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| (Image Source: THE MAGIC RAIN/gamescom) |
The gamescom dev awards 2026 recognized six games, teams and individuals for outstanding creativity, innovation and contributions to the games industry during a live ceremony last August 24, 2026 at gamescom dev in Cologne. Hosted by Markus Wilding, the ceremony presented four awards to projects from this year’s gamescom dev indie expo, recognizing visual excellence, innovation, future potential and sound design.
Two additional Speakers’ Choice awards were decided in advance by the gamescom dev speaker community with speakers from both the 2025 and 2026 editions invited to vote for outstanding achievements in game design and long-term contributions to the industry. The ceremony concluded with a personal and emotional moment as Stephan Reichart, the founder of the event and former Managing Director of game events, was invited on stage and honored for his significant contributions. Looking back on many years of developing gamescom dev after creating it in 2017 under the name devcom, game chairman Lars Janssen and game events Managing Director Frederik Hammes thanked Stephan for his outstanding commitment, creativity and empathetic stewardship to gamescom dev and its community. “Stephan’s legacy simply cannot be overstated. His incomparable enthusiasm, his way of connecting instantly with so many people has shaped the identity of this event as something special. The fact that this year it stands alongside with the worldwide phenomenon that is gamescom as gamescom dev is testament to his achievement,” says Stephan's successor Frederik Hammes.
Here are the winners of the gamescom dev awards 2026.
Visual Excellence Award
MUTTER – DeadlyCrow Games
MUTTER follows a nine-year-old boy in wartime England as his mother slowly transforms into a monster. Its distinctive use of stop-motion animation creates an eerie visual identity and unsettling characters, making its artistic presentation central to the experience.
Most Innovative Game – powered by Epic Games
PRAVDA(concept25) – Floating Stone Studio
PRAVDA(concept25) is a narrative-driven stealth-puzzle game exploring truth in an age of control. Set in a surreal world where truth is not simply discovered but constructed, the concept introduces an unusual narrative and mechanical approach that helps the project stand apart within the genre. The category is supported by Epic Games Store with a €3,000 prize for the winning team. Epic Games Director of Portfolio and Strategy Kyle Billings, who also served on the indie awards jury, presented the award and prize on stage.
Most Promising Game
Cards & Cannons – Flamehead Games
Cards & Cannons combines roguelite tower defense, deckbuilding and strategy. Players construct worlds from scratch, defend them across individual runs and unlock upgrades between attempts while progressing through different environments and challenging bosses.
Best Sound Design
INVASIA – Rocat Games
INVASIA is an atmospheric sci-fi survival horror game set aboard an abandoned space station affected by a mysterious parasitic outbreak. Its sound design plays a central role in creating the oppressive atmosphere, using audio to reinforce tension, environment and player immersion.
Game Design Excellence Award – Speakers’ Choice
Blue Prince – Dogubomb / Raw Fury
Blue Prince combines mystery, strategy and puzzle design within the constantly shifting halls of Mt. Holly. Players determine which rooms appear behind closed doors, with each choice shaping their route through the mansion before its layout resets again. The resulting design rewards observation, planning and experimentation while continually introducing new layers to the game’s central mystery.
Ambassador Award – Speakers’ Choice
Amir Satvat, Tencent Games Business Development Director and ASGC Founder
Amir Satvat was selected by the gamescom dev speaker community in recognition of his continued commitment to supporting people across the games industry. Through ASGC, he has built an extensive free support network providing career resources, community assistance and practical help for games professionals during a period of significant change across the industry.
