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INDIE GAME OF THE YEAR, 2012
This is the highest honor of the Indie RPG Awards. It is awarded to the best overall Independently produced RPG of the year, as chosen by peers and members the gaming community. It is given to the RPG and the designer who made it. Everything which makes a game good; from game elements of story, setting, rules, innovation, and overall game design; to physical qualities like graphical design and layout, are taken into account for the awarding of this honor.
THE Indie Game of the Year FOR 2012 IS...
Dungeon World by Sage LaTorra, Adam Koebel / with 32 points
The perfect mix of old school adventure and new wave rules. A delight to play!
An engaging implementation of Apocalypse World, with robust rules, clear writing and a real passion for the genre. A fresh vision of fantasy, with enjoyable character art, which is highly playable.
THE RUNNERS UP:
Monsterhearts by Joe McDaldno / with 30 points
A twist on Apocalypse World featuring teen angst, blood, horror and drama. Passionate and fun, Monsterhearts delivers on its promises in spades.
A game that catches your imagination right away and delivers. Manages to be sexy and yet capture that awkwardness of the teenage years. Endless inspiration in the skins.
Dog Eat Dog by Liam Burke / with 20 points
Thoughtful, entertaining play - who could ask for anything more?
A stunningly pointed game with arresting design, which is easily read and played, and yet which provokes the players into reflection and consideration of real-world issues. Never preaching, a delightful and inspired design.
Dog Eat Dog is a brilliantly simple game that supports rich and ultimately provocative gameplay with a strong focus and - most interesting to me - a political point of view that is transparent and clearly articulated.
Servants of Gaius by Brendan Davis / with 12 points
An intriguing alternate history of Rome, innovative in its setting and situation.
Monster of the Week by Michael Sands / with 10 points
An excellent adaptation that in some ways surpasses the original, that clearly shows the tone and style it is trying for.
Durance by Jason Morningstar / with 10 points
Up and running in no time, delivering a wicked good story in a small time period. Mr. Morningstar strikes again!
Lords of Olympus by The RPGPundit (edited by Brett M. Bernstein) / with 10 points
Itras By: A surreal role playing game by Ole Peder Giæver, Martin Bull Gudmundsen / with 8 points
The Final Girl by Bret Gillan / with 7 points
Very clear and simple rules, with a card draw mechanic that keeps results surprising while encouraging character development.
A fantastic horror role playing game. Skewers the genre, lays it bare, and makes a quick, fun game out of it. A real accomplishment.