Alt Games Of The Year - Oh So Fresh
I’ll be honest, I’m not really sure what I’m getting at with the title of this one. There’s a through line between them - something that hints at the true nature of being into the Indie Games Scene, whatever that is - but one thing I’ll say is that each category is pretty great. I think so anyway.
Best Game Involving Cards & Deck-building
Recent years have popularized cards in the digital space once again, riffing on the old mainstays like Magic and Yugioh to create whole new interesting experiences. I wonder if there’s something in there carrying over from our 90s discussion in regards to nostalgia for physical trading cards in our increasingly paperless world. Who could say.
Nominees:
Inscryption
Black Book
Library of Ruina
Tainted Grail: Conquest
Roguebook
Winner: Inscryption
For as strong as the crowd was in the card game genre this year, Inscryption takes the known and unknown of the genre and twists and turns it in all the most satisfying ways. There are elements of, “wait, will that actually work? Surely the game will stop me from doing that? No way…” that just make the playing of this game so wonderful. That with the added Mullens on top? We have a winner baby.
Best Photography Focused Game
The irony is, after years and years of clamoring for a new Pokemon Snap game, Snap ended up being the least interesting photography based game out there in 2021.
Nominees:
Winner: TOEM
The sheer, unrelenting, good kind of wholesomeness shinning through TOEM is one of the most heartwarming things 2021 had to offer. Photography isn’t necessarily challenging - it instead is a vehicle for human interaction and real community building. Plus, making it to the end is a real treat.
Best Hour Long Experience
These short one sitting games make the best argument yet that less is truly more. Editing is good. You do not need a massive world with 100 collectible feathers when a smaller, contained experience will do.
Nominees:
Behind The Frame: The Finest Scenery
Magnus Failure
LoveChoice
Winner: Magnus Failure
Magnus Failure is one of the most esoteric, chunky, inscrutable, downright absorbing games you’ll come across. The puzzles about the environment both make sense, but are also just weird enough to keep you asking those important questions: What? Why? How? Huh?
Best Free Game
You don’t even need to spend a single cent to get hours upon hours of incredible game experiences anymore. I’m not even talking about that epic game what keeps stealing from other games and pop culture, either.
Nominees:
Arid
Find Love Or Die Trying
Frame of Mind
Runo
Get In The Car, Loser!
Heart of Enya
If On A Winters Night, Four Travellers
Reminiscence
Axial Disc 1
Winner: Arid
It goes without saying for every nominated game here, but doubly so for Arid - I can’t believe this game is free. A student project, a survival game, a mystery thriller, all wrapped in one. It’s still being worked on and updated to this day. Some incredible work from some incredibly talented students.
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