Indie Game Award 2025 Winners Announced: Minds Beneath Us and Balatro Win Double Crowns

The Indie Game Award 2025, Asia’s largest indie game competition hosted by Taipei Game Show (TGS), announced this year’s winners tonight. Among them, Taiwan-based studio Bearbone’s Minds Beneath Us won two major awards, "Grand Prix" and "Best Narrative." The jury unanimously praised the game's thought-provoking storyline, well-developed characters, and its stunning blend of futuristic technology with local street scenes, resonating with both domestic and international judges. The visual style, complemented by an oppressive yet fitting soundtrack, created an exceptional atmosphere. Scoring highly in multiple categories, the game demonstrated outstanding overall performance, earning the title of a "perfect all-rounder."

This year's Indie Game Award marks the first collaboration with Xbox, and the ceremony will take place a day before Taipei Game Show 2025. Mr. Jun Shen Chia, Xbox’s Strategic Markets Lead for Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, will be on-site to present the awards. Additionally, we are honored to have Mr. Shuhei Yoshida, former Head of the Indies Initiative at Sony Interactive Entertainment, a dedicated advocate for the global indie game development community, as well as Daniel Robson, editor-in-chief of IGN JAPAN and a long-time award judge, join us in presenting the awards. The ceremony brought together the winners of four awards, numerous finalists, and exhibitors from the Taipei Game Show 2025. It provided a platform for professional discussions with the jury, allowing participants to gain valuable insights into their games' strengths and areas for improvement. Throughout the four-day TGS event, all winning titles will be showcased and available for demo at the Indie Game Award 2025 Winner Pavilion, located within the Indie House of the B2C Zone.

Intense Competition Among 340 Developers from 52 Countries – Winners Express, "We’re Honored and Grateful for This Recognition!"

This year’s Indie Game Award set a record in its 11-year history, with 340 indie game developers from 52 countries and regions joining the competition, significantly raising the bar for winning. One veteran judge noted that the entries demonstrate ever-improving quality, with many games undergoing years of development, early access, and refinements before submission. Developers' ambition now goes far beyond "indie games," aiming for greater global stages.

Among the winners, Balatro, a solo project by Canadian developer LocalThunk, won "Best Mobile Game" and "Best Innovation." Judges humorously described the game as "highly addictive," bringing fresh possibilities to the simple card game format. Harvey, CEO of publisher Playstack, shared: "We are deeply honored to receive this award and the amazing support from the player community. Thank you for believing in us."

Psychoflow Studio from Taiwan won "Best Design" with Bionic Bay, a groundbreaking 2D platformer that combines various mechanics for a seamless gameplay experience and carefully designed levels. MONOWAVE by South Korean student BBB took home the "Best Student Game" award, with the judges praising its high level of completion, scratch art-style graphics, and emotional music that feels like stepping into a beautifully crafted fairy tale.

Omaet Games from Spain earned the "Best Audio" honor with The Midnight Barber, a unique rhythm game combining haircutting and music. The judges lauded its artistic and musical creativity, which resonated with rhythm game enthusiasts. Meanwhile, Cotton Game from China received the "Best Visual Art" for Sunset Hills, a heartwarming dog-themed train journey featuring relaxing storybook visuals and music. The judges commented: "Playing this is so soothing—it makes you want to linger on the scenery a little longer."

*List of Award Winners: https://tgs.tca.org.tw/indie_award_winners.php?b=e&a=25