Scientific co-founder FPS Deep Rock Galactic also scored big at this year’s ceremony, being named in both categories in which the house awards were taken, meaning he won the Indie Game of the Year and Excellence in Trophy in multiplayer. Both categories competed with 9 other titles, including Budsnakes and Risk Rain F Rain 2, which were praised for the indie game the year.
With 43 nominations in 12 categories, there were many other winners announced at the event. The Search for Planet X, Half-Life: Alix, The Last Us F A Us Part II, Riri and Will the F Whips, Ghost Ts F Sushima, Doom Eternal, Micro Flight Flight Simulator and Dreams were presented awards to Matthew Crump. Cultural Innovation Award for its community-focused creativity tools.
A complete list of Winners of the SXSW 2021 Gaming Awards As follows:
Video Game of the Year
The game is awarded an award that exemplifies overall excellence and creates a different gaming experience across all platforms and genres.
- Hades (Supergiant Games) – Winner
- Sushimano Ghost (Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- The Last of US Part II (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Measles and Whips of Whips (Moon Studio / Xbox Game Studio)
- Doom Eternil (IDS Software / Bethesda Software)
Indie Game of the Year
The indie game is awarded for exemplifying overall excellence and creating a diverse gaming experience across all platforms and genres.
- Bugs Snacks (Young Horses)
- Cloudpunk (ion land)
- Raji: An Ancient Epic (Nodding Head Games / Super.com)
- Iconfell (Happy Ray Games / Polite Games)
- Monster Sanctuary (Moi Rai Games / Team 17)
- Crown Trick (NExT Studio / Team 17)
- Deep Rock Galactic (Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing) – Winner
- The Last Campfire (Hello Games)
- Huntdown (Easy Trigger Games / Coffee Stain Publishing)
- Rain Risk 2 (Hopo Games / Gearbox Publishing)
Tablelop Game of the Year
Awarded to a game that exemplifies the overall excellence and ingenuity of any tablet game in any genre.
- Oceans (North Star Games)
- Castle (Ladder Games)
- Calico (flatout games)
- Crew: Quest for Planet Nine (KOSMOS)
- Search for Planet X (Renewed Game Game Studio / Foxtrot Games) – Winner
VR Game of the Year
The award is given to a VR game that exemplifies overall excellence in gameplay and design on any VR platform.
- Wal King Dead: Saints and Sinners (Skydance Interactive)
- Half-life: Alix (valve) – winner
- Star Wars: Squadron (Motivational Studio / Electronic Arts)
- Medal of Honor: Above and Out (Response Entertainment / Electronic Arts)
- Down the Rabbit Hall (beyond Cortopia Studios / Frames Entertainment)
Excellence in storytelling
Awarded the game with best storytelling and dialogue.
- Hades (Supergiant Games)
- Sushimano Ghost (Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- The Last Used Use Part II (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment) – Winner
- Immortal Phoenix Rising (Ubisoft Quebec / Ubisoft)
- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Excellence in game design
Awarded the game with the best overall design concept, gameplay mechanics and best execution.
- Hades (Supergiant Games) – Winner
- Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s Time (Toys for Bob / Activation)
- Desperados III (MMM Games / THQ Nordic)
- Watch Dogs: Legion (Ubisoft Toronto / Ubisoft)
- Measles and Whips of Wills (Moon Studio / Xbox Game Studio)
Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award
Awards are given to a game that best challenges the “standard” of everyday gaming and offers a culturally innovative perspective on the game world, character, or gameplay.
- If found… (Dreamfill / Annapurna Interactive)
- The Last of US Part II (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Dreams (Media Atom / Sony Interactive Entertainment) – Winner
- Astro’s Playroom (Team ASOBI! / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Tell Me Why (DontNOD Entertainment / Xbox Game Studio)
Excellence in score
Awarded the game for providing the best example of artistic excellence in musical scores and how it progresses in the description of the game.
- Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Project Red / CD Project)
- Doom Eternal (IDS Software / Bethesda Software)
- Measles and Wills of Whips (Moon Studio / Xbox Game Studio) – Winner
- Final Fantasy VII remake (Square ENIX)
- Mana tests (Zen / Square ENIX)
Excellence in multiplayer
Awarded the game with the best player-to-player interaction experience.
- Star Wars: Squadron (Motivational Studio / Electronic Arts)
- Volorant (riot games)
- Huntdown (Easy Trigger Games / Coffee Stain Publishing)
- Deep Rock Galactic (Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing) – Winner
- Rain Risk 2 (Hopo Games, Gearbox Publishing)
Excellence in animation, art and visual achievement
Awarded the game with very well designed and stunning scenes including animation effects and graphics.
- Assassin Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft)
- Ghost of Tasushima (Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment) – Winner
- Cloudpunk (ion land)
- Measles and Whips of Whips (Moon Studio / Xbox Game Studio)
- Final Fantasy VII remake (Square ENIX)
Excellence in Audio Dio design
Awarded the game with very outstanding and effective sound effects.
- Bugs Snacks (Young Horses)
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 (Vicarious Visions / Activation)
- Star Wars: Squadron (Motivational Studio / Electronic Arts)
- Supervisor: System Redux (Blubber Team)
- Doom Eternal (IDS Software / Bethesda Software) – Winner
Excellence in technological achievement
Awarded to a game that advanced technical and programming abilities remotely or very effectively.
- Genshin effect (miHoYo)
- Sushimano Ghost (Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Dreams (Media Atom / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Astro’s Playroom (Team ASOBI! / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Micro .ft Flight Simulator (Asobo Studio / Xbox Game Studio) – Winner
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