The 2021 Freeplay Awards
The 2021 Freeplay Awards are now open.
For submission, creators must be able to provide a copy of the game (via a private URL, access through the App Store, Play Store, Steam, Itch.io, Humble or the like, or physically get it to us within the submission period).
Submissions will close 11:59pm (AEST) on Sunday 25th April, 2021. Any games being submitted by post (see submission form for address) must be post-marked by 25th April, and received by Freeplay within two working days of the deadline.
Finalists will be announced five weeks after submissions close. The Awards Ceremony will take place on the final day of the Freeplay Independent Games Festival.
2021 Freeplay Award Categories:
- The Freeplay Award (Best Game)
- Excellence in Design
- Excellence in Visual Art
- Excellence in Audio
- Excellence in Narrative
- Non-Digital Game Award
- Micro-Game Award
- Experimental Game Award
- Student Game Award
- Across The Ditch Award
All games will be considered for The Freeplay Award (Best Game).
Short descriptions of each category may be found on the submission form.
Please read before applying:
Submission Rules & Guidelines
Submission deadline:
Sunday 25th April, 11:59pm (AEST)
Submissions close in:
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Previous Awards
2020
The Freeplay Award: A Hand With Many Fingers
Category Winners
Excellence in Design: A Hand with Many Fingers
Excellence in Visual Art: ENDLESS SCROLL
Excellence in Audio: Unfamiliar
Excellence in Narrative: Life Tastes Like Cardboard
Non-Digital Game Award: The Outer Whorls
Micro-Game Award: Something Looks Weird
Experimental Game Award: If We Were Allowed To Visit
Student Game Award: Ascent of Grob’s Domain
Across The Ditch Award: Leap of Leaf
2019
The Freeplay Award: New Ice York
Category Winners
Excellence in Design: JUMPGRID
Excellence in Visual Art: Necrobarista
Excellence in Audio: Skyward Journey
Excellence in Narrative: The Haunted Island, a Frog Detective Game
Non-Digital Game Award: Edible Games Cookbook
Micro-Game Award: Novena
Experimental Game Award: The Common Campfire
Student Game Award: Pigeon Game
Across The Ditch Award: Toripon 鳥ポン
2018
The Freeplay Award: The Catacombs of Solaris
Category Winners
Excellence in Design: Dissembler
Excellence in Visual Art: Paperbark
Excellence in Audio: Florence
Excellence in Narrative: Bound By Blood
Non-Digital Game Award: {<>}
Micro-Game Award: Rise
Experimental Game Award: Thomas Bowker’s Draw
Student Game Award: Lacuna
Across The Ditch Award: Echo Grotto
2015
The Freeplay Award: Push Me Pull You
Category Winners
Best Visual Art: Movement Study 1
Best Audio: Submerged
Best Narrative: Project Ven
Best Tech: Space Dust Racers
Best Non-Digital: Rise to Power
2013
Best Game: Framed
Category Winners
Design: Framed
Visual Art: The Paper Fox
Audio Design: Particulars
Narrative: Particulars
Technical Innovation: Turnover
Non-Digital: Outside These City Walls
People’s Choice: Turnover
2012
Best Australian Game: Stickets
Category Winners
Best International Game: Splice
Best Art in a Game: Toybox
Best Concept Art: Peleda
Best Audio in a Game: Lunar Flight
Best Technical Innovation: Automation
Best Writing in a Game: Flatland: Fallen Angle
2011
Best Australian Game: Antichamber
Category Winners
Best Design: Antichamber
Best On-Paper Design: Dead Eye
Best Art: Warco
Best Concept Art: Firo
Best Technical Innovation: Kingspray
Best Game Writing: MacGuffin’s Curse
Best Audio: Solar 2
2010
Best Australian Game: Jolly Rover
Category Winners
Best On-Paper Design: iCrazy Man
Best Art in a Game: Captain Forever (Series)
Best Concept Art: Exodus
Best Technical Innovation: Colourbind
Best Game Writing: Transumer
Best Audio: Train Conductor
Best International Game: Last Hope