Celebrating Innovation: The 13th BitSummit Awards Nominations
The 13th edition of the BitSummit Awards has officially unveiled its list of nominees, highlighting the continued growth and influence of independent game development. This year’s selection features a diverse range of titles that push creative boundaries, showcasing unique gameplay mechanics, stunning visuals, and immersive soundscapes.
John Davis, a member of the BitSummit Awards Committee, expressed his admiration for the quality of this year’s entries. “This year’s selection once again showcases an extraordinary range of games, and it’s an honor to spotlight some of the most exceptional titles,” he said. “We’re incredibly proud of all the nominees, and thrilled to celebrate their creativity, passion, and innovation on the BitSummit stage.”
A Breakdown of the Eight Award Categories
BitSummit recognizes excellence across multiple categories, each celebrating different aspects of game development. Here’s a closer look at the nominees in each category:
Best of Show (Vermilion Gate)
- Cairn (Game Bakers)
- Electro Bop Boxing League (Developer Dob)
- Hauntii (Moonloop Games)
- MotionRec (HANDSUM)
- ODDADA (Sven Ahlgrimm)
- Ratatan (Ratata Arts)
- Tournamentris (Studio ZeF)
International Award
- A Week in the Life of Asocial Giraffe (Quail Button)
- Alabaster Dawn (Radical Fish Games)
- Bits & Bops (Tempo Lab Games)
- Cloudheim (Noodle Cat Games)
- Enter the Chronosphere (Joystick Ventures)
- Miniatures (Other Tales Interactive)
- No Players Online (BEESWAX GAMES)
Innovative Outlaw Award (for daring, unconventional games)
- Ascending Inferno (Oppolyon Studios)
- Baby Steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy)
- Building Relationships (Tan Ant Games)
- Crazy Sonic (HiroshiIdenoPresents)
- Curtain Drop (CrazyDrops.Dev)
- Dyping Escape (Heaviside Creations)
- Flip Panic! (Software Control Corporation)
Excellence in Game Design
- Forestrike (Skeleton Crew Studio)
- Henry Halfhead (Lululu Entertainement)
- Hirogami (Bandai Namco Studios Singapore, Bandai Namco Studios Malaysia)
- KaruQ (NekoUp)
- MOP’N SPARK (Omoplata Games)
- Telebbit (IKINAGAMES)
- Tournamentris (Studio ZeF)
Visual Excellence
- A Passing in the Night (.iris)
- AWAYSIS (17-BIT)
- Dreams of Another (Q-Games)
- Hauntii (Moonloop Games)
- Hotel Barcelona (White Owls Inc.)
- I Hate This Place (Rock Square Thunder)
- Love Eternal (brlka)
Excellence in Sound Design
- Bits & Bops (Tempo Lab Games)
- Earthion (エインシャント)
- Electro Bop Boxing League (Developer Dob)
- MeloMisterio (Gentle Giants LLC)
- ODDADA (Sven Ahlgrimm)
- Ratatan (Ratata Arts)
- Tempopo (Witch Beam)
Additional Honors and Voting Opportunities
In addition to the main awards, there are several other distinctions being recognized during the event. These include the Popular Selection and Kids Selection, which will be decided by attendees at the show. Other honors, such as the PlayStation® Award, ID@Xbox Award, and media partner accolades, will also be presented.
Final winners will be announced during the award ceremony on July 19, with the people’s award winners revealed on July 20. Nominees will have the chance to showcase their games at BitSummit’s July 19–21 event at Kyoto’s Miyako Messe. Attendees can demo titles, meet developers, and vote in-person for their favorites. Selected games will also participate in the WePlay Game Expo in Shanghai later this year.