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. Originally founded in 1998 to promote independent video game developers, and innovation in video game development by CMP Media,"About the IGF", www.IGF.com. later known as UBM Technology Group, IGF is now owned by Informa 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 is held around the same time as the Game Developers Choice Awards event.
Competition Structure
As of 2026, there are ten award categories:
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)
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.
Ceremonies +Game YearDate of ceremonyHostSeumas McNally Grand Prize1999March 15, 1999N/AFire and Darkness2000March 10, 2000Tread Marks2001March 23, 2001Shattered Galaxy2002March 20, 2002Bad Milk2003March 6, 2003Wild Earth2004March 24, 2004(Open Category) Savage: The Battle for Newerth (Web/Downloadable) Oasis2005March 9, 2005(Open Category) Gish (Web/Downloadable) Wik and the Fable of Souls2006March 22, 2006Darwinia2007March 7, 2007 Andy SchatzAquaria2008February 20, 2008Crayon Physics Deluxe2009March 25, 2009Blueberry Garden2010March 11, 2010Kyle Gabler and Erin RobinsonMonaco2011March 2, 2011Anthony CarboniMinecraft2012March 8, 2012Andy SchatzFez2013March 27, 2013Cart Life2014March 20, 2014Nathan VellaPapers, Please2015March 4, 2015Outer Wilds2016March 16, 2016Her Story2017March 1, 2017Nina FreemanQuadrilateral Cowboy2018March 21, 2018Trent KustersNight in the Woods2019March 20, 2019Meg JayanthReturn of the Obra Dinn2020March 18, 2020Trent KustersA Short Hike2021July 21, 2021Victoria TranUmurangi Generation2022March 23, 2022Kelly WallickInscryption2023March 22, 2023Marina DíezBetrayal at Club Low2024March 29, 2024Trinidad HermidaVenba2025March 19, 2025Emma KidwellConsume Me2026March 11, 2026Karrie ShaoTitanium Court
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. In 2004 and 2005 the awards were split into two separate categories - Open Category (OC) and Web/Downloadable (WD).
Seumas McNally Grand Prize (1999-, $10,000)
YearWinnerDeveloper(s)2026Titanium CourtAP Thomson2025Consume MeJenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, Jie En Lee, Violet W-P, Ken "coda" Snyder2024VenbaVisai Games2023Betrayal at Club LowCosmo D Studios2022InscryptionDaniel Mullins Games2021Umurangi GenerationOrigame Digital2020A Short HikeAdam Robinson-Yu2019Return of the Obra DinnLucas Pope2018Night in the WoodsInfinite Fall2017Quadrilateral CowboyBlendo Games2016Her StorySam Barlow2015Outer WildsTeam Outer Wilds2014Papers, PleaseLucas Pope2013Cart LifeRichard Hofmeier2012FezPolytron2011MinecraftMojang2010MonacoPocketwatch Games2009Blueberry GardenErik Svedang2008Crayon Physics DeluxeKloonigames2007AquariaBit Blot2006DarwiniaIntroversion Software2005Gish (OC) Wik and the Fable of Souls (WD)Chronic Logic Reflexive Entertainment2004Savage: The Battle for Newerth (OC) Oasis (WD)S2 Games Mind Control Software2003Wild EarthSuper X Studios2002Bad MilkDreamingMedia2001Shattered GalaxyNexon2000Tread MarksLongbow Digital Arts1999Fire and DarknessSingularity Software
