<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[GameUP24]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://gameup24.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[William A.]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://gameup24.wordpress.com/author/louzwate/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Return of the Obra Dinn leads Independent Game Festival 2019&nbsp;nominees]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<div><img src='https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iDdfVCkJ_OLOBhvHFC9uht2bLRI=/0x0:2812x1582/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62776520/ObraDinnZoom.0.png' style='max-width:600px;' /></p>
<div><img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iDdfVCkJ_OLOBhvHFC9uht2bLRI=/0x0:2812x1582/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62776520/ObraDinnZoom.0.png"></p>
<p>IGF Awards will take place at Game Developers Conference in March</p>
<p>Organizers for the Independent Games Festival announced the finalists for its 21st annual awards today, with Lucas Pope’s murder mystery puzzle game <a href="https://www.polygon.com/game/return-of-the-obra-dinn/37290"><em>Return of the Obra Dinn</em></a> leading the list of nominees. The game — which landed at <a href="https://www.polygon.com/best-games-2018/2018/12/20/18144225/return-of-the-obra-dinn-games-of-the-year-goty-2018-lucas-pope">No. 2 on Polygon’s Game of the Year 2018 list</a> — was nominated for excellence across five IGF categories, including the Seumas McNally Grand Prize.</p>
<p>Other IGF 2019 award finalists with multiple nominations include <em>Opus Magnum</em>, <em>Alto’s Odyssey</em>, <em>Hypnospace Outlaw</em>, and <em>Noita</em>. The full list of nominees and honorable mentions is below.</p>
<p>This year’s IGF Awards will take place March 20 at 6:30 p.m. PT during the Game Developers Conference 2019. <a href="https://www.polygon.com/ios/2015/3/2/8136879/80-days-mobile">Meg Jayanth, the award-winning writer of <em>80 Days</em></a><em>,</em> will host this year’s awards show.</p>
<h3><strong>Seumas McNally Grand Prize</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/minit"><em>Minit</em></a><em> </em>(Kitty Calis, Jan Willem Nijman, Jukio Kallio &amp; Dominik Johann)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/opus-magnum"><em>Opus Magnum</em></a><em> </em>(Zachtronics)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/noita"><em>Noita</em></a><em> </em>(Nolla Games)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/return-obra-dinn"><em>Return of the Obra Dinn</em></a><em> </em>(Lucas Pope)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/hypnospace-outlaw"><em>Hypnospace Outlaw</em></a><em> </em>(Jay Tholen, Mike Lasch, Xalavier Nelson Jr., Corey Cochran)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/do-not-feed-monkeys-release-edition"><em>Do Not Feed the Monkeys</em></a><em> </em>(Fictiorama Studios)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong><a href="http://igf.com/wandersong-0"><em>Wandersong</em></a><em> </em>(Greg Lobanov &amp; A Shell in the Pit); <a href="http://igf.com/subnautica"><em>Subnautica </em></a>(Unknown Worlds Entertainment); <a href="http://igf.com/mirror-drop"><em>Mirror Drop</em></a><em> </em>(Ian Lilley); <a href="http://igf.com/moss"><em>Moss</em></a><em> </em>(Polyarc); <a href="http://igf.com/unavowed"><em>Unavowed</em></a><em> </em>(Wadjet Eye Games); <a href="http://igf.com/iconoclasts-2"><em>Iconoclasts</em></a><em> </em>(Joakim Sandberg); <a href="http://igf.com/virtual-virtual-reality-0"><em>Virtual Virtual Reality</em></a> (Tender Claws); <a href="http://igf.com/beat-saber"><em>Beat Saber</em></a><em> </em>(Beat Games)</p>
<h3><strong>Excellence in Visual Art</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/forgotton-anne"><em>Forgotton Anne</em></a><em> </em>(ThroughLine Games)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/altos-odyssey"><em>Alto’s Odyssey</em></a> (Team Alto)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/hypnospace-outlaw"><em>Hypnospace Outlaw</em></a><em> </em>(Jay Tholen, Mike Lasch, Xalavier Nelson Jr., Corey Cochran)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/just-shapes-beats-1"><em>Just Shapes &amp; Beats</em></a><em> </em>(Berzerk Studio)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/mirror-drop"><em>Mirror Drop</em></a><em> </em>(Ian Lilley)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/return-obra-dinn"><em>Return of the Obra Dinn</em></a><em> </em>(Lucas Pope)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong><a href="http://igf.com/beat-saber"><em>Beat Saber</em></a><em> </em>(Beat Games); <a href="http://igf.com/wandersong-0"><em>Wandersong</em></a><em> </em>(Greg Lobanov &amp; A Shell in the Pit); <a href="http://igf.com/subnautica"><em>Subnautica</em></a><em> </em>(Unknown Worlds Entertainment); <a href="http://igf.com/moss"><em>Moss</em></a><em> </em>(Polyarc); <a href="http://igf.com/iconoclasts-2"><em>Iconoclasts</em></a><em> </em>(Joakim Sandberg); <a href="http://igf.com/guildlings"><em>Guildlings</em></a><em> </em>(Sirvo Studios); <a href="http://igf.com/paratopic"><em>Paratopic</em></a><em> </em>(Arbitrary Metric)<strong> </strong></p>
