Best Game
News Tower - Sparrow Night
Jury: “Like any great game, News Tower uses every mechanic it introduces to its fullest potential. Accommodating strategy aficionados and new(s)comers alike, the depth to its gameplay makes it fun every time you get to print another paper. It all just comes together to form such a strong and cohesive whole that News Tower towers above the others games in this selection. “
Best Art
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk - Team Reptile
Jury: “The game shows a unique style, consistent throughout the game in every little detail, and stays true to the cultural expression of street art. It adds to the immersion while remaining functional.“
Best Audio (sponsored by Audiokinetic)
News Tower - Sparrow Night
Jury: “Close your eyes and there is still no doubt; You are part of the Thirties in downtown New York. Huge printing presses, feverish typewriters, hustle and bustle on the streets and ecstatic jazz tunes. The music takes you from the Roaring Twenties to the Great Depression and back up again!“
Best Innovation
The Score - The Smartphone Orchestra (produced by WildVreemd)
Jury: “A reinvention of how to experience a classical music concert. Not just for the audience, but for the musicians as well! A unique experience for both, because no version of The Score will ever be the same. We can see this experience going international and drawing a new type of audience into concert halls.“
Best Technology
The 7th Guest VR - Vertigo Games
Jury: “The 7th guest has quite a few nice tricks up its sleeve, from flourishes like the lantern revealing how things looked in the past to uncannily real 3D captured animated scenes with full 3D characters that look very lifelike, even on the Quest 2. The game creates a believable unrealistic world. The animations are very well polished and don’t destroy the immersion but only further enhance it.“
Best Game Design (sponsored by Go!Gaming)
News Tower - Sparrow Night
Jury: “Managing office politics and facilities, chasing the facts, boosting your sales, keeping up your public relations, keeping the staff happy and the presses rolling… There are so many things to manage in this game! It’s a sign of masterful game design that all those tasks don’t feel too overwhelming, but keep you engaged for hours!“
Best Applied Game (sponsored by City of Rotterdam)
Jungle the Bungle - Hulan
Jury: “The great variety, looks, theme and catchy music make this language-learning game a joyful experience and very suitable for playing at home as well as in primary schools. Although the game is still being developed and shows room for perfection, the jury was impressed with the way how learning has truly been turned into a game that is hard to stop playing, even for adults!“
Best Debut Game
News Tower - Sparrow Night
Jury: “A smash debut in every aspect. News Tower really takes the player back to the New York of the Thirties, and expertly balances gameplay while throwing new challenges at the player for hours on end.”
Best Student Game (sponsored by GameForce)
King of the Bridge - Finn Schuuring, Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht
Jury: “Knowing chess might be to your disadvantage in this chess challenge! Think outside of the board, sometimes literally, while taking on the AI opponent that keeps investing new rules. The judges were impressed by this game that doesn’t play by the book.“
Best Studio Award
&ranj
“Started 25 years ago as one of the first applied game studios in the Netherlands, &ranj has never lost its focus on high quality game projects. Always striving for innovation and staying true to their own philosophy about what applied games should bring to the world.”
Inclusion Award (sponsored by Discord)
Zuraida Buter
“Zuraida has been part of the industry for over 20 years as a mentor, judge, lecturer, speaker, advisor, game jam and event organiser among other things, always working on ways to make the industry more accessible to indie developers and women in games. Through events like AMAZE, the Global Game Jam, Independent Games Festival of the Playful Arts Festival she brings art, culture and play closer together, opening up the games industry to different perspectives and talent.”
Career Achievement Award
Derk de Geus
“To keep a game studio running for nearly 20 years is no small feat. But if that wasn’t challenging enough, in 2019 Derk decided to “be the change” he thought the Dutch Games Association needed and took on the role of Chairman. In 4 Years Derk built the DGA back up from the ground and laid the solid foundation that the association thrives on today.“
Awesome Achievement Award
Dutch Game Garden
“Since 2007 the Dutch Game Garden has helped hundreds of developers and game industry professionals by providing a starting point in the industry. Always willing to help and support through the incubation program, network lunches, mentoring programs, pitch perfect, and in general being a welcoming and visible “info point”. Our Dutch game hub and club house will certainly be missed.”