The inaugural Indie Game Awards took place on Thursday. Presented by Six One Indie, the awards ceremony seeks to celebrate the creativity, innovation, and passion that we see in our indie games. As people become more frustrated with certain AAA releases, it seems like indie titles could very well be our future, and 2024 has been a great year for them.
Balatro won the biggest prize, earning itself the Indie Game of the Year Award, as well as a nod for Gameplay Design. It was also nominated for plenty of other awards, but there was a nice mix of winners sprinkled in. Another Crab's Treasure won for Notable Achievement in Accessibility, Little Kitty, Big City picked up Best Debut, and a wide array of indies were celebrated. Check out the full list of nominees and winners below:
Debut Game
Arranger
Lil' Guardsman
Little Kitty, Big City - WINNER
Loddlenaut
MULLET MADJACK
Worldless
Notable Achievement in Accessibility
Another Crab's Treasure - WINNER
Elsie
Periphery Synthetic
Pine Hearts
SteamWorld Heist II
Surmount: A Mountain Climbing Adventure
Music
Core Keeper
Flock
Pacific Drive - WINNER
The Cub
Thrasher
Wild Bastards
Visual Design
Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus
Crow Country
Harold Halibut - WINNER
Hauntii
The Plucky Squire
Ultros
Bite-Sized Game
Buckshot Roulette
Clickholding
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami
Minami Lane
Please Touch the Artwork 2
Thank Goodness You're Here - WINNER
Innovation
Cryptmaster - WINNER
KarmaZoo
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
ODDADA
Rusty's Retirement
UFO 50
Emotional Impact
In Stars and Time
Kind Words 2
Neva - WINNER
Selfloss
Thirsty Suitors
Until Then
Gameplay Design
Balatro - WINNER
Grunn
Minishoot Adventures
Nine Sols
Tiny Glade
Victory Heat Rally
Community Management
Aggro Crab - WINNER
Black Tabby Games
LocalThunk
Massive Monster
NPC Studio
Pounce Light
Narrative
1000xRESIST - WINNER
ARCO
Caravan SandWitch
Fear The Spotlight
Last Time I Saw You
Mouthwashing
Women-Led Game
Gourdlets
Keylocker
Love, Ghostie
Mexico, 1921. A Deep Slumber. - WINNER
Nightmare Kart
The Crimson Diamond
Solo Development
Aerial_Knight's We Never Yield
Animal Well - WINNER
Children of the Sun
Crypt Custodian
Knuckle Sandwich
Magical Delicacy
Game of the Year
1000xRESIST
Animal Well
ARCO
Balatro - WINNER
Crypt Custodian
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Mouthwashing
Neva
Nine Sols
UFO 50