2022 FINAL NOMINEES
SXSW GAME OF THE YEAR
| GAME | DEVELOPER | PUBLISHER |
| Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker | SQUARE ENIX® | SQUARE ENIX® |
| It Takes Two | Hazelight | Electronic Arts |
| Psychonauts 2 | Double Fine Productions | Xbox Game Studios |
| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Resident Evil Village | Capcom | Capcom |
INDIE GAME OF THE YEAR
| GAME | DEVELOPER | PUBLISHER |
| Chicory: A Colorful Tale | Greg Lobanov | Finji |
| Death’s Door | Acid Nerve | Devolver Digital |
| Inscryption | Daniel Mullins Games | Devolver Digital |
| Kena: Bridge of Spirits | Ember Lab | Ember Lab |
| Loop Hero | Four Quarters | Devolver Digital |
| Lost Words: Beyond the Page | Sketchbook Games | Modus Games |
| The Medium | Bloober Team | Bloober Team |
| The Wild At Heart | Moonlight Kids | Humble Games |
| Unpacking | Witch Beam | Humble Games |
| Valheim | Iron Gate Studio | Coffee Stain Publishing |
TABLETOP GAME OF THE YEAR
| GAME | DEVELOPER | PUBLISHER |
| Cascadia | Randy Flyn, Beth Sobel, Dylan Mangini, Molly Johnson, Robert Melvin, Kevin Russ, and Shawn Stankewich | Flatout Games |
| Dune: Imperium | Dire Wolf Digital | Dire Wolf Digital |
| Oath: Chronicles of Empire & Exile | Cole Wehrle | Leder Games |
| Roll Camera! The Filmmaking Board Game | Malachi Ray Rempen | Keen Bean Studio |
| That Time You Killed Me | Peter C. Hayward, Jeff Fraser, and Alex Cutler | Pandasaurus Games |
VR GAME OF THE YEAR
| GAME | DEVELOPER | PUBLISHER |
| After The Fall | Vertigo Games | Vertigo Games |
| Demeo | Resolution Games | Resolution Games |
| Lone Echo II | Ready at Dawn | Oculus Studios |
| Resident Evil 4 VR | Armature Studio | Oculus Studios |
| Song in the Smoke | 17-BIT | 17-BIT |
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.
| GAME | DEVELOPER | PUBLISHER |
| Before Your Eyes | GoodbyeWorld Games | Skybound Games |
| Chicory: A Colorful Tale | Greg Lobanov | Finji |
| Life is Strange: True Colors | Deck Nine Games | SQUARE ENIX® |
| Lost Words: Beyond the Page | Sketchbook Games | Modus Games |
| Unpacking | Witch Beam | Humble Games |
EXCELLENCE IN ANIMATION, ART, & VISUAL ACHIEVEMENT
| GAME | DEVELOPER | PUBLISHER |
| Deathloop | Arkane Lyon | Bethesda Softworks |
| Exo One | Exbleative | Future Friends Games |
| Forza Horizon 5 | Playground Games | Xbox Game Studios |
| Kena: Bridge of Spirits | Ember Lab | Ember Lab |
| The Wild At Heart | Moonlight Kids | Humble Games |
EXCELLENCE IN GAME DESIGN
| GAME | DEVELOPER | PUBLISHER |
| Deathloop | Arkane Lyon | Bethesda Softworks |
| Inscryption | Daniel Mullins Games | Devolver Digital |
| Loop Hero | Four Quarters | Bethesda Softworks |
| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Returnal | Housemarque | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
EXCELLENCE IN ORIGINAL SCORE
| GAME | DEVELOPER | PUBLISHER |
|---|---|---|
| The Artful Escape | Beethoven & Dinosaur | Annapurna Interactive |
| Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker | SQUARE ENIX® | SQUARE ENIX® |
| Kena: Bridge of Spirits | Ember Lab | Ember Lab |
| The Medium | Bloober Team | Bloober Team |
| Wytchwood | Alientrap Games | Whitethorn Games |
EXCELLENCE IN MULTIPLAYER
| GAME | DEVELOPER | PUBLISHER |
| Back 4 Blood | Turtle Rock Studios | Warner Bros. Games |
| Halo Infinite | 343 Industries | Xbox Game Studios |
| It Takes Two | Hazelight | Electronic Arts |
| Riders Republic | Ubisoft Annecy | Ubisoft |
| Valheim | Iron Gate Studio | Coffee Stain Publishing |
EXCELLENCE IN NARRATIVE
| GAME | DEVELOPER | PUBLISHER |
| Deathloop | Arkane Lyon | Bethesda Softworks |
| Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker | SQUARE ENIX® | SQUARE ENIX® |
| Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy | Eidos-Montréal | SQUARE ENIX® |
| Kena: Bridge of Spirits | Ember Lab | Ember Lab |
| Lost in Random | Zoink Games | Electronic Arts |
EXCELLENCE IN AUDIO DESIGN
| GAME | DEVELOPER | PUBLISHER |
| Forza Horizon 5 | Playground Games | Xbox Game Studios |
| Hell Let Loose | Black Matter | Team17 |
| Inscryption | Daniel Mullins Games | Devolver Digital |
| Resident Evil Village | Capcom | Capcom |
| Twelve Minutes | Luis Antonio | Annapurna Interactive |
EXCELLENCE IN TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
| GAME | DEVELOPER | PUBLISHER |
| Before Your Eyes | GoodbyeWorld Games | Skybound Games |
| Hell Let Loose | Black Matter | Team17 |
| Forza Horizon 5 | Playground Games | Xbox Game Studios |
| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Returnal | Housemarque | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
All nominees will receive two SXSW Platinum Registrations to attend SXSW 2022.
SXSW will offer a hybrid event (in-person with online viewing and participation options). Recognizing that the Covid-19 landscape is changing rapidly, SXSW has updated its Covid-19 guidelines and will continue to coordinate with both the City of Austin and Austin Public Health on further guidance. More details on SXSW’s Covid protocols are available at sxsw.com/covid19-guidelines.
The online SXSW Schedule provides a complete rundown of 2022 programming, broken down by time and event category, with the ability to build a customized schedule. To get started, please visit schedule.sxsw.com.
SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture. An essential destination for global professionals, the annual March event features sessions, music and comedy showcases, film screenings, exhibitions, professional development and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. SXSW 2022 will take place March 11 – 20, 2022. For more information, please visit sxsw.com. To register for the event, please visit sxsw.com/attend.
SXSW 2022 is sponsored by White Claw, Blockchain Creative Labs, Porsche, and The Austin Chronicle.
