The International Mobile Gaming Awards ("IMGA") is an annual competition and awards ceremony that honors outstanding games made for mobile devices. It is the longest standing international competition for mobile games. Notable IMGA winners include Candy Crush Saga and Monument Valley.
The best mobile games submissions are awarded at the prize-giving IMGA ceremony, which takes place in various cities across the United States and Asia. IMGA was founded by Maarten Noyons in 2004 and is headquartered in Marseilles, France.
History In 2004 the mobile games industry was still finding its feet. As developers began carving out a space in the market, the French division of Discreet announced the first "International 3D Mobile Gaming Competition." With over $50,000 of prizes to be won, the contest was designed by NCC Partners CEO Maarten Noyons to help showcase young mobile games and was supported by Nokia, Orange, Intel, IBM and more.
With 85 entries, the awards took place on 3 February 2004, at the IMAGINA festival in Monte Carlo. There were four categories: Grand Prix, 16MB, 1MB, 200K/native, and 200K/Java. Later that year, Discreet was acquired by Autodesk who decided to close the French office – and thus the competition. However, Noyons convinced Discreet to let him take full control of the event and in doing so he founded IMGA as it's known today.VentureBeat – How mobile gaming has evolved, as seen through prism of its global awards
Renaming the event the International Mobile Gaming Awards, Noyons has grown IMGA into a worldwide competition. Each year, the awards now receive around 1,000 submissions, 600 of which are usually submitted to the jury. Over a two-day judging process, the entrants are whittled down to 60 nominees.
For ten years the winners were announced at the GSMA's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but the 11th IMGA saw the ceremony moved to GDC in San Francisco,148 Apps – IMGA Awards To Be Announced in San Francisco at Game ConnectionCNET – International Mobile Gaming Awards hit San Francisco during the Game Developers Conference and Game Connection.
In 2016, the competition added a new category for VR games and announced 102 nominations and 11 categories. Sam Barlow won the Grand Prix that year with Her Story, a detective game.
After Europe and the US, the IMGA has launched its program in China in 2015 and Southeast Asia in 2016 creating two additional competitions: IMGA Southeast Asia in partnership with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and IMGA China in partnership with Migu – China Mobile's digital content entity, and co-hosted by MyGamez, a publisher for foreign mobile games in China.
Judging session The judging process takes place in Marseilles, France in January every year. Jury members are invited to review and play all submitted games and select the nominees. The main judging criteria are the mechanics of the gameplay, the quality of the sound design and visual art and the originality in storytelling.
IMGA is open to entries from all mobile games developers. Past participants include students, researchers, artists, individual developers and publishers. The winners of each of eight category are decided by an international jury of experts and journalists from Asia, the US and Europe.
Past judges include industry veterans such as King's former games guru Tommy Palm, Dean Takahashi of VentureBeat, and Unity Evangelist Oscar Clark
Award categories The awards celebrate innovation and creativity in mobile games worldwide. Based on their merit, games are recognized in a variety of categories that are decided on by the jury, when they meet each year for the judging process. The categories for the 2020 International Mobile Gaming Awards included:
Best AR Game Best Game for 5G Best Meaningful Play
Best Quickplay Game Best Technical Achievement
Best VR Game Excellence in Art
Excellence in Audio Excellence in Design
Excellence in Gameplay Excellence in Innovation Excellence in Storytelling
Winners The following games won the "Grand Prix" at their respective IMGA ceremonies, the award that recognises the best mobile game of that year's nominees.
Aside from the main categories and the Grand Prix, there are two more prizes. These include the "People's Choice" award, which was introduced in 2008, for the game that receives the most votes from the general public; while the jury's "Honorable Mention" was introduced in 2012, for the game the judges believe deserves extra credit.
