The TIGA Games Industry Awards are divided in two groups: the ‘Games Awards’ (1 – 15) which are open to the entire industry, and the ‘Business Of Games Awards’ (16 – 31) which are reserved for TIGA members. There are also two special Awards: Outstanding Individual Of The Year’, which is chosen by TIGA; and ‘Game Of The Year’, which will be chosen by attendees at the awards ceremony.

Games Categories >>

Our games categories are open to all relevant games businesses.

Social Game

The judges will be looking for:

  • creative, innovative and engaging social games;
  • strong visual design;
  • great sound design;
  • excellent game design.

Shortlist:

  1. Kwalee: Object Hunt
  2. Snap Finger Click: ACT IT OUT XL! A Game of Charades
  3. Sold Out Sales and Marketing: KeyWe
  4. Sony Interactive Entertainment/XDev: Sackboy: A Big Adventure
  5. Supersolid: RoPets
  6. Supermassive Games: The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope 
  7. Tactile Games Ltd:  Simon’s Cat – Story Time

Casual Game

The judges will be looking for:

  • creative, innovative and engaging casual games;
  • strong visual design;
  • great sound design;
  • excellent game design.

Shortlist:

  1. Arte France – Upian: Unmaze
  2. IDEA Games: OtherWordly
  3. Lockwood Publishing: Avakin Life
  4. Kwalee: Let’s Be Cops 3D
  5. Marmalade Game Studio: THE GAME OF LIFE 2
  6. Outplay Entertainment:  Gordon Ramsay’s Chef Blast
  7. Trailmix: Love and Pies

Educational, Serious or Simulation Game

The judges will be looking for:

  • games that are both enjoyable and educational – these can be advergames, charity or educational games, games serious in content with an educational or training purpose or games that are designed to raise awareness;
  • creative, innovative and engaging educational games;
  • strong visual design;
  • great sound design;
  • excellent game design.

Shortlist:

  1. Avid Games: Cards, the Universe and Everything (CUE)
  2. BBC Bitesize/Mobile Pie: BBC Bitesize History Detectives
  3. Cinq-Mars Media: Copy Editor 
  4. Delve Interactive: CHANGE: A Homeless Survival Experience
  5. Lozange Labs: Rip Them Off
  6. Slug Disco Studios: Ecosystem
  7. Ululab: Math Makers

Strategy Game

The judges will be looking for:

  • creative, innovative and exciting strategy games;
  • strong visual design;
  • great sound design;
  • excellent game design.

Shortlist:

  1. Creative Assembly: Total War: WARHAMMER II
  2. Legendary Games: Necromunda: Gang Skirmish
  3. Perchang Games: Warhammer Quest: Silver Tower
  4. Rebellion: Evil Genius 2: World Domination
  5. Team 17 (publisher) and Astral Pixel (developer):  Super Magbox
  6. Team 17 (publisher) and NEXT Studios (developer): Crown Trick

Visual Design

The judges will be looking for:

  • creative and imaginative visual design that provides players with an exciting game experience.

Shortlist:

  1. Codemasters: F1 2021 
  2. Kwalee: Eternal Hope 
  3. Sony Interactive Entertainment: Returnal
  4. Sony Interactive Entertainment/Insomniac Games: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart 
  5. Supermassive Games: The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope 
  6. Team17 (publisher) and Navegante Entertainment (developer): Greak: Memories of Azur
  7. Wales Interactive & Good Gate Media: Night Book

Role Playing Game

The judges will be looking for:

  • creative, innovative and exciting role playing games;
  • strong visual design;
  • great sound design;
  • excellent game design.

Shortlist:

  1. 9th Impact: Big Brother The Game
  2. Lockwood Publishing: Avakin Life.
  3. Imperia Online JSC: Crush Them All
  4. Square Enix: NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…
  5. Team 17 (publisher) Heliocentric Studios (developer): Rogue Heroes
  6. Variable State: Last Stop

Puzzle Game

The judges will be looking for:

  • creative, innovative and engaging puzzle games;
  • strong visual design;
  • great sound design;
  • excellent game design.

Shortlist:

  1. Kwalee: TENS! 
  2. Lykke Studios: Lumen
  3. Madowl Games: QB Planets
  4. Out of the Blue Games: Call of the Sea
  5. Snap Finger Click: Family Feud
  6. Team17 (publisher), NEXT Studios (developer): Crown Trick
  7. WRP Studios: Lost Twins 2

Arcade Game

The judges will be looking for:

  • creative, innovative and engaging arcade games;
  • strong visual design;
  • great sound design;
  • excellent game design.

Shortlist:

  1. Lowtek Games: Flea Jump!
  2. Pinnical Studio: Tadpole Tales
  3. Sony Interactive Entertainment: Astro’s Playroom
  4. Space Ape Games: Beatstar: Touch Your Music
  5. Tactile Games Limited: Simon’s Cat – Story Time
  6. Team17 (publisher) and Studio Koba (developer): Narita Boy
  7. TIKIPOD Ltd: ASTRO AQUA KITTY

Creativity In Games Awards

The judges will be looking for:

  • creativity and originality in a game;
  • a game that reflects British creativity.

