2018 Nordic Game Awards winners

Nordic Game presented the twelfth annual Nordic Game Awards at in Malmö, Sweden. This year’s Nordic Game Awards were hosted by Elie Abraham; composer, sound designer, voice actor, DJ and stand-up comedian. Elie presented prizes in eight categories and entertained the audience in the Unreal Theatre, the main auditorium of venue Slagthuset.
And the winners are…

2018 Best Audio: “Little Nightmares”, Tarsier Studios (SE)
Jury’s motivation: The soundscape plays a uniquely central role in conveying the feel of the world and the personality of its inhabitants. The resulting ambience is discreet, yet stays to haunt you even after finishing the game.

2018 Best Audio nominees also included:
“ECHO”, Ultra Ultra (DK)
“Figment”, Bedtime Digital Games (DK)
“Nex Machina”, Housemarque (FI)
“Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus”, MachineGames (SE)

2018 Best Fun for Everyone: “Passpartout: The Starving Artist”, Flamebait Games (SE)
Jury’s motivation: This game strikes a strong balance between accessibility and depth. The simplicity of the activities means everyone can enjoy it, whether they’re gamers or non-gamers of all ages. But as you fall into game’s enchanting loop, you realize there is something there that you didn’t expect at first.

2018 Best Fun for Everyone nominees also included:
“A Hat in Time”, Gears for Breakfast (DK)
“Fugl”, Muunluun (NO)
“Little Police”, Filimundus (SE)
“OCMO”, Team OCMO (FI)

2018 Best Debut: “ECHO”, Ultra Ultra (DK)

Jury’s motivation: An ambitious, grand vision paired with an economical design and brilliant use of resources makes it almost hard to believe that this game is any studio’s first. If this is their debut, who knows what the future may hold.

2018 Best Debut nominees also included:
“A Hat in Time”, Gears for Breakfast (DK)
“Milkmaid of the Milky Way”, Machineboy (NO)
“OCMO”, Team OCMO (FI)
“Passpartout: The Starving Artist”, Flamebait Games (SE)

2018 Best Technology: “Sparc”, CCP (IS)

Jury’s motivation: This game throws your entire body into a convincing world of sci-fi sounds and visuals, adding a surprisingly tactile and sporty feeling to the virtual reality technology. This is not just a fun and competitive workout for all your senses, but a look into the future of sports games.

2018 Best Technology nominees also included:
“ECHO”, Ultra Ultra (DK)
“Fugl”, Muunluun (NO)
“Star Wars Battlefront 2”, EA DICE (SE)
“Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus”, MachineGames (SE)

2018 Best Game Design: “ECHO”, Ultra Ultra (DK)

Jury’s motivation: A central idea that feels as new and unique as it feels natural and logical, surrounded by a game perfectly built to let it live up to its full potential. This game is a simply perfect storm of good design choices.

2018 Best Game Design nominees also included:
“A Hat in Time”, Gears for Breakfast (DK)
“Little Nightmares”, Tarsier Studios (SE)
“SteamWorld Dig 2”, Image & Form (SE)
“Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus”, MachineGames (SE)
“World to the West”, Rain (NO)

2018 Best Art: “Little Nightmares”, Tarsier Studios (SE)

Jury’s motivation: Every area feels like a coherent piece of set design, traversed by vividly animated creatures. The world has a cinematic quality while feeling disturbingly real. Horror is transformed into beauty.

2018 Best Art nominees also included:
“ECHO”, Ultra Ultra (DK)
“Milkmaid of the Milky Way”, Machineboy (NO)
“Nex Machina”, Housemarque (FI)
“Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus”, MachineGames (SE)

2018 Nordic Game of the Year – Small Screen: “SteamWorld Dig 2”, Image & Form (SE)

Jury’s motivation: This big labyrinth is full of little secrets to unearth, and gives you a great sense of accomplishment for finding them. It’s an excellent melding of genres that doesn’t make any compromises, while still being easy to pick up and enjoy anywhere.

2018 Nordic Game of the Year – Small Screen nominees also included:
“Milkmaid of the Milky Way”, Machineboy (NO)
“OCMO”, Team OCMO (FI)
“Pako 2”, Tree Men Games (FI)
“Returner 77”, Fantastic, Yes! (DK)

2018 Nordic Game of the Year: “ECHO”, Ultra Ultra (DK)

Jury’s motivation: Clever game design, elegant visuals and a cold, unnerving atmosphere. Every single aspect of this game comes together to form a thoroughly impressive whole, unlike anything we’ve ever played.

2018 Nordic Game of the Year nominees also included:
“A Hat in Time”, Gears for Breakfast (DK)
“Little Nightmares”, Tarsier Studios (SE)
“Nex Machina”, Housemarque (FI)
“SteamWorld Dig 2”, Image & Form (SE)
“Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus”, MachineGames (SE)

2018 Jury’s Special Mention: Wolfenstein “Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus”, MachineGames (SE)

Jury’s motivation: A politically charged alternate history tale that tackles heavy themes of racism and bigotry, with well-defined characters and a dark sense of humour throughout. It never ceases to shock and amaze.