Mirror Drop Moss Subnautica Wandersong Virtual Virtual Reality Unavowed \|{{cite web \| url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/333684/2019_Independent_Games_Festival_reveals_this_years_finalists.php \| title = 2019 Independent Games Festival reveals this year's finalists! \| date = January 3, 2019 \| accessdate = January 3, 2019 \| work = Gamasutra }}{{cite web \| url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/339066/Return_of_the_Obra_Dinn_takes_Grand_Prize_at_the_21st_IGF_Awards.php \| title = Return of the Obra Dinn takes Grand Prize at the 21st IGF Awards! \| date = March 20, 2019 \| accessdate = March 20, 2019 \| work = Gamasutra }}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2020 \| A Short Hike \| adamgryu \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Eliza Untitled Goose Game Mutazione Slay the Spire Anodyne 2: Return to Dust \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Katana Zero Lonely Mountains: Downhill Song of Bloom Wide Ocean, Big Jacket Astrologaster Heaven's Vault \|{{cite web \| url = https://igf.com/article/here-are-your-finalists-2020-independent-games-festival-awards \| title = HERE ARE YOUR FINALISTS FOR THE 2020 INDEPENDENT GAMES FESTIVAL AWARDS! \| date = January 7, 2020 \| accessdate = January 7, 2020 \| publisher = Independent Games Festival }}{{cite web \| url = https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/359780/A_Short_Hike_wins_Grand_Prize_at_the_2020_Independent_Games_Festival.php \| title = A Short Hike wins Grand Prize at the 2020 Independent Games Festival! \| date = March 18, 2020 \| accessdate = March 18, 2020 \|work = Gamasutra }}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2021 \| Umurangi Generation \| Origame Digital \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Chicory: A Colorful Tale Genesis Noir Paradise Killer Spiritfarer Teardown \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| A Monster's Expedition (Through Puzzling Exhibitions) Blaseball Bugsnax Carto Disc Room Nuts Omori Spelunky 2 There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension \|{{cite web \| url = https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/381057/Genesis_Noir_leads_IGF_finalists_with_four_nominations.php \| title = Genesis Noir leads IGF finalists with four nominations \| date = May 7, 2021 \| accessdate = May 7, 2021 \| work = Gamasutra }}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2022 \| Inscryption \| Daniel Mullins Games \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Cruelty Squad The Eternal Cylinder Loop Hero Unpacking Unsighted \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Dodgeball Academia Fuzz Dungeon Norco Overboard Saturnalia Toem Webbed \|{{cite web \| url = https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-01-07-unpacking-inscryption-lead-2022-igf-awards-nominations \| title = Unpacking and Inscryption lead 2022 IGF Awards nominations \| first = Jeffrey \| last = Rousseau \| date = January 7, 2022 \| accessdate = January 7, 2022 \| work = GamesIndustry.biz}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2023 \| Betrayal at Club Low \| Cosmo D Studios \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| The Case of the Golden Idol Immortality Neon White Not For Broadcast Tunic \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Citizen Sleeper Hardspace: Shipbreaker Roadwarden RPG Time: The Legend of Wright Terra Nil Tinykin \|{{cite web \| url = https://www.gameshub.com/news/news/igf-awards-2023-full-list-of-winners-finalists-gdc-39247/ \| title = IGF Awards 2023: All the winners and finalists \| first = Edmond \| last = Tran \| date = March 23, 2023 \| accessdate = March 24, 2023 \| work = GamesHub}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2024 \|Venba \|Visai Games \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| 1000xRESIST A Highland Song Anthology of the Killer Cocoon Mediterranea Inferno \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Chants of Sennaar Final Profit: A Shop RPG Goodbye Volcano High In Stars and Time Rhythm Doctor Tchia The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood \|{{Cite web \|last=Panecasio \|first=Steph \|date=2024-03-21 \|title=IGF Awards 2024: All the winners and finalists \|url=https://www.gameshub.com/news/news/igf-awards-2024-all-the-winners-and-finalists-2638256/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321183025/https://www.gameshub.com/news/news/igf-awards-2024-all-the-winners-and-finalists-2638256/ \|archive-date=2024-03-21 \|access-date=2024-03-21 \|website=www.gameshub.com \|language=en-AU}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center;"\|2025 \|Consume Me \|Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, Jie En Lee, Violet W-P, Ken "coda" Snyder \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Caves of Qud Despelote Indika Thank Goodness You're Here! UFO 50 \| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"\| Animal Well Balatro Blue Prince Mouthwashing Nine Sols Tactical Breach Wizards \|{{cite web \| url = https://www.polygon.com/events/542599/gdc-awards-2025-winners-igf \| title = The GDC Awards' 2025 Game of the Year winners are in \| first = Matt \| last = Patches \| date = March 19, 2025 \| accessdate = March 20, 2025 \| work = Polygon}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" style="width:5em;" | Year

! scope="col" | Winner

! scope="col" | Developer

! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:15em;" | Finalists{{efn|From 1999 and until 2005, a list of award-specific finalists was not given. Instead, overall finalists were revealed alongside specific award winners.}}

! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:15em;"| Honorable mentions{{efn|Honorable mentions were introduced in 2011.}}

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Ref.

