The second annual Indie Game Awards were held on Thursday, December 18, 2025, with the live show airing at 6:30 p.m. ET. The ceremony handed out 21 awards spanning regional honors, craft categories, and community prizes. Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was the evening’s big winner, taking Game of the Year and also winning Debut Game. The show included special honors such as the Mohammad Fahmi Storyteller Award and an Industry Impact award presented to Game Devs of Color.
Winners
- Game of the Year: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Sandfall Interactive
- Achievement in Accessibility: Peak – Team PEAK
- ANZ Indie Game Award: The Drifter – Powerhoof
- The Mohammad Fahmi Storyteller Award: Maddy Thorson
- Industry Impact: Game Devs of Color
- Indie Vanguard class: Crashable Studios; Gabby DaRienzo; Gortyn Code; Alice Bottino and Chancellor Wallin; Cookiecrayon (class of 2025)
- Bite-Sized: Time Flies – Playables
- Black Voices in Gaming Award: Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi – MarsLit Games
- Community Management: PEAK – Team PEAK
- Debut Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Sandfall Interactive
- Emotional Impact: and Roger – TearyHand Studio
- Gameplay Design: BallxPit – Kenny Sun
- Innovation: Blue Prince – Dogubomb
- Latin American Indie Award: Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo – Pocket Trap
- Music: Rift of the NecroDancer – Brace Yourself Games, Tic Toc Games
- Narrative: Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector – Jump Over the Age
- Solo Development: Tall Trails – Brady Soglin
- African Indie Game Award: Stick It To The Stickman – Free Lives
- Southeast Asian Indie Award: Artis Impact – Mas
- Visual Design: 30 Birds – RAM RAM Games, Business Goose Studios
- Women-Led Indie Game Award: Urban Myth Dissolution Center – Hakababunko
For a look back at last year’s ceremony, see the Indie Game Awards 2024 winners here.