Shortlist:

  1. Brave at Night: Mind Scanners
  2. Feral Cat Den: Genesis Noir 
  3. Follow the Feathers: Weaving Tides
  4. Sony Interactive Entertainment: Returnal 
  5. Sony Interactive Entertainment/Insomniac Games: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart 
  6. State of Play: South of the Circle 
  7. Ubisoft/Future Games of London: Hungry Shark World

Heritage in Games Award

The judges will be looking for:

  • a game that reflects British creativity, subject matter and heritage.

Shortlist:

  1. 3-Fold Games: Before I Forget
  2. D’Avekki Studios: Dark Nights with Poe and Munro
  3. Dovetail Games: Trains Sim World 2
  4. Inkle Ltd: Overboard!
  5. Rebellion: Evil Genius 2: World Domination 
  6. State of Play: South of the Circle
  7. Sumo Newcastle: Hood: Outlaws & Legends

VR/AR Game

The judges are looking:

  • to identify an outstanding game within this genre of games development.
  • Creativity, innovation and user experience within  a VR / AR (or MR) game will be key.

Shortlist:

  1. XR Games: Zombieland VR: Headshot Fever
  2. SUPERLUMEN: DESOLATIUM
  3. Pixel Toys: Warhammer 40,000: Battle Sister
  4. Fictioneers: Wallace & Gromit: The Big Fix Up
  5. Rebellion: Sniper Elite VR
  6. InnerspaceVR: Maskmaker
  7. Schell Games: I EXPECT YOU TO DIE 2

Action and Adventure Game

The judges will be looking for:

  • creative, innovative and exciting action and adventure games;
  • strong visual design;
  • great sound design;
  • great game design.

Shortlist:

  1. Flight School Studio (developer) & MWMi (publisher): Stonefly
  2. Hi-Rez: SMITE: Battleground of the Gods.
  3. Kwalee: Eternal Hope
  4. Mooneye Studios and Bubblebird Studios: Haven Park
  5. Rebellion: Sniper Elite VR
  6. Sony Interactive Entertainment/Insomniac Games: Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  7. Sony Interactive Entertainment/XDev: Sackboy: A Big Adventure.

Diversity Award

The judges will be looking for:

  • diversity within the characters of the game, i.e. gender, age, socio-economic background, ethnicity, disability, religion;
  • diversity within the development team backed up by company goals to be more inclusive;
  • organisations that promote diversity within the games industry;
  • initiatives or projects that promote diversity within the games industry, or allow a more diverse range of players to be able to take part.

Shortlist:

  1. Amiqus: Putting the G into Gaming 
  2. Dovetail Games: Trains Sim World 2 & Fishing Sim World
  3. Outplay Entertainment: Mystery Match Village
  4. Payload Studios: Tentacle Zone Incubator
  5. Sony Interactive Entertainment/XDev: Destruction AllStars
  6. Sony Interactive Entertainment: Returnal
  7. Supermassive Games: The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope

Audio Design

The judges will be looking for:

  • creative, high quality audio design in music and in sound effects which enhances the player’s game experience.

Shortlist:

  1. Codemasters: DIRT 5
  2. Lo-Fi People: Blind Drive
  3. Space Ape Games: Beatstar – Touch Your Music 
  4. SPECTRUM48: OCO
  5. Square Enix: NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…
  6. Sumo Newcastle:  Hood: Outlaws & Legends 
  7. Team17 (publisher) and Black Matter (developer): Hell Let Loose

Business Categories

Business Categories >>

Our business categories are exclusive to TIGA members, if you’re not a member why not join today?

Best Art/Animation/Trailer Supplier

The judges will be looking for:

  • excellent work;
  • excellent customer service;
  • excellent commercial results for clients;
  • a track record of business success.

Shortlist:

  1. Atomhawk
  2. Liquid Crimson
  3. Sony Interactive Entertainment /PlayStation Studios, Creative Arts

Outstanding Leadership Award

The judges will be looking for evidence of a CEO/MD who

  • displays vision and commercial acumen;
  • delivers tangible results;
  • demonstrates business, commercial and creative success;
  • develops the effectiveness of his/her team.

Leaders from developers, publishers, service providers and education providers are eligible to enter this Award.

Shortlist:

  1. Ian Goodall, CEO Aardvark Swift
  2. Liz Prince, CEO Amiqus 
  3. Management team, Atomhawk 
  4. Jon Rissik, CEO Dovetail Games 
  5. Jason Falcus, COO Kwalee 
  6. Halli BJornsson, CEO Lockwood Publishing 
  7. Patrick O’Luanaigh CEO, nDreams
  8. Jason Kingsley OBE, CEO and Creative Director, Rebellion 
  9. Leadership team, Sumo Digital Ltd
  10. Vicky Peggs, CEO Universally Speaking 
  11. Tim Horton, COO XR Games

Publisher

The judges will be looking for evidence of an organisation that:

  • publishes great games/content that is either their own or is owned by another party;

Shortlist:

  1. Codemasters
  2. Kwalee 
  3. Rebellion
  4. Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe

Educational Institution

The judges will be looking for evidence of an educational institution that:

  • delivers high proportions of its students into graduate level jobs;
  • has strong links with industry;
  • has a track record in research and innovation.

