The finalists have been announced for the 28th annual Independent Games Festival (IGF) Awards, spotlighting some of the most innovative indie games of the last year.
As part of the rebranded GDC Festival of Gaming, the awards ceremony will take place at San Francisco’s Moscone Center on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
This year’s frontrunner is Baby Steps, the physics-based walking sim from Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, and Bennett Foddy, with an impressive five nominations, including nods for Excellence in Audio, Design, Narrative, the Nuovo Award, and the coveted Seumas McNally Grand Prize.
Close behind with four nominations each are psychedelic live-action TV-surfing simulator Blippo+ and AP Thomson’s surreal strategy game, Titanium Court.
The finalists for the top honour of the night, the Seumas McNally Grand Prize, also include Angeline Era, Horses, and Perfect Tides: Station to Station. It’s an impressive crop of games that highlight a real diversity of ideas and artistic ambition.
Also of note, the WINGS Award, which honours games with women and gender-marginalized developers in key creative roles. This year’s finalists include Ambrosia Sky, Backpack Battles, The Wandering Village, Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall, and 13Z: The Zodiac Trials.
The IGF Awards are peer-voted, with a diverse group of developers, critics, and industry professionals reviewing nearly 800 submissions. Public voting for the Audience Award opens between January 12–25, giving fans the chance to vote for their favourites via the official IGF Audience Award ballot. You can cast your vote, here.
Here is the full list of finalists for each category of the 2026 Independent Games Festival.
2026 Independent Games Festival Award Nominees
Best Student Game
- BubbleBeast DigiDungeon (EchoLane)
- Kiloton (Jack Morehart)
- Poco (Whalefall, Micah Boursier)
- Prší (Herdek)
- Sip Fisher (Syphon Software)
- SPRKLS.exe (PesiiDom)
Excellence in Audio
- Baby Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital)
- BALL x PIT (Kenny Sun & Friends, Devolver Digital)
- Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robot, Panic)
- Eclipsium (Housefire, CRITICAL REFLEX)
- Morsels (Furcula, Annapurna Interactive)
- Wheel World (Messhof, Annapurna Interactive)
Excellence in Design
- Angeline Era (Analgesic Productions)
- Baby Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital)
- Öoo (NamaTakahashi, tiny cactus studio, Tsuyomi)
- Skin Deep (Blendo Games, Annapurna Interactive)
- Titanium Court (AP Thomson, Fellow Traveller)
- Time Flies (Playables, Panic)
Excellence in Narrative
- Baby Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital)
- Perfect Tides: Station to Station (Three Bees)
- Promise Mascot Agency (Kaizen Game Works)
- Titanium Court (AP Thomson, Fellow Traveller)
- Type Help (William Rous)
- Wednesdays (The Pixel Hunt, ARTE France)
Excellence in Visual Arts
- Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robot, Panic)
- CARIMARA: Beneath the Forlorn Limbs (Bastinus Rex, CRITICAL REFLEX)
- Eclipsium (Housefire, CRITICAL REFLEX)
- Loco Motive (Robust Games, Chucklefish)
- Morsels (Furcula, Annapurna Interactive)
- Skate Story (Sam Eng, Devolver Digital)
Nuovo Award
- Baby Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital)
- Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robot, Panic)
- HORSES (Andrea Lucco Borlera, Santa Ragione)
- Mini Mini Golf Golf (Three More Years)
- Plum Road Tea Dream (Reveal Game Studio)
- Titanium Court (AP Thomson, Fellow Traveller)
- kevin’s PLAYING in berlin (Kevin Du)
- Wednesdays (The Pixel Hunt, ARTE France)
Seumas McNally Grand Prize
- Baby Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital)
- Angeline Era (Analgesic Productions)
- Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robot, Panic)
- HORSES (Andrea Lucco Borlera, Santa Ragione)
- Titanium Court (AP Thomson, Fellow Traveller)
- Perfect Tides: Station to Station (Three Bees)
WINGS Award
- Ambrosia Sky (Soft Rains)
- Backpack Battles (PlayWithFurcifer, IndieArk)
- The Wandering Village (Stray Fawn Studio, Stray Fawn Publishing, Whisper Games)
- Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall (Brave at Night)
- 13Z: The Zodiac Trials (Mixed Realms Pte Ltd)
In a change from previous years, the IGF Awards will now be held at the Moscone Center’s North Hall. The Game Developers Choice Awards – which celebrate standout titles across the entire games industry – will now follow on Thursday, March 12.
Both events are open to all GDC passholders and will also be streamed live on the official GDC Twitch channel.