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1999

| scope="row"| Fire and Darkness

| scope="row"| Singularity Software

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" |

Acidia
Bulbous II
BFRIS Zero-Gravity Fighter Combat
Crime Cities
EverNight
Flagship: Champion
Food Chain
Journey Into The Brain
Mind Rover
Resurrection
Seed
Sleights
Terminus
V.D.

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}

| scope="row"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/1999finalistswinners.html|title=1999 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327123214/http://www.igf.com/1999finalistswinners.html|archivedate=27 March 2014|location=United States}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2000

| scope="row"| Tread Marks

| scope="row"| Longbow Games

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" |

Blix
Hardwood Hearts
King of Dragon Pass
Moonshine Runners
Quaternion
The Rift (Far Gate)
Rogue Wars
Seed

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}

| scope="row"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2000finalistswinners.html|title=2000 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327130704/http://www.igf.com/2000finalistswinners.html|archivedate=27 March 2014|location=United States}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2001

| scope="row"| Shattered Galaxy

| scope="row"| Nexon

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" |

Archmage: Stabat Mater
Chase Ace 2
Hardwood Spades
Hostile Space
IronSquad
SabreWing
Strifeshadow
Takeda
Virtual U

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}

| scope="row"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2001finalistswinners.html|title=2001 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327130722/http://www.igf.com/2001finalistswinners.html|archivedate=27 March 2014|location=United States}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2002

| scope="row"| Bad Milk

| scope="row"| Dreaming Media

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

Ace of Angels
Banja Taiyo
Championship Euchre
The Egg Files
Insaniquarium
Kung-Fu Chess
Pencil Whipped
Static
World Dance

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}

| scope="row"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2002finalistswinners.html|title=2002 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327125722/http://www.igf.com/2002finalistswinners.html|archivedate=27 March 2014|location=United States}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2003

| scope="row"| Wild Earth

| scope="row"| Super X Studios

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

BaseGolf
Furcadia
Mr. Bigshot
Pontifex II
Reiner Knizia's Samurai
Strange Adventures In Infinite Space
Teenage Lawnmower
Terraformers
Word Ninja

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}

| scope="row"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2003finalistswinners.html|title=2003 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327125520/http://www.igf.com/2003finalistswinners.html|archivedate=27 March 2014|location=United States}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" |2004{{efn|name=re2004-5|The Seumas McNally Grand Prize was split into two categories in 2004 and 2005: "Open Category" and "Web/Downloadable". A single award was given again from 2006 onwards.}}

| scope="row"| Savage: The Battle for Newerth

| scope="row"| S2 Games

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

acmi {{park}}
Anito: Defend a Land Enraged
Bontago
Facade
Fashion Cents
Fuzzee Teevee
Spartan
Starshatter
Take Command: 1861 The Civil War

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}

| scope="row" rowspan="2"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2004finalistswinners.html|title=2004 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327123116/http://www.igf.com/2004finalistswinners.html|archivedate=27 March 2014|location=United States}}

scope="row"| Oasis

| scope="row"| Mind Control Software

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

AlphaQUEUE
Beesly's Buzzwords
Billiard Boxing
Chomp! Chomp! Safari
Dr. Blob's Organism
Dungeon Scroll
Gish
Space Station Manager
Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|2005{{efn|name=re2004-5}}

| scope="row"| Gish

| scope="row"| Chronic Logic

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

Alien Hominid
Dark Horizons Lore
Hyperbol
Kisses
Legion Arena
Protöthea
Steer Madness
Supremacy: Four Paths To Power
War! Age of Imperialism

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}

| scope="row" rowspan="2"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2005finalistswinners.html|title=2005 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327122631/http://www.igf.com/2005finalistswinners.html|archivedate=27 March 2014|location=United States}}

scope="row"| Wik and the Fable of Souls

| scope="row"| Reflexive Entertainment

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

Creatrix
Detective Brand Golf
Global Defense Network
Lux
N
Revolved
RocketBowl
Star Chamber
Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2006

| scope="row"| Darwinia

| scope="row"| Introversion Software

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

Dofus
Professor Fizzwizzle
Weird Worlds: Return To Infinite Space
Wildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}

| scope="row"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2006finalistswinners.html|title=2006 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327123939/http://www.igf.com/2006finalistswinners.html|archivedate=27 March 2014|location=United States}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2007

