Sun Jan 19 2025

The list of nominees for the 2025 Independent Games Festival includes unexpected surprises.

The nominees for the 27th Annual Independent Games Festival have been announced, and one of the standout indie titles of the year is not among them.

The nominees for the 27th edition of the Independent Games Festival have been announced. Titles such as UFO 50 and Thank Goodness You’re Here will compete for the prestigious Seamus McNally Grand Prize, although the absence of Balatro from the final list has been surprising. The award ceremony will take place during the Game Developers Conference, which will be held this year from March 17 to 21. This event highlights the creativity of independent games, often recognizing lesser-known works and emerging titles that achieve critical acclaim. In last year's ceremony, for example, 1000xResist received multiple nominations ahead of its official release, later becoming one of the highest-rated games of 2024.

For this year, six games have been selected to compete for the Seamus McNally Grand Prize, including Caves of Qud, Consume Me, Despelote, Indika, Thank Goodness You’re Here, and UFO 50. Despelote stands out as an emotional coming-of-age story set in Ecuador, scheduled for release this year. In addition to the nomination for the main award, it is also competing for Excellence in Audio, Narrative, and the Nuovo Award, which recognizes more experimental games.

Regarding unreleased titles, Consume Me has received the most nominations, totaling five. Blue Prince from Raw Fury is also mentioned, having received a nomination for Excellence in Design and an honorable mention for the Seamus McNally Award. The absence of Balatro, which won at the Game Awards, has been surprising, as it was mentioned but did not receive a nomination for the Seamus McNally, although it will participate in the Design category.

The event has also recognized other 2024 releases, such as Nine Sols, Judero, Tactical Breach Wizards, and Children of the Sun, which have managed to stand out in the nominations. Below is the complete list of nominations:

Best Student Game