You were expecting someone else?

​While the "big" developers were receiving their honors at the GDC Game Developers Choice Awards late last week, another yearly event was turning the spotlight toward the smaller operations, recognizing independent developers for another year's worth of standout titles at the 13th Annual Independent Games Festival.

 

For a look at this year's winners, I happen to know a certain jump link that could use a certain amount of clicking.

 

According to IGF Chairman Brandon Boyer, the independent games industry is really taking off.

 

"This year's record number of entrants were of some of the highest quality we've yet seen in the festival," Boyer said. "Congratulations to all the winners, who continue to raise the bar for what independent games can achieve."

 

Winning one of these awards can net developers a cash prize ranging from $2,500 all the way up to 20 Grand. When you're trying to build games on your own, that's a pretty sweet bonus to go along with the recognition the IGF Awards garner for these smaller developers. Following are this year's winners.

 

Seumas McNally Grand Prize

Minecraft

 

Nuovo Award

Nidhogg

 

Excellence in Visual Art

BIT.TRIP Runner

 

Excellence in Audio

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

 

Excellence in Design

Desktop Dungeons

 

Best Student Game

FRACT

 

Technical Excellence

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

 

Best Mobile Game

Helsing's Fire

 

Audience Award

Minecraft

 

Direct2Drive Vision Award

Amnesia: The Dark Descent