Nuovo Award (2009-, $2,000) Awarding innovative games: YearWinnerDeveloper(s)2026HorsesAndrea Lucco Borlera, Santa Ragione2025Consume MeJenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, Jie En Lee, Violet W-P, Ken "coda" Snyder2024Anthology of the Killerthecatamites, Tommy Tone, A. Degen2023Betrayal at Club LowCosmo D Studios2022Memory CardLily Zone2021BlaseballThe Game Band2020The Space BetweenChristoph Frey2019Black RoomCassie McQuater2018Getting Over It with Bennett FoddyBennet Foddy2017Oiκοςpiel, Book IDavid Kanaga2016CibeleNina Freeman2015Tetrageddon GamesNathalie Lawhead2014Luxuria SuperbiaTale of Tales2013Cart LifeRichard Hofmeier2012StorytellerDaniel Benmergui2011NidhoggMesshof2010TuningCactus2009BetweenJason Rohrer
Excellence In Visual Art (1999-, $2,000) YearWinnerDeveloper(s)2026EclipsiumHousefire2025HauntiiMoonloop Games2024PhonopolisAmanita Design2023RPG Time: The Legend of WrightDeskworks2022PapeturaPetums2021Genesis NoirFeral Cat Den2020Knights and BikesFoam Sword2019Mirror DropIan Lilley2018ChuchelAmanita Design2017Hyper Light DrifterHeart Machine2016OxenfreeNight School Studio2015MetamorphabetVectorpark2014GorogoaJason Roberts2013Kentucky Route ZeroCardboard Computer2012Dear EstherThechineseroom2011BIT.TRIP RUNNERGaijin Games2010LimboPlaydead2009MachinariumAmanita Design2008FezPolytron2007Castle CrashersThe Behemoth2006DarwiniaIntroversion Software2005Alien Hominid (OC) Wik and the Fable of Souls (WD)The Behemoth Reflexive Entertainment2004Spartan (OC) Dr. Blob's Organism (WD)Slitherine Strategies Digital Eel2003Wild EarthSuper X Studios2002Banja TaiyoChman.com2001Hardwood SpadesSilver Creek Entertainment2000King of Dragon PassA Sharp1999Crime CitiesTechland
Excellence In Audio (1999-, $2,000) YearWinnerDeveloper(s)2026Baby StepsGabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy2025despeloteJulián Cordero, Sebastián Valbuena2024Rhythm Doctor7th Beat Games2023The Forest QuartetMads & Friends2022InscryptionDaniel Mullins Games2021Genesis NoirFeral Cat Den2020MutazioneDie Gute Fabrik2019ParatopicArbitrary Metric2018Uurnong UurnlimitedNifflas Games2017GoNNERArt in Heart2016Mini MetroDinosaur Polo Club2015Ephemerid: A Musical AdventureSuperChop Games2014DEVICE 6Simogo2013140Carlsen Games2012BotaniculaAmanita Design2011Amnesia: The Dark DescentFrictional Games2010ClosureTyler Glaiel2009BrainPipeDigital Eel2008AudiosurfDylan Fitterer2007Everyday ShooterQueasy Game2006Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite SpaceDigital Eel2005Gish (OC) Wik and the Fable of Souls (WD)Chronic Logic Reflexive Entertainment2004Anito: Defend a Land Enraged (OC) Dr. Blob's Organism (WD)Anino Entertainment Digital Eel2003TerraformersPin Interactive2002Bad MilkDreaming Media2001Chase Ace 2Space Time Foam2000BlixGamelab1999TerminusVicarious Visions
Excellence in Design (1999-, $2,000) The category was previously named Best Game Design (1999-2000), Innovation in Game Design (2001-2006), and Design Innovation (2007-2008). YearWinnerDeveloper(s)2026Titanium CourtAP Thomson2025Tactical Breach WizardsSuspicious Developments2024CryptmasterPaul Hart, Lee Williams2023The Case of the Golden IdolColor Gray Games2022InscryptionDaniel Mullins Games2021TeardownTuxedo Labs2020Patrick's ParaboxPatrick Traynor2019Opus MagnumZachtronics2018Baba is YouHempuli2017Quadrilateral CowboyBlendo Games2016Keep Talking and Nobody ExplodesSteel Crate Games2015Outer WildsTeam Outer Wilds2014Papers, PleaseLucas Pope2013FTL: Faster Than