| scope="row"| Aquaria

| scope="row"| Bit Blot

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}

| scope="row"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2007finalistswinners.html|title=2007 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327124546/http://www.igf.com/2007finalistswinners.html|archivedate=27 March 2014|location=United States}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2008

| scope="row"| Crayon Physics Deluxe

| scope="row"| Kloonigames

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

Audiosurf
Hammerfall
Noitu Love 2: Devolution
World of Goo

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}

| scope="row"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2008finalistswinners.html|title=2008 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213183803/http://www.igf.com/2008finalistswinners.html|archivedate=13 February 2014|location=United States}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2009

| scope="row"| Blueberry Garden

| scope="row"| Erik Svedang

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

CarneyVale: Showtime
Dyson
Night Game
Osmos

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}

| scope="row"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2009finalistswinners.html|title=2009 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213200117/http://www.igf.com/2009finalistswinners.html|archivedate=13 February 2014|location=United States}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2010

| scope="row"| Monaco

| scope="row"| Pocketwatch Games

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;" {{n/a}}

| scope="row"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2010finalistswinners.html|title=2010 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327122211/http://www.igf.com/2010finalistswinners.html|archivedate=27 March 2014|location=United States}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2011

| scope="row"| Minecraft

| scope="row"| Mojang

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

| scope="row"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2011finalistswinners.html|title=2011 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327123328/http://www.igf.com/2011finalistswinners.html|archivedate=27 March 2014|location=United States}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2012

| scope="row"| Fez

| scope="row"| Polytron

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

| scope="row"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2012finalistswinners.html|title=2012 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327124703/http://www.igf.com/2012finalistswinners.html|archivedate=27 March 2014|location=United States}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2013

| scope="row"| Cart Life

| scope="row"| Richard Hofmeier

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

| scope="row"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2013finalistswinners.html|title=2013 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923035906/http://www.igf.com/2013finalistswinners.html|archivedate=23 September 2016|location=United States|url-status=live}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2014

| scope="row"| Papers, Please

| scope="row"| Lucas Pope

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

Device 6
Dominique Pamplemousse in "It's All Over Once the Fat Lady Sings!"
Don't Starve
Jazzpunk
The Stanley Parable

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

| scope="row"| {{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2014finalists.html|title=2014 Independent Games Festival Winners & Finalists|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=26 May 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324175746/http://www.igf.com/2014finalists.html|archivedate=24 March 2016|location=United States|url-status=live}}{{cite web | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/213548/Papers_Please_takes_the_grand_prize_at_16th_annual_IGF_Awards.php | title = Papers, Please takes the grand prize at 16th annual IGF Awards | publisher = Gamasutra | date = 19 March 2014 | accessdate = 19 March 2014 }}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2015

| scope="row"| Outer Wilds

| scope="row"| Team Outer Wilds

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

| scope="row"|

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2016

| scope="row"| Her Story

| scope="row"| Sam Barlow

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

| scope="row"| {{cite web |url=http://www.igf.com/02finalists.html |title=The 17th Annual Independent Games Festival Finalists |work=Independent Games Festival |publisher=UBM plc |accessdate=March 17, 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320235703/http://www.igf.com/02finalists.html |archivedate=March 20, 2016 |url-status=live }}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2017

| scope="row"| Quadrilateral Cowboy

| scope="row"| Blendo Games

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

1979 Revolution: Black Friday
Orwell
Imbroglio
Virginia
Duskers
Oiκοςpiel, Book I

| scope="row"| {{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2017/1/9/14214750/2017-igf-awards-nominees-inside-hyper-light-drifter-virginia-host-nina-freeman | title = Hyper Light Drifter, Inside and Virginia among nominees for 2017 IGF Awards | first = Charlie | last = Hall | date = January 9, 2017 | accessdate = January 9, 2017 | work = Polygon }}{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-the-game-developers-choice-awards-right-here/1100-6448326/ | title = Watch The Game Developers Choice Awards Right Here Tonight | first1= Eddie | last1 = Makuch | first2= Jason | last2= Imms | date = March 1, 2017 | accessdate = March 1, 2017 | work = GameSpot }}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2018

| Night in the Woods

| Infinite Fall

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

|{{cite web | url = https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/312434/2018_Independent_Games_Festival_announces_Main_Competition_finalists.php | title = 2018 Independent Games Festival announces Main Competition finalists! | date = January 3, 2018 | accessdate = January 3, 2018 | work = Gamasutra }}{{Cite web | url = https://venturebeat.com/2018/03/21/night-in-the-woods-wins-the-grand-prize-at-the-independent-games-festival/ | title = Night in the Woods wins the grand prize at the Independent Games Festival | first= Stephanie | last = Chan | date = March 21, 2018 | accessdate = March 21, 2018 | work =Venture Beat }}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2019

