Enter the Indie Publishing Awards 2022 today

The Indie Publishing Awards is back for 2022.

Last year's awards saw the likes of Fall Guys, Devolver Digital, Steam, Wings and Kowloon Nights win for excellence in publishing, marketing, community management and more. It also featured appearances from industry legends such as Gabe Newell, Shuhei Yoshida, Brenda Romero, Helen Chiang, Peter Moore and Warren Spector.

This year's event will take place virtually as part of our indie developer event GI Live: Online on Tuesday, May 31st. You can read more about GI Live: Online right here.

For a chance to win an award, we will need you to submit some details as to why you should be considered. We except nominations on behalf of yourself and on behalf of other businesses. Lobbying closes Friday, May 6th.

The GamesIndustry.biz team will then whittle down the finalists to a shortlist, where a panel of industry judges will help decide the ultimate winner.

This year we have added a new category for developers that self-publish their games.

An indie game, for the purposes of this event, is any game primarily developed by a team that is not publicly owned or owned by a larger corporation. If you want to check whether you are eligible, please contact chris.dring@gamesindustry.biz.

Indie publishers are publishers of indie content, not necessarily an independently-owned publisher, so the likes of Team17, Private Division and EA are welcome to take part.

You can enter the awards through here.

Here are the details of the criteria for each category, which should help you with your entry.

Indie PR & Marketing Campaign of the Year

Who is eligible?
Any indie developer, publisher or agency that ran a strong PR & marketing campaign in 2021 for an independently-made video game. Campaigns can take in social media, online promotions, store activity, trailers, media coverage, and general advertising.

Judging criteria

• Effective communication with gamers through own channels and media (paid and organic)
• Innovation and creativity in marketing and communication activity
• Able to demonstrate influence on commercial performance
• Impact vs size of the budget
• Overall strategy approach

How do I make my opinion heard?
All readers can put forward a nominee via this form. Please include supporting campaign details, success metrics and any relevant testimonials.

Crowdfunding Campaign of the Year

Who is eligible?
Any indie developer or publisher that ran a successful crowdfunding campaign for a new indie game in 2021.

Judging criteria

• Strong communication with gamers and backers
• Effective use of stretch goals
• Influence on funding results
• Media coverage
• Community engagement
• Customer satisfaction

How do I make my opinion heard?
All readers can put forward a nominee via this form. Please include supporting campaign details, success metrics and any relevant testimonials.

Indie Publisher of the Year

Who is eligible?
Any indie publisher that published or supported one or more indie game in 2021, delivering strong commercial success and brand awareness.

Judging criteria

• Store relations
• Product(s) coverage
• Commercial performance
• Marketing success
• Developer relations
• Release innovation

How do I make my opinion heard?
All readers can put forward a nominee via this form. Please include supporting details of successful products, including metrics, and any relevant testimonials.

Indie Self-Publisher of the Year

Who is eligible?
Any indie developer that self-published one or more games in 2021, delivering strong commercial success and brand awareness.

Judging criteria

• Product(s) coverage
• Commercial performance
• Marketing success
• Community engagement
• Release innovation

How do I make my opinion heard?
All readers can put forward a nominee via this form. Please include supporting details of successful products, including metrics, and any relevant testimonials.

Indie Investor of the Year

Who is eligible?
Any games investor of indie studios or games in 2021, who go beyond simply investing in the team, and works with teams to deliver growth, whilst respecting studio independence

Judging criteria

• Developer relationship(s)
• Funding flexibility
• Going beyond investment to support the team
• Respecting studio independence
• Connections
• Demonstration of investment success

How do I make my opinion heard?
All readers can put forward a nominee via this form. Please include supporting details of any investment success, including metrics, and any relevant testimonials.

Indie Community Management of The Year

Who is eligible?
Any external and/or internal community team or individual that delivered excellent support for an indie game in 2021.

Judging criteria

• Influence on audience
• Effective communication
• Impact against budget
• Creativity and innovation

How do I make my opinion heard?
All readers can put forward a nominee via this form. Please include supporting campaign details, success metrics and any relevant testimonials.

Storefront of the Year

Who is eligible?
Any games storefront that promoted or sold video games from indies in 2021.

Judging criteria

• Promotion of indie content
• Discoverability of products
• Commercial success for indie teams
• Support for indie teams

How do I make my opinion heard?
All readers can put forward a nominee via this form. Please include any details of 2021 successes, including metrics and any relevant testimonials.

Unsigned Game of the Show

Who is eligible?
Any game without a publisher that was showcased as part of GI Live: Online.

Judging criteria

• Innovation
• Quality of demo/trailer
• Effective pitch

How do I make my opinion heard?
This award is entirely judged by ReedPop journalists based on games submitted to GI Live: Online. Games that will be considered are titles included in the GI Live: Online showcase, and you must upload your game by Friday, May 6th to be considered.

Special Recognition Award

Who is eligible?
Any individual or company who has achieved excellent support for the indie games community in 2021

Judging criteria
The GamesIndustry.biz team will pick a winner based on advice from the industry

How do I make my opinion heard?
Please email chris.dring@gamesindustry.biz with any individual or business who you feel should be recognised by Friday, May 6th.

The Indie Publishing Awards are part of GI Live: Online, our global virtual business event for indie developers.

For more details on GI Live, to book tickets and to see our speakers and attending companies, click here.