The online game business’s awards season was dominated this 12 months by adulation for French turn-based roleplaying recreation Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It’s straightforward to see why so many individuals cherished it, AI usage and controversial status as an “indie” recreation apart, however my private recreation of the 12 months was a a lot smaller undertaking that garnered lots much less consideration: Baby Steps. Fortuitously, not less than one awards present is lastly giving it the respect a bunch of us weirdos consider it deserves.
The 2026 Impartial Video games Pageant Awards launched its list of nominees on January 8, showcasing the unbelievable work of builders outdoors the AAA area. Child Steps managed to select up nominations in 5 classes, together with Excellence in Audio, Excellence in Design, Excellence in Narrative, the Nuovo Award (for “experiences that make the awards jurors think differently about games as a medium”), and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize.
Baby Steps tells the story of Nate, a person transported from dwelling in squalor in his dad and mom’ basement to a magical world inhabited by long-dicked donkey males and Australians. Navigating this unusual setting, not less than on PlayStation 5, revolves round utilizing the controller’s triggers to independently management Nate’s ft by lifting them off the bottom, and the management stick with have Nate lean in no matter path you propose on touring. Even easy strolling requires sustaining a rhythm, and issues get much more tough as you climb slippery slopes and awkward rockfaces.
I’m so comfortable to see Child Steps get this type of recognition. Not solely does it advance the nascent style of physics-based “rage games” virtually invented by co-developer Bennett Foddy (who beforehand made QWOP and Getting Over It), but it surely additionally manages to interrogate the very idea of difficult online game mechanics by each gameplay and narrative. Please play this recreation, and bear in mind, Child Steps doesn’t need you to rage, it needs you to like your self.
Offbeat native TV broadcast simulator Blippo+, surreal technique recreation Titanium Court, and the bafflingly controversial Horses additionally acquired a number of nominations. After seeing the Game Awards, the Game Developers Choice Awards, and the DICE Awards focus virtually solely on Clair Obscur and different mainstream, AAA fare, it’s refreshing to know there are nonetheless exhibits devoted to plumbing the depths of the medium reasonably than remaining at floor degree.
Moreover, this 12 months’s present contains a new class honoring video games made by ladies and different gender-marginalized builders in collaboration with funding fund Wings Interactive. Every award comes bundled with a $2,000 bonus, aside from the grand prize which awards $20,000.
Right here’s the complete listing of nominees:
Finest Scholar Recreation
- BubbleBeast DigiDungeon (EchoLane)
- Kiloton (Jack Morehart)
- Poco (Whalefall, Micah Boursier)
- Prší (Herdek)
- Sip Fisher (Syphon Software program)
- SPRKLS.exe (PesiiDom)
Excellence in Audio
- Child Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital)
- BALL x PIT (Kenny Solar & Mates, Devolver Digital)
- Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robotic, Panic)
- Eclipsium (Housefire, CRITICAL REFLEX)
- Morsels (Furcula, Annapurna Interactive)
- Wheel World (Messhof, Annapurna Interactive)
Excellence in Design
- Angeline Period (Analgesic Productions)
- Child Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital)
- Öoo (NamaTakahashi, tiny cactus studio, Tsuyomi)
- Pores and skin Deep (Blendo Video games, Annapurna Interactive)
- Titanium Courtroom (AP Thomson, Fellow Traveller)
- Time Flies (Playables, Panic)
Excellence in Narrative
- Child Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital)
- Good Tides: Station to Station (Three Bees)
- Promise Mascot Company (Kaizen Recreation Works)
- Titanium Courtroom (AP Thomson, Fellow Traveller)
- Sort Assist (William Rous)
- Wednesdays (The Pixel Hunt, ARTE France)
Excellence in Visible Arts
- Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robotic, Panic)
- CARIMARA: Beneath the forlorn limbs (Bastinus Rex, CRITICAL REFLEX)
- Eclipsium (Housefire, CRITICAL REFLEX)
- Loco Motive (Strong Video games, Chucklefish)
- Morsels (Furcula, Annapurna Interactive)
- Skate Story (Sam Eng, Devolver Digital)
Nuovo Award
- Child Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital)
- Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robotic, Panic)
- HORSES (Andrea Lucco Borlera, Santa Ragione)
- Mini Mini Golf Golf (Three Extra Years)
- Plum Street Tea Dream (Reveal Recreation Studio)
- Titanium Courtroom (AP Thomson, Fellow Traveller))
- kevin’s PLAYING in berlin (Kevin Du)
- Wednesdays (The Pixel Hunt, ARTE France)
WINGS Award
- Ambrosia Sky (Mushy Rains)
- Backpack Battles (PlayWithFurcifer, IndieArk)
- The Wandering Village (Stray Fawn Studio, Stray Fawn Publishing, Whisper Video games)
- Sure, Your Grace 2: Snowfall (Courageous at Evening)
- 13Z: The Zodiac Trials (Blended Realms Pte Ltd)
Seumas McNally Grand Prize
- Child Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital)
- Angeline Period (Analgesic Productions)
- Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robotic, Panic)
- HORSES (Andrea Lucco Borlera, Santa Ragione)
- Titanium Courtroom (AP Thomson, Fellow Traveller)
- Good Tides: Station to Station (Three Bees)
The 2026 Impartial Video games Pageant Awards is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. PST. It will likely be broadcast stay on Twitch.
