The Independent Games Festival (IGF) is an annual event held at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), which is the largest gathering of independent game developers in the industry. The IGF was first started in 1998 to help support independent video game creators and encourage new ideas in game development by CMP Media, later called UBM Technology Group. Today, the IGF is owned by Informa after UBM was bought by the company.
The IGF competition gives out about $28,000 in prizes to independent developers in the Main and Student Competitions. The event takes place at the same time as the Game Developers Choice Awards.
Competition Structure
As of 2026, there are ten award categories.
Before the Festival, game developers can submit their game in a working version to the IGF organization committee for a small cost. These games are then sent to about 250 to 300 game industry representatives on the Nominating Committee. These representatives include both independent developers and larger game companies. Each member of the committee can suggest any of the submitted games for one or more award categories. After that, for each award category, a group of judges chosen in advance (between seven and ten members) reviews the suggestions and selects six final games (eight for the Nuovo award) and some games for special recognition.
The chosen final games are expected to show their games at the IGF during the Games Developers Conference. The event provides them with a space to display their games and access to the event, but the finalists must either pay for their own travel and hotel costs or choose someone else to demonstrate their games. During the event, a different group of judges, selected by the IGF organization committee, will review each game. Just before the awards are given, these judges will vote for one game in each category. The only exception is the Audience Award, which is decided by online voting from anyone interested.
IGF competition winners
The years listed show when the awards were given. The games and developers honored received recognition for their work from the previous year. In 2004 and 2005, the awards were divided into two groups: Open Category (OC) and Web/Downloadable (WD).
Wik and the Fable of Souls (WD)
Reflexive Entertainment
Mind Control Software
Award for Innovative Games
Other awards without prize money
This award is given to games that have unusual ways to play or interact with the game. In 2020, the award was not given because the in-person GDC conference was canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Former competitions
From 2007 to 2010, a special event called IGF Mobile was held to recognize mobile phone games. This category took the place of separate prizes for Web/Downloadable games given in 2004 and 2005. A competition focused on video game modding happened every year in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, the Mod Awards totaled $7,000. In 2006, the Mod Awards totaled $10,000.