The online game trade’s awards season was dominated this yr by adulation for French turn-based roleplaying sport Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It’s simple to see why so many individuals liked it, AI utilization and controversial standing as an “indie” sport apart, however my private sport of the yr was a a lot smaller mission that garnered quite a bit much less consideration: Child Steps. Luckily, no less than one awards present is lastly giving it the respect a bunch of us weirdos consider it deserves.
The 2026 Impartial Video games Competition Awards launched its list of nominees on January 8, showcasing the unbelievable work of builders exterior the AAA house. 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 suppose otherwise about video games as a medium”), and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize.
Child Steps tells the story of Nate, a person transported from residing in squalor in his dad and mom’ basement to a magical world inhabited by long-dicked donkey males and Australians. Navigating this unusual setting, no less than on PlayStation 5, revolves round utilizing the controller’s triggers to independently management Nate’s toes by lifting them off the bottom, and the management stick with have Nate lean in no matter course you plan 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 pleased to see Child Steps get this type of recognition. Not solely does it advance the nascent style of physics-based “rage video games” virtually invented by co-developer Bennett Foddy (who beforehand made QWOP and Getting Over It), nevertheless it additionally manages to interrogate the very idea of difficult online game mechanics via each gameplay and narrative. Please play this sport, and bear in mind, Child Steps doesn’t need you to rage, it desires you to like your self.
Offbeat native TV broadcast simulator Blippo+, surreal technique sport Titanium Court docket, and the bafflingly controversial Horses additionally acquired a number of nominations. After seeing the Sport Awards, the Game Developers Choice Awards, and the DICE Awards focus virtually completely on Clair Obscur and different mainstream, AAA fare, it’s refreshing to know there are nonetheless reveals devoted to plumbing the depths of the medium fairly than remaining at floor stage.
Moreover, this yr’s present includes 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, other than the grand prize which awards $20,000.
Right here’s the total checklist of nominees:
Greatest Scholar Sport
- 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 & Buddies, 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 Court docket (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 Sport Works)
- Titanium Court docket (AP Thomson, Fellow Traveller)
- Kind 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 Highway Tea Dream (Reveal Sport Studio)
- Titanium Court docket (AP Thomson, Fellow Traveller))
- kevin’s PLAYING in berlin (Kevin Du)
- Wednesdays (The Pixel Hunt, ARTE France)
WINGS Award
- Ambrosia Sky (Tender Rains)
- Backpack Battles (PlayWithFurcifer, IndieArk)
- The Wandering Village (Stray Fawn Studio, Stray Fawn Publishing, Whisper Video games)
- Sure, Your Grace 2: Snowfall (Courageous at Night time)
- 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 Court docket (AP Thomson, Fellow Traveller)
- Good Tides: Station to Station (Three Bees)
The 2026 Impartial Video games Competition Awards is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. PST. It will likely be broadcast reside on Twitch.
