The FPS Deep Rock Galactic sci-fi co-op also scored big at this year’s ceremony, taking home awards in the two categories in which it was nominated, meaning it won Indie Game of the Year and Multiplayer Excellence trophies. Both categories had stiff competition, with 9 other titles competing for the Indie Game of the Year award, including Bugsnax and Risk of Rain 2.
With 43 nominees in 12 categories, many other winners were announced at the event. The awards were given to The Search for Planet X, Half-Life: Alyx, The Last of Us Part II, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Ghost of Tsushima, DOOM Eternal, Microsoft Flight Simulator and Dreams, which won Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award for its community-oriented creativity tools.
The complete list of winners of the SXSW 2021 Gaming Awards Follow:
Video game of the year
Awarded for the game that exemplifies overall excellence and creates a distinctive gaming experience across all platforms and genres.
- Hades (supergiant games) – WINNER
- Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Ori and the Will of the Wisp (Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios)
- DOOM Eternal (Software id / Bethesda Softworks)
Indie Game of the Year
Awarded to the independent game that exemplifies general excellence and creates a distinctive gaming experience across all platforms and genres.
- Bugsnax (young horses)
- Cloudpunk (Ion Lands)
- Raji: An Ancient Epic (Nodding Heads Games / Super.com)
- Ikenfell (Happy Ray Games / Humble Games)
- Monster Sanctuary (Moi Rai Games / Team17)
- Crown Trick (NExT Studios / Team17)
- Deep Rock Galactic (Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing) – WINNER
- The Last Campfire (Hello Games)
- Huntdown (Easy Trigger Games / Coffee Stain Publishing)
- Rain hazard 2 (Hopoo Games / Gearbox Publishing)
Table game of the year
Awarded to the game that exemplifies the general excellence and ingenuity of any table game in any genre.
- Oceans (North Star Games)
- Fort (Leder games)
- Calico (Flatout games)
- The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine (KOSMOS)
- The Search for Planet X (Renegade Game Studios / Foxtrot Games) – WINNER
VR game of the year
Awarded to the VR game that exemplifies the overall excellence in gameplay and design on any VR platform.
- The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (Skydance Interactive)
- Half-life: Alyx (valve) – WINNER
- Star Wars: Squadrons (Motive Studios / Electronic Arts)
- Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond (Respawn Entertainment / Electronic Arts)
- Down the Rabbit Hole (Cortopia Studios / Beyond Frames Entertainment)
Excellence in narrative
Awarded to the game with the best storyline and dialogue.
- Hades (supergiant games)
- Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment) – WINNER
- Immortals Fenyx Rising (Ubisoft Quebec / Ubisoft)
- Marvel Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Excellence in game design
Awarded to the game with the best overall design concept, game mechanics and best execution.
- Hades (supergiant games) – WINNER
- Crash Bandicoot 4: it’s time (toys for Bob / Activision)
- Desperados III (Mimimi Games / THQ Nordic)
- Watch Dogs: Legion (Ubisoft Toronto / Ubisoft)
- Ori and the Will of the Wisp (Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios)
Matthew Crump Award for Cultural Innovation
Awarded to the game that best challenges the “norm” of the daily game and offers a culturally innovative vision of a game world, character or gameplay.
- If found … (Dreamfeel / Annapurna Interactive)
- The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Dreams (Media Molecule / Sony Interactive Entertainment) – WINNER
- Astro game room (Team ASOBI! / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Tell me why (DONTNOD Entertainment / Xbox Game Studios)
Punctuation excellence
Awarded to the game that best exemplifies artistic excellence in musical score and how it advances in the game’s narrative.
- Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt Red / CD Projekt)
- DOOM Eternal (Software id / Bethesda Softworks)
- Ori and the Will of the Wisp (Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios) – WINNER
- Final Fantasy VII Remake (SQUARE ENIX)
- Mana Tests (Xeen / SQUARE ENIX)
Multiplayer Excellence
Awarded to the game with the best player-to-player interaction experience.
- Star Wars: Squadrons (Motive Studios / Electronic Arts)
- VALORANT (Riot Games)
- Huntdown (Easy Trigger Games / Coffee Stain Publishing)
- Deep Rock Galactic (Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing) – WINNER
- Risk of Rain 2 (Hopoo Games, Gearbox Publishing)
Excellence in animation, art and visual realization
Awarded for the game with the best designed and impressive visuals, including animation effects and graphics.
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft)
- Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment) – WINNER
- Cloudpunk (Ion Lands)
- Ori and the Will of the Wisp (Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios)
- Final Fantasy VII Remake (SQUARE ENIX)
Excellence in Audio Design
Awarded to the game with the most striking and impacting sound effects.
- Bugsnax (young horses)
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 (Vicarious Visions / Activision)
- Star Wars: Squadrons (Motive Studios / Electronic Arts)
- Observer: Redux System (Bloober Team)
- DOOM Eternal (id Software / Bethesda Softworks) – WINNER
Excellence in technical achievement
Awarded for the game that pushed technology and programming resources further or more effectively.
- Impact Genshin (miHoYo)
- Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Dreams (Media Molecule / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Astro game room (Team ASOBI! / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (Asobo Studio / Xbox Game Studios) – WINNER