In an exciting livestream event held on Tuesday, the inaugural Indie Game Awards, dedicated to honoring “creativity, innovation, and passion” within the independent gaming community, revealed its nominees for the 2024 awards. With a variety of categories including Debut Game, Bite-Sized Game, Solo Development, and the highly coveted Game of the Year, this event underscores the importance and impact of indie games in the broader industry landscape.

Presented by the collective Six One Indie, known for their Six One Indie Showcase that promotes upcoming indie game releases, this awards show aims to shine a spotlight on groundbreaking titles that might otherwise go unnoticed. According to their official website, nominees for the Indie Game Awards were curated by a panel of professionals from the indie-focused games industry along with media outlets. In an exciting twist, the organizers have announced that open submissions will be available for the event's next installment in 2025, allowing a broader array of voices and talents to be recognized.

It's noteworthy that while mainstream awards typically overlook many indie gems, this year’s Indie Game Awards seeks to rectify this by including several titles that fans felt should have been nominated in other prominent gaming award ceremonies held recently.

Mark your calendars! The Indie Game Awards ceremony is set to take place on December 19 at 7 p.m. EST, promising to be a night filled with surprises and celebration of indie talent.

Here are the Nominees for the 2024 Indie Game Awards:

Game of the Year

- Arranger - Lil’ Guardsman - Little Kitty, Big City - Loddlenaut - Mullet Madjack - Worldless

Debut Game

- Arranger - Lil’ Guardsman - Loddlenaut - Mullet Madjack - Worldless

Bite-Sized Game

- Buckshot Roulette - Clickholding - Duck Detective: The Secret Salami - Minami Lane - Please Touch the Artwork 2 - Thank Goodness You’re Here

Narrative

- 1000xResist - Arco - Caravan Sandwitch - Fear the Spotlight - Last Time I Saw You - Mouthwashing

Solo Development

- Aerial_Knight’s We Never Yield - Animal Well - Children of the Sun - Crypt Custodian - Knuckle Sandwich - Magical Delicacy

Emotional Impact

- In Stars and Time - Kind Words 2 - Neva - Selfloss - Thirsty Suitors - Until Then

Music

- Core Keeper - Flock - Pacific Drive - The Cub - Thrasher - Wild Bastards

Visual Design

- Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus - Crow Country - Harold Halibut - Hauntii - The Plucky Squire - Ultros

Innovation

- Cryptmaster - Karmazoo - Lorelei and the Laser Eyes - Oddada - Rusty’s Retirement - UFO 50

Gameplay Design

- Balatro - Grunn - Minishoot Adventures - Nine Sols - Tiny Glade - Victory Heat Rally

Women-Led Game

- Gourdlets - Keylocker - Love, Ghostie - Mexico, 1921. A Deep Slumber - Nightmare Kart - The Crimson Diamond

Notable Achievement in Accessibility

- Another Crab’s Treasure - Elsie - Periphery Synthetic - Pine Hearts - Steamworld Heist 2 - Surmount: A Mountain Climbing Adventure

Community Management Nominees