Video Game of the Year
Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence and creates a distinct gaming experience across all platforms and genres.
Winner: Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker — SQUARE ENIX
Indie Game of the Year
Awarded to the indie game that exemplifies overall excellence and creates a distinct gaming experience across all platforms and genres.
Winner: Kena: Bridge of Spirits — Ember Lab
Tabletop Game of the Year
Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence and ingenuity of any tabletop game in any genre.
Winner: Dune: Imperium — Dire Wolf Digital / Dire Wolf Digital
VR Game of the Year
Awarded to the VR game that exemplifies overall excellence in gameplay and design across any VR platform.
Winner: Resident Evil 4 VR — Armature Studio / Oculus Studios
Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award
Awarded to the game that best challenges the “norm” of everyday gaming and offers a culturally innovative view of a game world, character, or gameplay.
Winner: Unpacking — Witch Beam / Humble Games
Excellence in Animation, Art, & Visual Achievement
Awarded to the game with the most well-designed and stunning visuals, including animation effects and graphics.
Winner: Forza Horizon 5 — Playground Games / Xbox Game Studios
Excellence in Game Design
Awarded to the game with the best overall design concept, gameplay mechanics, and best execution.
Winner: Inscryption — Daniel Mullins Games / Devolver Digital
Excellence in Score
Awarded to the game that best exemplifies artistic excellence in musical score and how it progresses the narrative of the game.
Winner: Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker — SQUARE ENIX
Excellence in Multiplayer
Awarded to the game with the best player-to-player interaction experience.
Winner: It Takes Two — Hazelight / Electronic Arts
Excellence in Narrative
Awarded to the game with the best storyline and dialogue.
Winner: Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker — SQUARE ENIX
Excellence in Audio Design
Awarded to the game with the most outstanding and impactful sound effects.
Winner: Resident Evil Village — Capcom
Excellence in Technical Achievement
Awarded to the game that pushed the capabilities of technology and programming furthest or most effectively.
Winner: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart — Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment
Congrats to all 2022 SXSW Gaming Awards recipients!