TIGA Games Industry Awards 2023: Celebrating Indie Gaming Excellence

Last night’s TIGA Games Industry Awards 2023 illuminated the Troxy London, honouring the finest contributors to the gaming realm. With over 350 industry VIPs in attendance, the glitzy event celebrated outstanding games, studios, universities, and essential service support companies that have surpassed expectations in the past year.

Indie Triumphs

The night witnessed several stellar moments for indie gaming. Dlala Studios, in collaboration with Disney Games, took home the coveted Game of the Year award for Disney Illusion Island. Not stopping there, Dlala also snagged the Best Small Studio title, while Disney Illusion Island was lauded as the Best Social Game 2023.

Ustwo games bagged double wins with the Diversity award and the Creativity in Games accolade for their creation, Desta: The Memories Between.

Big Wins and New Beginnings

Sumo Digital emerged victoriously as the Best Large Studio, alongside their Sumo Group, securing the Best Talent Development Initiative award. Playground Games was honoured with the brand-new Commitment to Workplace Wellbeing award, while Playground’s HR Director, Geraldine Cross, was named the Outstanding Individual of the Year.

Rocksteady Studios received the inaugural Commitment to ESG award, while Dovetail Games seized the title of Employer of the Year. Also making a splendid debut was the category of Outstanding Leadership, awarded to John Tearle, CEO of Flix Interactive.

The Complete Winners List

The list of winners covers an array of categories and showcases the diversity and innovation within the gaming industry. From audio design to strategy games, legal services to outstanding leadership, the TIGA Awards highlighted excellence across various domains.

Award	Winner
BEST ARCADE GAME	MechHead – Staffordshire University
BEST QA and/or LOCALISATION PROVIDER	Testronic
DIVERSITY AWARD	Desta: The Memories Between – ustwo games
BEST CASUAL GAME	PowerWash Simulator – Futurlab
HERITAGE IN GAMES	878 AD: Winchester Revealed – Sugar Creative
BEST EDUCATIONAL, SERIOUS OR SIMULATION GAME	Planet Planners – BBC/Mobile Pie
BEST TECHNICAL INNOVATION	Speech Graphics
BEST ROLE PLAYING GAME	Silverpoint: The Game – BBC/Jollywise
BEST AUDIO DESIGN	God of War Ragnarök – Sony Interactive Entertainment/Santa Monica Studio
BEST SOCIAL GAME	Disney Illusion Island – Disney Games/Dlala Studios
BEST ACTION AND ADVENTURE GAME	The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil In Me – Supermassive Games
BEST AR/VR GAME	Synapse – nDreams
CREATIVITY IN GAMES	Desta: The Memories Between – ustwo games
BEST SMALL STUDIO	Dlala Studios
BEST PUZZLE GAME	Love and Pies – Trailmix
BEST AUDIO SERVICES PROVIDER	PitStop Productions
BEST STRATEGY GAME	Starship Troopers: Terran Command – Slitherine Software UK
BEST LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDER	Lewis Silkin LLP
OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AWARD	John Tearle, CEO, Flix Interactive
BEST RECRUITMENT AGENCY	Amiqus
BEST ART/ANIMATION TRAILER SUPPLIER	TrailerFarm
BEST PUBLISHER	Rebellion
BEST SERVICES PROVIDER	Airship Interactive
BEST VISUAL DESIGN	Horizon Call of the Mountain – Sony Interactive Entertainment/Guerrilla
BEST EDUCATION INITIATIVE	Birmingham City University
BEST TALENT DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE	Sumo Group
BEST EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIION	Norwich University of the Arts
BEST LARGE STUDIO	Sumo Digital
COMMITMENT TO ESG	Rocksteady Studios
COMMITMENT TO WORKPLACE WELLBEING	Playground Games
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR 2023	Dovetail Games
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL OF THE YEAR 2023	Geraldine Cross, HR Director, Playground Games
GAME OF THE YEAR 2023	Disney Illusion Island – Disney Games/Dlala Studios

Dr Richard Wilson OBE, CEO of TIGA, commented, “Congratulations to all the winners of the TIGA Games Industry Awards 2023! It’s a delight to acknowledge the creativity and commitment that enriches the UK’s gaming landscape. A heartfelt thank you to our finalists, judges, attendees, and our sponsors for supporting TIGA’s mission to celebrate excellence in gaming.”