<h3><strong>Excellence in Audio</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/ethereal-2"><em>ETHEREAL</em></a><strong> </strong>(Nonsense Arts &#8211; Nicolás Recabarren and Tomás Batista)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/hypnospace-outlaw"><em>Hypnospace Outlaw</em></a><em> </em>(Jay Tholen, Mike Lasch, Xalavier Nelson Jr., Corey Cochran)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/moss"><em>Moss</em></a><em> </em>(Polyarc)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/return-obra-dinn"><em>Return of the Obra Dinn</em></a><em> </em>(Lucas Pope)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/altos-odyssey"><em>Alto’s Odyssey</em></a> (Team Alto)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/paratopic"><em>Paratopic</em></a><em> </em>(Arbitrary Metric)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong><a href="http://igf.com/creaks"><em>Creaks</em></a><em> </em>(Amanita Design); <a href="http://igf.com/holedown"><em>Holedown</em></a><em> </em>(grapefrukt games); <a href="http://igf.com/pikuniku-0"><em>Pikuniku</em></a><em> </em>(Sectordub); <a href="http://igf.com/messenger-1"><em>The Messenger</em></a><em> </em>(Sabotage); <a href="http://igf.com/distance-4"><em>Distance</em></a><em> </em>(Refract Studios); <a href="http://igf.com/wandersong-0"><em>Wandersong</em></a><em> </em>(Greg Lobanov &amp; A Shell in the Pit); <a href="http://igf.com/wattam"><em>Wattam</em></a><em> </em>(Funomena)</p>
<h3><strong>Excellence in Design</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/what-golf"><em>What the Golf?</em></a><em> </em>(Triband)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/do-not-feed-monkeys-release-edition"><em>Do Not Feed the Monkeys</em></a><em> </em>(Fictiorama Studios)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/noita"><em>Noita</em></a><em> </em>(Nolla Games)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/return-obra-dinn"><em>Return of the Obra Dinn</em></a><em> </em>(Lucas Pope)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/dicey-dungeons"><em>Dicey Dungeons</em></a><em> </em>(Terry Cavanagh, Chipzel, and Marlowe Dobbe)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/opus-magnum"><em>Opus Magnum</em></a><em> </em>(Zachtronics)<strong> </strong>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong><a href="http://igf.com/subnautica"><em>Subnautica</em></a><em> </em>(Unknown Worlds Entertainment); <a href="http://igf.com/carto"><em>Carto</em></a><em> </em>(Sunhead Games); <a href="http://igf.com/black-room"><em>Black Room</em></a><em> </em>(Cassie McQuater); <a href="http://igf.com/jumpgrid"><em>JUMPGRID</em></a><em> </em>(Ian MacLarty); <a href="http://igf.com/mirror-drop"><em>Mirror Drop</em></a><em> </em>(Ian Lilley); <a href="http://igf.com/hypnospace-outlaw"><em>Hypnospace Outlaw</em></a><em> </em>(Jay Tholen, Mike Lasch, Xalavier Nelson Jr., Corey Cochran); <a href="http://igf.com/beat-saber"><em>Beat Saber</em></a> (Beat Games)</p>
<h3><strong>Excellence in Narrative</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/wandersong-0"><em>Wandersong</em></a><em> </em>(Greg Lobanov &amp; A Shell in the Pit)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/genital-jousting"><em>Genital Jousting</em></a><em> </em>(Free Lives)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/unavowed"><em>Unavowed</em></a><em> </em>(Wadjet Eye Games)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/seers-isle"><em>Seers Isle</em></a><em> </em>(Nova-box)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/watch-me-jump"><em>Watch Me Jump</em></a><em> </em>(Jeremy Gable)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/return-obra-dinn"><em>Return of the Obra Dinn</em></a><em> </em>(Lucas Pope)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong><a href="http://igf.com/do-not-feed-monkeys-release-edition"><em>Do Not Feed The Monkeys</em></a><em> </em>(Fictiorama Studios); <a href="http://igf.com/hex"><em>The Hex</em></a><em> </em>(Daniel Mullins Games); <a href="http://igf.com/speed-dating-ghosts"><em>Speed Dating for Ghosts</em></a><em> </em>(Copychaser Games); <a href="http://igf.com/after-hours"><em>after HOURS</em></a><em> </em>(Bahiyya Khan, Claire Meekel, Tim Flusk, Abi Meekel); <a href="http://igf.com/fortune-499"><em>Fortune-499</em></a><em> </em>(AP Thomson); <a href="http://igf.com/maries-room"><em>Marie’s Room</em></a><em> </em>(like Charlie); <a href="http://igf.com/tango-adventure-game"><em>Tango: The Adventure Game</em></a><em> </em>(Gualicho Games) </p>