Shortlist:

  1. Birmingham City University
  2. Bournemouth University
  3. Escape Studios
  4. London College of Communication, University of the Arts, London
  5. Norwich University of the Arts
  6. Staffordshire University
  7. University of Greenwich
  8. University of Hertfordshire
  9. University of Portsmouth

Best Audio Services Supplier 

The judges will be looking for:

  • excellent work;
  • excellent customer service;
  • excellent commercial results for clients;
  • a track record of business success.

Shortlist:

  1. Pitstop Productions Ltd
  2. Side
  3. Sony Interactive Entertainment/PlayStation Studios, Creative Arts
  4. Soundcuts Ltd
  5. Tazman Audio

Small Studio

The judges will be looking for evidence of a small studio (49 or fewer staff) that:

  • develops great games;
  • has a track record of commercial and critical success.

Shortlist:

  1. Legendary Games 
  2. PixelAnt Games
  3. Rebellion North 
  4. Sumo Warrington
  5. Tactile Games Ltd
  6. Trailmix Ltd
  7. XR GAMES

Large Studio

The Judges will be looking for evidence of a large studio (50 or more staff) which:

  • develops great games;
  • has a track record of commercial and critical success.

Shortlist:

  1. Codemasters
  2. Dovetail Games 
  3. Insomniac Games 
  4. Kwalee 
  5. Lockwood Publishing 
  6. Lucid Games
  7. nDreams
  8. Rebellion
  9. Red Kite Games 
  10. Space Ape Games 
  11. Sumo Sheffield
  12. Supermassive Games

Legal Services Supplier

The judges will be looking for the company to provide evidence of:

  • excellent legal work;
  • excellent customer service;
  • excellent commercial results for clients.

Shortlist:

  1. Eaton Smith LLP
  2. Stevens & Bolton LLP
  3. Wiggin LLP

QA and/or Localisation Provider

The judges will be looking for the company to provide evidence of:

  • excellent QA and/or localisation work;
  • excellent customer service;
  • excellent commercial results for clients;
  • a track record of business success.

Shortlist:

  1. Friday Sundae Studio
  2. Globalstep
  3. PTW
  4. Testronic
  5. Universally Speaking

Recruitment Agency

The judges will be looking for the company to provide evidence of:

  • excellent recruitment work;
  • excellent customer service;
  • excellent commercial results for clients;
  • a track record of business success.

Shortlist:

  1. Aardvark Swift
  2. Amiqus
  3. Avatar

Tax and Accountancy Firm

The judges will be looking for the company to provide evidence of:

  • excellent tax and accountancy work;
  • excellent customer service;
  • excellent commercial results for clients;
  • a track record of business success.

Shortlist:

  1. MMP Tax
  2. RSM
  3. Sky Life Accountancy

Technical Innovation

The judges will be looking for:

  • evidence of technical innovation in the development of a video game carried out by a UK team (if the game is developed by several studios around the world then it will be necessary to show that the innovation was due to the UK team);
  • technical innovation in engines, middleware, tools and technology by a technology business relating to the video games industry.

Shortlist:

  1. Panivox 
  2. Sony Interactive Entertainment: Housemarque 
  3. XR Games

Services Provider

The judges will be looking for the service company to provide evidence for:

  • excellent customer service
  • excellent commercial results for clients
  • a track record of business success

All service companies that are TIGA members may enter this category.

Shortlist:

  1. Amiqus 
  2. Games Jobs Direct
  3. Liquid Crimson
  4. PitStop Productions 
  5. PTW
  6. Red Kite Games
  7. Sony Interactive Entertainment/PlayStation Studios, Creative Arts

Education Initiative and Talent Development

The judges will be looking for evidence of an educational initiative that:

  • delivers high proportions of students into graduate level jobs; or
  • delivers outstanding initiatives to prepare students for work (e.g. student internships, strong links with industry, work on industry projects, etc);
  • advances innovation, knowledge and research; or
  • promotes student studio start-ups; or
  • evidence of a studio initiative that contributes to the future supply of good quality personnel available to work in the games industry (e.g. the team making the game could have engaged with a school or run a hackathon with a university or group in order to promote learning, etc.).

Shortlist:

  1. IHDC
  2. London College of Communication, University of the Arts, London
  3. Lucid Games
  4. Sumo Digital Academy 
  5. Games Careers Week
  6. Ubisoft 
  7. University of Hertfordshire
  8. University of the West of England

Special Awards

Special Awards >>

Employer of the Year 2021

This Award is open to TIGA STAR accredited organisations. The judges will be looking for evidence of best practice in terms of: strategy and leadership; recruitment, selection and training and a commitment to equality and diversity; continuous improvement; and an effective recognition and reward strategy.

Shortlist:

  1. Atomhawk 
  2. Dovetail Games
  3. Sumo Digital

Outstanding Individual Award

  • This is non-enterable and will be awarded to a TIGA member who has made an important contribution to the work of TIGA and to the industry.

Game of the Year

  • The winner of Game of the Year will be determined by TIGA members.