This year marks the 12th edition of the indiePlay China Independent Game Awards! Since 2015, indiePlay has witnessed and accompanied the growth of Chinese independent games. While discovering and encouraging game works, the event has also become a bridge connecting game developers domestically and internationally. Today, indiePlay has grown into an event with considerable global recognition. The 2026 indiePlay China Independent Game Awards received over 700 game submissions from more than 30 countries and regions worldwide.
indiePlay encourages developers to continuously pursue excellence in gameplay, narrative, and design, as well as to explore artistic expressions in visuals and audio. Meanwhile, the event always focuses on industry innovation. This year, a dedicated AI game category has been newly added, aiming to guide developers beyond superficial asset generation applications to deeply explore the integration of AI technology with core gameplay, interaction design, level logic, narrative experience, and other essential elements.
The increase in both the number and overall quality of submissions this year presented new challenges for the competition judges. The selection of the shortlist was more difficult than in previous years, resulting in a one-week delay in the final announcement. After two months of repeated online and offline review rounds and deliberations, the shortlist for the 2026 indiePlay China Independent Game Awards has been finalized. We thank all the judges for their hard work and dedication to the event!
The shortlists for the 2026 indiePlay awards are as follows (in no particular order):
Best Visual Effects Nominees
Itse: Zero Contact
City of Ants
Yan Ji
Summer of Old Dreams
Elegy of Saint-Germain
Nanting Lake
Best Design Nominees
Deep Walk in the Strange Realm
Abyssal Jeweler
Birdwatching Notes
Ashen Kingdom
Card Demon King: Only a Head Left!
Raccoon Coin Pusher
Best Innovation Nominees
What Acts up
Steak Simulator: Medium Rare
Hell Not Empty
Junk Artist
The Most Perfect Work
The Great Labyrinth
Best Narrative Nominees
Case Deduction
Paper House
Her From Beyond 2 - Aliya2 Dawn
Elegy of Saint-Germain
Insomnia Club
OPUS: Heart Reflection Wushan
Best Audio Effects Nominees
Northern Migratory Bird
Meowledi: Rhythm Survivor
Sound Detective Mystery
OPUS: Heart Towards Wushan
Start Playing! Taxi Detective Case Files
S-Mail
Best Game Jam Work Nominees
Beyond the Horizon
Drop Dead Anchor
Trianchor
Anchor Flash · Slash
Anchor & Box
Cat Anchor Far Sail
Anchored Words
Orbital Reconstruction
Weightless Odyssey
SUPER ANCHOR
*The nominees for Best Game Jam were selected from entries at various offline sites and online participants of the 2026 CiGA Game Jam.
Best AI Game Nominees
Meow Island
The Last Judgment
Dear Suspect
Mixed Thoughts Bureau
Maggie's Garden
Best Newcomer Team Nominees
Beijing Dianhe Network Technology Co., Ltd. - "Sticky Surplus"
Guaji Studio - "Holidaze: Don't Panic, Guide"
Meowstarb - "Pet the Cat"
Paste Studio - "Gods and Humans Together"
Bandage Dog.exe Studio - "Strange Qilin: Sunrise"
Little Brother Ajin - "Hero of Mountains and Rivers"
*The Best Newcomer Award is evaluated based on teams, targeting those participating in the indiePlay competition for the first time with impressive works.
Best Student Work Nominees
Empty Box
Deadly Gamble
Eggy - Ten Long Days
Star Ring Convenience Store
Frozen State
Northern Migratory Bird
Word Anomaly
Fairy Ranch
Flowers and Gods
Mingjian Detective Agency
Virus
Paper House
MAW
My Ransomware Can't Be This Cute?!
World Train
The list of nominees for Best Student Work includes 5 titles selected through the CUSGA China University Student Game Development Competition, which directly advanced to the final shortlist for the indiePlay Student Category.
Best Overseas Work Nominees
I Am the Hole King
Desktop Explorer
Ratatan
DEPERSON
Tram Showoff
Void Diver: Escape from the Abyss
Douling Duel
The Player Who Can't Level Up
Dyping Escape: Life and Death Decided
Lost & Found Co., Ltd.
*This year, submissions came from over 30 countries and regions abroad, including some globally popular titles already released. After collective deliberation by the judges, and in line with indiePlay's original intention to discover more outstanding works, the number of nominees for Best Overseas Work remains at 10. However, titles that were already released and became global hits at the time of submission are excluded from the final judging. We thank these works for their support and participation in the event.
Game of the Year Nominees
OPUS: Heart Reflection Wushan
City of Ants
Yan Ji
Ashen Kingdom
Congratulations to the above-nominated works and teams! At the indiePlay nominee area during the WePlay Cultural Expo on November 21-22, 2026, all the above works will be available for live demos!
On November 22, a grand award ceremony will be held on the main stage of WePlay to announce the final winners of each category. Players are welcome to witness this annual important moment for independent game developers!
The 2026 WePlay event is approaching! November 21-22 at Hall 2.2, Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center! A larger venue with richer content brings an upgraded experience! Event details will be revealed soon! Please follow the WePlay and CiGA official accounts for more information.