<h3><strong>Nuovo Award</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/circle0"><em>Circle0</em></a><strong> </strong>(yesyes)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/echeese-zone"><em>eCheese Zone</em></a><em> </em>(Seemingly Pointless)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/noita"><em>Noita</em></a><em> </em>(Nolla Games)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/mirror-drop"><em>Mirror Drop</em></a><em> </em>(Ian Lilley)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/black-room"><em>Black Room</em></a><em> </em>(Cassie McQuater)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/paratopic"><em>Paratopic</em></a><em> </em>(Arbitrary Metric)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/do-not-feed-monkeys-release-edition"><em>Do Not Feed the Monkeys</em></a><em> </em>(Fictiorama Studios)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/nth-dimensional-hiking"><em>Nth Dimension[al] Hiking</em></a><em> </em>(Zachariah Chandler)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong> Honorable Mentions: </strong><a href="http://igf.com/all-our-asias"><em>All Our Asias</em></a><em> </em>(Sean Han Tani); <a href="http://igf.com/hypnospace-outlaw"><em>Hypnospace Outlaw</em></a><em> </em>(Jay Tholen, Mike Lasch, Xalavier Nelson Jr., Corey Cochran); <a href="http://igf.com/cyberpet-graveyard"><em>Cyberpet Graveyard</em></a><em> </em>(alienmelon); <a href="http://igf.com/levedad"><em>levedad</em></a><em> </em>(solimporta); <a href="http://igf.com/subserial-network"><em>Subserial Network</em></a><em> </em>(Aether Interactive); <a href="http://igf.com/macdows-95"><em>macdows 95</em></a><em> </em>(<a href="http://gamebra.in/">gamebra.in</a>); <a href="http://igf.com/norwood-suite-0"><em>The Norwood Suite</em></a><em> </em>(Cosmo D); <a href="http://igf.com/nerve-damage"><em>Nerve Damage</em></a><em> </em>(Dennis Carr)<strong> </strong></p>
<h3><strong>Best Student Game</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/its-paper-guy"><em>It’s Paper Guy!</em></a><em> </em>(Paper Team)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/grace-bruxner-presents-haunted-island-frog-detective-game"><em>Grace Bruxner Presents: The Haunted Island, a Frog Detective Game</em></a><em> </em>(Grace Bruxner)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/after-hours"><em>After HOURS</em></a><em> </em>(Bahiyya Khan, Claire Meekel, Tim Flusk, Abi Meekel)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/en-garde"><em>En Garde!</em></a><em> </em>(En Garde! Team)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/levedad"><em>levedad</em></a><em> </em>(solimporta)</li>
<li>
<a href="http://igf.com/sole"><em>Sole</em></a><em> </em>(Gossamer Games)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong><a href="http://igf.com/we-should-talk"><em>We Should Talk</em></a><em> </em>(HeartBeetStudio); <a href="http://igf.com/coffin-rot-brewing-co"><em>Coffin Rot Brewing Co.</em></a> (Rosser-McGraw Studio); <a href="http://igf.com/fling-finish"><em>Fling to the Finish</em></a><em> </em>(SplitSide Games); <a href="http://igf.com/indecision"><em>Indecision.</em></a><em> </em>(Bilge Kaan); <a href="http://igf.com/seasons-0"><em>Seasons</em></a><em> </em>(David Su and Dominique Star); <a href="http://igf.com/supertype"><em>supertype</em></a><em> </em>(Philipp Stollenmayer); <a href="http://igf.com/atlas-fate-between-light-and-darkness"><em>Atlas’ Fate: Between Light and Darkness</em></a><em> </em>(Baby Robot Games); <a href="http://igf.com/marbloid-1"><em>Marbloid</em></a><em> </em>(Supyrb)</p>
<p><em>Source: <a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://www.polygon.com/2019/1/3/18166948/igf-2019-awards-nominees-gdc">Polygon</a></em></div>
</div>
]]></html><thumbnail_url><![CDATA[https://i0.wp.com/cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iDdfVCkJ_OLOBhvHFC9uht2bLRI=/0x0:2812x1582/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62776520/ObraDinnZoom.0.png?fit=440%2C330&ssl=1]]></thumbnail_url><thumbnail_width><![CDATA[440]]></thumbnail_width><thumbnail_height><![CDATA[248]]></thumbnail_height></oembed>