▶ AP Thompson, Second Two-Time Individual Top Award Winner in IGF History
▶ ‘Baby Steps’, nominated in 5 categories, won the Audio Award
▶ Game ‘HORSES’ Removed from Steam and Epic Sweeps Nouveau Awards
The 28th Independent Games Festival Awards (IGF Awards) were held on March 11 (local time) at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, USA.
At the awards ceremony held as part of the GDC Festival of Gaming , ‘Titanium Court,’ developed by AP Thompson and published by Fellow Traveller, emerged as the star of the year by winning both the top prize , the Sumos McNally Grand Prize , and the design category .
Top Prize: ‘Titanium Coat’, a surreal strategy game for clowns and criminals
Titanium Coat is a surreal strategy game that combines puzzle and tactical strategy gameplay with a unique, humorous narrative style. Developed by AP Thompson and published by Fellow Traveler, it has made a strong impression by winning both the Grand Prize and the Design Award, even before its release.
AP Thompson won the top prize again this year, following his win of the 2025 IGF Grand Prize last year for ‘Consume Me,’ which he developed with Jenny Jiao Hsia. With this, Thompson became one of the very few developers in IGF history to win the Grand Prize twice, alongside Lucas Pope (winner of the 2025 Game Developers Choice Award Pioneer Prize).
The winner stated on the podium, “I dedicate this award to those who could not attend due to travel restrictions and to everyone who feels anxious about attending.”
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/Titanium_Court/
Nouveau Awards: ‘HORSES’ Wins Despite Removal from Steam and Epic
There were also works that were recognized for their originality despite the controversy.
HORSES won the Nouveau Award despite the turmoil of being removed from Steam and Epic Games. Developed by Andrea Luco Borlera and published by Santa Lazione, this is a first-person horror game that blurs the boundaries between the darkest corners of reality and imagination through a 14-day adventure.
It was selected as the work that best aligns with the purpose of the Nouveau Awards, which selects innovative experiences that change the perspectives of the media and judges.
Developer-operated store page:
https://santaragione.itch.io/horses
Narrative Category: ‘Perfect Tides: Station to Station’
The slice-of-life adventure game ‘Perfect Tides: Station to Station’ won the Narrative category.
Developed and published by Three Bees, this highly anticipated title was also nominated for the Grand Prize at this awards ceremony.
Gaming media outlet Kotaku highly praised the game, stating, “I played it in January, but I was already convinced it would be Game of the Year. The narrative is the heart and greatest strength of this game.”
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2088810/Perfect_Tides_Station_to_Station/
Audio Category: ‘Baby Steps’ – Won only 1 out of 5 nominations
“Baby Steps,” which was the most anticipated film of the awards with the most nominations (5 categories), only won one award in the audio category.
Developed by Bennett Foddy, Gabe Cuzzillo, and Maxi Boch, famous for creating QWOP, and published by Devolver Digital, this is a unique game centered on a physics-based movement system.
Kotaku commented, “Baby Steps had a somewhat strange night. Despite receiving the most nominations, they only won one award in the audio category, but they fully deserved it.”
[Related Article: Devolver Digital Launches Physics-Based Walking Simulator ‘Baby Steps’]
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1281040/Baby_Steps/
Visual Arts Category: ‘Eclipsium’
The first-person horror game ‘Eclipsium’, developed by Housefire and published by CRITICAL REFLEX, won the Visual Arts award.
The game is a first-person horror title set in a dark and unsettling world, characterized by intense visual presentation and a dreamlike atmosphere. Players must explore a space where reality and nightmares intertwine, gradually uncovering the world’s secrets through puzzles and environmental storytelling.
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2419670/Eclipsium/
Best Student Game: ‘Poco’
‘Poco’ is a hybrid-style point-and-click adventure game that combines 2D and 3D graphics. Players take on the role of the baby bat ‘Poco’ as the protagonist, exploring various environments, solving puzzles, and advancing the story.
Developed by Whalefall and Micah Boursier, the game is characterized by its unique visuals and warm atmosphere. The fact that it is available for free on Steam also attracted community attention, and in recognition of its creativity and quality, it won the Best Student Game award at the 28th IGF Awards.
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3454610/Poco/
Audience Award: ‘Wednesdays’ – 1st Place in Audience Vote
‘Wednesdays’ is a narrative-driven story work that combines the formats of an interactive game and a graphic novel. Players follow childhood memories, encountering the characters’ emotions and events step by step, and experience the story through choices and interactions.
Produced by the French studios The Pixel Hunt and ARTE France, it is characterized by its delicate exploration of memory and trauma while dealing with themes inspired by real historical events. Recognized for its narrative approach and artistic merit, it won the Audience Award at the 28th IGF Awards.
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2747770/Wednesdays/
WINGS Awards and alt.ctrl.GDC Awards
The WINGS Awards, which recognize works in which female and gender minority developers hold key roles, were awarded to ’13Z: The Zodiac Trials’ (Mixed Realms Pte Ltd), a roguelike hack-and-slash game inspired by Eastern mythology.
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2348250/13Z_The_Zodiac_Trials/
The alt.ctrl.GDC Award, which recognizes games utilizing unconventional and accessible alternative physical controllers, was awarded to Todo Normal’s ‘ProyectoEXO’.
Summary of all award results
| sector | Award-winning work | Developer / Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Sumos McNally Grand Prize | Titanium Court | AP Thomson / Fellow Traveller |
| Design Division | Titanium Court | AP Thomson / Fellow Traveller |
| Nouveau Award | HORSES | Andrea Lucco Borlera / Santa Ragione |
| Narrative section | Perfect Tides: Station to Station | Three Bees |
| Audio Division | Baby Steps | Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy / Devolver Digital |
| Visual Arts Division | Eclipsium | Housefire / CRITICAL REFLEX |
| Best Student Game | Poco | Whalefall, Micah Boursier |
| Audience Award | Wednesdays | The Pixel Hunt, ARTE France |
| WINGS Awards | 13Z: The Zodiac Trials | Mixed Realms Pte Ltd |
| alt.ctrl.GDC Awards | ProyectoEXO | Todo Normal |
What is the IGF Award?
The IGF Awards is the world’s oldest indie game awards, established in 1998 to encourage innovation in game development and discover the best indie developers.
This year, candidates selected by a panel of 40 professional judges competed out of approximately 790 entries. Past Grand Prize winners include Consum Me (2025), Venba (2024), Anthology of the Killer (2023), and Mediterranea Inferno (2022).
After the awards ceremony , GDC attendees will be able to play the winning works at the IGF Pavilion from March 13 to 15 , and there will also be programs to meet the creators.
