The God of the Underworld has added South By Southwest to his expansive domain as Supergiant’s Hades was named “Video Game of the Year” during last night’s ceremony for the 2020-2021 SXSW Gaming Awards. The roguelike also collected a second trophy for “Excellence in Game Design.”
Festival organizers decided to drastically slim down the category slate, presenting just a dozen awards this year (down from 17 in 2019-2020), though 43 different games received at least one nomination. Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima and Moon Studios’s Ori and the Will of the Wisps led the way with four nominations apiece and both managed to score one win (“Excellence in Animation, Art, and Visual Achievement” for Sucker Punch and “Excellence in Score” for Moon Studios).
But it was another indie that managed to outshine the rest of the lineup at this year’s ceremony, as Ghost Ship Games’s Deep Rock Galactic was the only other two-time winner for “Indie Game of the Year” and “Excellence in Multiplayer.” Other winners at the 2020-2021 SXSW Gaming Awards included Half-Life: Alyx (“VR Game of the Year”), Dreams (“Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award”), The Last of Us Part II (“Excellence in Narrative”), Microsoft Flight Simulator (“Excellence in Technical Achievement”), and Doom Eternal (“Excellence in Audio Design”).
The SXSW Gaming Awards also selects a “Tabletop Game of the Year” every year as well, and this year the award went to The Search for Planet X.
A complete list of winners and nominees from the 2020-2021 SXSW Gaming Awards can be found after the break.
Video Game of the Year
Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence and creates a distinct gaming experience across all platforms and genres.
- WINNER: Hades
- Doom Eternal
- Ghost of Tsushima
- The Last of Us Part II
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
VR Game of the Year
Awarded to the VR game that exemplifies overall excellence in gameplay and design across any VR platform.
- WINNER: Half-Life: Alyx
- Down the Rabbit Hole
- Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond
- Star Wars: Squadrons
- The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
Indie Game of the Year
Awarded to the indie game that exemplifies overall excellence and creates a distinct gaming experience across all platforms and genres.
- WINNER: Deep Rock Galactic
- Bugsnax
- Cloudpunk
- Crown Trick
- Huntdown
- Ikenfell
- The Last Campfire
- Monster Sanctuary
- Raji: An Ancient Epic
- Risk of Rain 2
Tabletop Game of the Year
Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence and ingenuity of any tabletop game in any genre.
- WINNER: The Search for Planet X
- Calico
- The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
- Fort
- Oceans
Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award
Awarded to the game that best challenges the “norm” of everyday gaming and offers a culturally innovative view of a game world, character, or gameplay.
- WINNER: Dreams
- Astro’s Playroom
- If Found…
- The Last of Us Part II
- Tell Me Why
Excellence in Narrative
Awarded to the game with the best storyline and dialogue.
- WINNER: The Last of Us Part II
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Hades
- Immortals: Fenyx Rising
- Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Excellence in Game Design
Awarded to the game with the best overall design concept, gameplay mechanics, and best execution.
- WINNER: Hades
- Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time
- Desperados III
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Watch Dogs Legion
Excellence in Multiplayer
Awarded to the game with the best player-to-player interaction experience.
- WINNER: Deep Rock Galactic
- Huntdown
- Risk of Rain 2
- Star Wars: Squadrons
- Valorant
Excellence in Animation, Art, and Visual Achievement
Awarded to the game with the most well-designed and stunning visuals, including animation effects and graphics.
- WINNER: Ghost of Tsushima
- Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
- Cloudpunk
- Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Excellence in Technical Achievement
Awarded to the game that pushed the capabilities of technology and programming furthest or most effectively.
- WINNER: Microsoft Flight Simulator
- Astro’s Playroom
- Dreams
- Genshin Impact
- Ghost of Tsushima
Excellence in Score
Awarded to the game that best exemplifies artistic excellence in musical score and how it progresses the narrative of the game.
- WINNER: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Doom Eternal
- Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Trials of Mana
Excellence in Audio Design
Awarded to the game with the most outstanding and impactful sound effects.
- WINNER: Doom Eternal
- Bugsnax
- Observer: System Redux
- Star Wars: Squadrons
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2