Taipei Game Show 2026 Indie Game Award Finalists Announced! A Record-Breaking 515 Entries from 51 Countries

Hosted by Taipei Game Show, the international indie game competition Indie Game Award (IGA) continues to grow more competitive each year. This edition set a new record with 515 entries from 51 countries and regions, marking a 1.5-fold increase in scale compared to last year. Notably, indie developers from Norway, the United Arab Emirates, Panama, Slovenia, and Kyrgyzstan are joining the competition for the first time, further enriching the diversity of this year’s entries.

According to the organizer, IGA features a unique preliminary selection mechanism — each participating developer evaluates other contestants’ games, fostering a global exchange of creative ideas beyond geographical boundaries. Through this peer-review process, developers can experience a wide range of gameplay systems, design approaches, and creative concepts from around the world.

The finalists are officially announced today. The second-round evaluation will be conducted by a jury composed of industry experts, professional media, past IGA winners, and content creators from Taiwan and abroad. The panel will play and review the shortlisted titles based on their narrative, audio, art, gameplay design, and creativity, selecting winners across eight award categories, including the Grand Prix  (Game of the Year). All winning titles will be showcased in a special exhibition area at Taipei Game Show 2026, where players can experience them firsthand.

Global Spotlight: Critically Acclaimed Titles Compete for the Crown –

38 Teams from 16 Countries Advance to the Finals

This year’s Indie Game Award 2026 finalists represent 38 outstanding teams from 16 countries and regions, including Taiwan, Germany, China, Korea, the United States, France, Japan, Brazil, Serbia, Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, and Spain.

Among them, Brazil’s “Nine Kings” combines roguelike and city-building elements, gaining global attention during its early access phase and receiving “Overwhelmingly Positive” reviews on Steam. The game “Consume Me”, nominated for both Best Innovation and Best Mobile Game, draws on the universal experiences of adolescence, allowing players to rediscover self-growth in a unique and personal way.

Switzerland’s “The Wandering Village” lets players act as survivors managing a village on the back of a massive ancient creature — balancing development and coexistence with the giant beast becomes a central theme.

Serbia’s “The King Is Watching” combines base-building with roguelike strategy on a limited 4×4 grid, challenging players to construct their kingdoms under the constraints of the king’s field of vision, resulting in countless strategic possibilities.

From Taiwan, “Always With You”, one of the few locally developed titles built with Unreal Engine 5, follows the heartwarming journey of a girl named Mia and her cat. With its engaging puzzles and soothing atmosphere, it stands out as a strong contender for Best Audio.

Other Taiwanese finalists include “YARETA”, “Aeruta”, “Back of Beyond”, and “Froggo’s Adventure: Drifting Sky” — five titles in total advancing to the final round. The Indie Game Award 2026 winners will be officially announced on January 28, 2026.

The Taipei Game Show organizing committee continues its efforts to bring outstanding Taiwanese indie developers to international audiences. In the coming months, Taiwanese teams will participate in partner events including SXSW Sydney (Australia), gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show (Thailand), and GameOn (Lithuania), allowing global players to experience the creativity and innovation of Taiwan’s indie game scene.

The exhibitor registration for Indie House has now closed. Developers who missed the deadline will soon have another chance, as the waitlisted exhibitor registration is expected to open shortly. Indie House remains one of the most anticipated stages for indie creators worldwide, offering both on-site exposure and additional online visibility through the Steam Sale event. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your game and connect with players from around the globe.

Indie Game Award 2026 Finalists: https://tgs.tca.org.tw/?p=IGA_Finalist_e_26

【Indie Game Award 2026 Finalists】