2020
AwardWinnerManufacturerGrand PrixSky: Children of the LightThatgamecompanyJury's Honorable MentionSayonara Wild HeartsAnnapurna InteractivePeople's ChoiceHados 2Mehdi PeighaminasabExcellence in ArtThe Gardens BetweenThe Voxel AgentsBest Game for 5GDragon RajaLoong EntertainmentBest AR GameAngry Birds AR: Isle of PigsRovio EntertainmentExcellence in InnovationWhat the Golf?TribandBest Quickplay GameArcheroHabbyExcellence in AudioAlien: BlackoutD3 GoExcellence in GameplayCall of Duty: MobileActivisionExcellence in StorytellingForgotton AnneHitcentsBest Meaningful PlayDear ReaderLocal No. 12Best Technical AchievementCall of Duty: MobileActivisionBest VR GameAcron: Attack of the Squirrels!Resolution GamesExcellence in DesignFigment: Journey Into the MindMobaso
2019
AwardWinnerManufacturerGrand PrixFlorenceAnnapurna InteractiveJury's Honorable MentionFlipping FilipDeema GamesPeople's ChoiceCooking Diary: Restaurant GameMytonaBest Multiplayer GameBrawl StarsSupercellBest Quickplay GameOddmanJoyPacBest Feel Good GameValleys BetweenLittle Lost FoxExcellence in AudioElohBroken RulesExcellence in GameplayBring You HomeAlike StudioExcellence in StorytellingFlorenceAnnapurna InteractiveExcellence in Visual Art and DesignChuchelAmanita DesignExcellence in InnovationGladiabotsGFX47Best Meaningful PlayFlorenceUstwoBest Technical AchievementAsphalt 9: LegendsGameloftBest VR GameNarrowsResolution GamesGuilty PleasureBacon - The GameKamiboxBest Upcoming GameAgatha KnifePlug In Digital 2018 AwardWinnerManufacturerGrand PrixN/AJury's Honorable MentionHidden FolksAdriaan de JonghPeople's ChoiceLife Is StrangeSquare EnixExcellence in InnovationSplitter CrittersRAC7Best Multiplayer GameArena of ValorTiMi Studio GroupBest Quickplay GameTiny BubblesPine Street CodeworksExcellence in AudioVirtual Virtual RealityTender ClawsExcellence in GameplayFramed 2Loveshack EntertainmentExcellence in StorytellingThe Witch's IsleCocosolaExcellence in ArtTokaidoAsmodeeBest Meaningful PlayBury Me, My LoveArte FranceBest VR GameVirtual Virtual RealityTender ClawsGuilty PleasureDeath ComingNExT StudiosBest Upcoming GameThe Enchanted WorldNoodlecake StudiosBest Port to MobileThe WitnessThekla, IncGame Artist of 2017Old Man's JourneyBroken Rules 2017 AwardWinnerManufacturerGrand PrixPokémon GoNiantic, Inc.Jury's Honorable MentionMekoramaMartin MagniPeople's ChoiceSkygarden: Farm In ParadiseVNG Games StudioExcellence in InnovationHuman Resource MachineExperimental Gameplay ProjectBest Multiplayer GameClash RoyaleSupercellBest Quickplay GameConduct This!NorthplayExcellence in Visual ArtInvisible, Inc.Klei EntertainmentExcellence in AudioCrypt of the NecroDancerBrace Yourself GamesExcellence in GameplayThe Battle of PolytopiaMidjiwanExcellence in StorytellingReignsDevolver DigitalBest Meaningful Play1979 Revolution: Black FridayiNK StoriesBest Technical AchievementDawn of TitansNaturalMotion Best VR GameWandsMultivrses ABGuilty PleasureSteppy PantsSuper EntertainmentBest Upcoming GameSteamburgMariusz SzypuraGame Artist of 2016Dawn of TitansNaturalMotion 2016 AwardWinnerManufacturerGrand PrixHer StorySam BarlowJury's Honorable MentionLongStoryMiriam VerburgPeople's ChoiceShadowmaticTriada StudioExcellence in InnovationHer StorySam BarlowBest Multiplayer GameAgar.ioMiniclipBest Quickplay GameSmashy Road: WantedBearbit StudiosExcellence in GameplayBadland 2Frogmind GamesExcellence in StorytellingHer StorySam BarlowBest Meaningful PlayThis War of Mine11 bit studiosBest Technical AchievementShadowmaticTriada StudioBest VR GameLand's EndAdrienne LawGuilty PleasureFallout ShelterBethesda SoftworksBest Upcoming GameClash RoyaleSupercellExcellence in Audio, Visual Art & DesignLumino CityState of Play Games 2015 