LightSubset Games2012SpelunkyMossmouth2011Desktop DungeonsQCF Design2010MonacoPocketwatch Games2009Musaic BoxKranX Productions2008World of Goo2D Boy2007Everyday ShooterQueasy Game2006BraidNumber None2005Gish (OC) Wik and the Fable of Souls (WD)Chronic Logic Reflexive Entertainment2004Savage: The Battle for Newerth (OC) Oasis (WD)S2 Games Mind Control Software2003Wild EarthSuper X Studios2002InsaniquariumFlying Bear Entertainment2001Shattered GalaxyNexon2000Tread MarksLongbow Digital Arts1999ResurrectionMind Control Software
Excellence in Narrative (2013-, $2,000) YearWinnerDeveloper(s)2026Perfect Tides: Station to StationThree Bees2025Caves of QudFreehold Games2024Mediterranea InfernoLorenzo Redaelli, EYEGUYS2023ImmortalityHalf Mermaid Productions2022InscryptionDaniel Mullins Games2021Umurangi GenerationOrigame Digital2020Heaven's VaultInkle2019Return of the Obra DinnLucas Pope2018Night in the WoodsInfinite Fall2017Ladykiller in a BindLove Conquers All Games2016Her StorySam Barlow201580 DaysInkle2014Papers, PleaseLucas Pope2013Cart LifeRichard Hofmeier
Audience Award (1999-, $2,000) YearWinnerDeveloper(s)2026WednesdaysPierre Corbinais, The Pixel Hunt, Arte2025The WereCleanerHowlin' Hugs2024RAM: Random Access MayhemXylem Studios2023PotionomicsVoracious Games2022Mini MotorwaysDinosaur Polo Club2021ArrogHermanos Magia, Leap Game Studios2020A Short HikeAdam Robinson-Yu2019EtherealNonsense Arts, Nicolás Recabarren, Tomás Batista2018CelesteCeleste Team2017Hyper Light DrifterHeart Machine2016UndertaleToby Fox2015This War of Mine11 bit studios2014The Stanley ParableGalactic Cafe2013FTL: Faster Than LightSubset Games2012Frozen SynapseMode 7 Games2011MinecraftMojang2010Heroes of NewerthS2 Games2009Cortex CommandData Realms2008AudiosurfDylan Fitterer2007Castle CrashersThe Behemoth2006DofusAnkama Games2005Alien Hominid (OC) N (WD)The Behemoth Metanet Software2004Savage: The Battle for Newerth (OC) Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates (WD)S2 Games Grey Havens2003Pontifex 2Chronic Logic2002Kung-Fu ChessShizmoo Games2001Shattered GalaxyNexon2000The Rift (Far Gate)Thrushwave Technology1999Fire and DarknessSingularity Software
Best Student Game (2007-, $2,000) The Best Student Game award was first given out at the 2007 IGF Awards. Prior to that, from 2004-2006, the IGF Student Showcase highlighted ten student-designed games but did not give out an award. YearWinnerDeveloper(s)2026PocoWhalefall2025Slot WasteVinny Roca2024Once Upon a JesterBonte Avond2023SliderDaniel Carr2022Live AdventureLive Adventure Team2021VesselsLocal Space Survey Corps2020BORE DOMEGoblin rage2019after HOURSBahiyya Khan, Claire Meekel, Tim Flusk, Abi Meeke2018Baba is YouHempuli2017Un pas fragilePAF team2016BeglitchedJennifer Jiao Hsia, Alec Thomson2015Close YourGoodbyeWorld Games2014Risk of RainHopoo Games2013ZinethArcane Kids2012WayCarnegie Mellon University Entertainment Technology Center, The Way Team2011FractRichard E Flanagan2010ContinuityRagtime Games2009Tag: The Power of PaintDigiPen Institute of Technology2008SynaestheteDigiPen Institute of Technology2007TobloDigiPen Institute of Technology Student Showcase 2004-2006:
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 2025: Consume Me
Other awards without prize money
alt.ctrl.GDC Award (2017-)