| Return of the Obra Dinn

| Lucas Pope

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

Beat Saber
Iconoclasts
Mirror Drop
Moss
Subnautica
Wandersong
Virtual Virtual Reality
Unavowed

|{{cite web | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/333684/2019_Independent_Games_Festival_reveals_this_years_finalists.php | title = 2019 Independent Games Festival reveals this year's finalists! | date = January 3, 2019 | accessdate = January 3, 2019 | work = Gamasutra }}{{cite web | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/339066/Return_of_the_Obra_Dinn_takes_Grand_Prize_at_the_21st_IGF_Awards.php | title = Return of the Obra Dinn takes Grand Prize at the 21st IGF Awards! | date = March 20, 2019 | accessdate = March 20, 2019 | work = Gamasutra }}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2020

| A Short Hike

| adamgryu

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

Katana Zero
Lonely Mountains: Downhill
Song of Bloom
Wide Ocean, Big Jacket
Astrologaster
Heaven's Vault

|{{cite web | url = https://igf.com/article/here-are-your-finalists-2020-independent-games-festival-awards | title = HERE ARE YOUR FINALISTS FOR THE 2020 INDEPENDENT GAMES FESTIVAL AWARDS! | date = January 7, 2020 | accessdate = January 7, 2020 | publisher = Independent Games Festival }}{{cite web | url = https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/359780/A_Short_Hike_wins_Grand_Prize_at_the_2020_Independent_Games_Festival.php | title = A Short Hike wins Grand Prize at the 2020 Independent Games Festival! | date = March 18, 2020 | accessdate = March 18, 2020 |work = Gamasutra }}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2021

| Umurangi Generation

| Origame Digital

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

A Monster's Expedition (Through Puzzling Exhibitions)
Blaseball
Bugsnax
Carto
Disc Room
Nuts
Omori
Spelunky 2
There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension

|{{cite web | url = https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/381057/Genesis_Noir_leads_IGF_finalists_with_four_nominations.php | title = Genesis Noir leads IGF finalists with four nominations | date = May 7, 2021 | accessdate = May 7, 2021 | work = Gamasutra }}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2022

| Inscryption

| Daniel Mullins Games

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

Dodgeball Academia
Fuzz Dungeon
Norco
Overboard
Saturnalia
Toem
Webbed

|{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-01-07-unpacking-inscryption-lead-2022-igf-awards-nominations | title = Unpacking and Inscryption lead 2022 IGF Awards nominations | first = Jeffrey | last = Rousseau | date = January 7, 2022 | accessdate = January 7, 2022 | work = GamesIndustry.biz}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2023

| Betrayal at Club Low

| Cosmo D Studios

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

|{{cite web | url = https://www.gameshub.com/news/news/igf-awards-2023-full-list-of-winners-finalists-gdc-39247/ | title = IGF Awards 2023: All the winners and finalists | first = Edmond | last = Tran | date = March 23, 2023 | accessdate = March 24, 2023 | work = GamesHub}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2024

|Venba

|Visai Games

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

1000xRESIST
A Highland Song
Anthology of the Killer
Cocoon
Mediterranea Inferno

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

Chants of Sennaar
Final Profit: A Shop RPG
Goodbye Volcano High
In Stars and Time
Rhythm Doctor
Tchia
The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood

|{{Cite web |last=Panecasio |first=Steph |date=2024-03-21 |title=IGF Awards 2024: All the winners and finalists |url=https://www.gameshub.com/news/news/igf-awards-2024-all-the-winners-and-finalists-2638256/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321183025/https://www.gameshub.com/news/news/igf-awards-2024-all-the-winners-and-finalists-2638256/ |archive-date=2024-03-21 |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=www.gameshub.com |language=en-AU}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2025

|Consume Me

|Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, Jie En Lee, Violet W-P, Ken "coda" Snyder

| scope="row" style="font-size: 10pt;"|

|{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/events/542599/gdc-awards-2025-winners-igf | title = The GDC Awards' 2025 Game of the Year winners are in | first = Matt | last = Patches | date = March 19, 2025 | accessdate = March 20, 2025 | work = Polygon}}

Notes

References

;Specific

{{reflist|3|refs=

{{cite web|title=About the IGF|url=http://www.igf.com/01about.html|work=Independent Games Festival|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdate=28 October 2024}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/05/outer-wilds-leads-the-17th-annual-independent-games-festival-awards |accessdate=March 11, 2015 |title=OUTER WILDS LEADS THE 17TH ANNUAL INDEPENDENT GAMES FESTIVAL AWARDS |last=Pitcher |first=Jenna |date=March 4, 2015 |work=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308193526/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/05/outer-wilds-leads-the-17th-annual-independent-games-festival-awards |archivedate=March 8, 2015 |url-status=live }}

}}

Category:Indie games

Category:Independent Games Festival Awards

Category:Awards for best video game