AwardWinnerManufacturerGrand PrixMonument ValleyUstwoJury's Honorable MentionThrees!Sirvo LLCPeople's ChoiceVainglorySuper Evil MegacorpExcellence in InnovationBoundenGame OvenBest Multiplayer GameSoccer PhysicsOtto-Ville OjalaBest Quickplay GameCrossy RoadHipster WhaleExcellence in GameplayHearthstoneBlizzard EntertainmentExcellence in Storytelling80 DaysinkleBest Meaningful PlayPapers, PleaseLucas PopeBest Technical AchievementVainglorySuper Evil MegacorpGuilty Pleasure2048Gabrielle CirulliBest Upcoming GamePrunePolycultureExcellence in Audio, Visual Art & DesignTengamiNyamyam 2014 AwardWinnerManufacturerGrand PrixBadlandFrogmind GamesJury's Honorable MentionLuxuria SuperbiaTale of TalesPeople's ChoiceTiny ThiefRovio StarsExcellence in InnovationBlekKunabi BrotherBest Quickplay GameColossatron: Massive World ThreatHalfbrick StudiosExcellence in GameplayRymdkapselGrapefruktExcellence in StorytellingRépubliqueCamouflajBest Technical AchievementClumsy NinjaNatural MotionBest Upcoming GameFramedLoveshack EntertainmentBest Serious GameArtistico: The Game for Art LoversPlayArt LabsBest Shared Experience in a GameHeads Up!Warner BrosExcellence in Sound DesignPapa Sangre IISomethin' ElseExcellence in Art DesignYear WalkSimogo 2013
AwardWinnerManufacturerGrand PrixThe Walking DeadTelltale GamesJury's Honorable MentionDevil's Attorney, Zombies Run!1337 Game Design, Six to StartPeople's ChoiceThe RoomFireproof GamesExcellence in InnovationSpaceteamHenry SmithExcellence in VisualsThe RoomFireproof GamesExcellence in StorytellingThe Walking DeadTelltale GamesExcellence in GameplayFairway SolitaireBig Fish GamesBest Social GameCandy Crush SagaKingBest Serious GameDragonBox Algebra 5+WeWantToKnow
2012
AwardWinnerManufacturerGrand PrixInfinity Blade IIEpic GamesJury's Honorable MentionContre JourChillingoPeople's ChoiceFlick Tennis: College WarsRolocule GamesExcellence in GameplayInfinity Blade IIEpic GamesMost Innovative GameSuperbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EPCapybara GamesBest Sports GameTouchgrind BMXIllusion LabsBest Real World GameMeatspace InvasionC4M & MekensleepBest Mobile Social GameCharadium IIOn5Best Casual GameSprinkleMediocre AB 2011
AwardWinnerManufacturerGrand PrixBeyond YnthFDG EntertainmentPeople's ChoicePerfect CellMobigameExcellence in GameplayBeyond YnthFDG EntertainmentOperators ChoiceSnowboard HeroFishlabsExcellence in DesignInfinity BladeEpic GamesMost Innovative GamePapa SangreSomethin' ElseBest Sports GameSnowboard HeroFishlabsBest Real World GameAR InvadersSoulbit7Best Casual GamePlants vs. ZombiesPopCap Games 2009 AwardWinnerManufacturerGrand PrixLabyrinth 2Illusion LabsPeople's ChoiceBruce Lee Dragon WarriorDigital LegendsOperators ChoiceKrazy Kart RacingPolarbitExcellence in ConnectivitySniper vs. SniperCom2uSExcellence in DesignAncient Frog Jr.Ancient WorkshopBest Real World GameUlrike and Eamon CompliantBlast TheoryBest Casual GameWire WayNow ProductionExcellence in GameplayMiniSquadronSupermono 2008 AwardWinnerManufacturerGrand PrixN/APeople's ChoiceKrollDigital LegendsExcellence in 3DZen BoundSecret ExitExcellence in GameplayEdgeMobigameSpecial InnovationKodo EvolvedJadestoneOperators ChoiceEdgeMobigameExcellence in ConnectivityReal RacingFiremintBest Real World GameFastfoot ChallengeUrban TeamBest Casual GameTropical TowersMr.Goodliving 2007 AwardWinnerManufacturerGrand PrixMetal Gear Solid MobileIdeaWorks3DPeople's ChoiceWRC 3DFiremintBest Licensed IP-Based GameFurby IslandLemonQuestExcellence in 3DONE SequelDigital LegendsOperators ChoiceMetal Gear Solid MobileIdeaWorks3DExcellence in ConnectivityN/ABest Real World GameN/ABest Casual GameTreasure ArmTequila MobileExcellence in GameplayDirk Spanner and The Fallen IdolJadestone 2006