The video game industry’s awards season has unfolded dominated this year by adulation for the French turn-based role-playing game Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33. It’s easy to see why so many people loved it, AI usage And controversial status as an “indie” game, but my personal game of the year was a much smaller project that attracted much less attention: Baby steps. Luckily, at least one awards show is finally giving him the respect that many of us weirdos think he deserves.
Independent Games Festival Awards 2026 published his list of nominees on January 8, showcasing the incredible work of developers outside of the AAA space. Baby steps managed to garner nominations in five categories, including Excellence in Audio, Excellence in Design, Excellence in Storytelling, the Nuovo Award (for “experiences that make jurors think differently about games as a media”) and the Seumas McNally Grand Prix.
Baby steps tells the story of Nate, a man transported from the squalor in his parents’ basement to a magical world inhabited by long-dicked donkey men and Australians. Navigating this strange setting, at least on PlayStation 5, involves using the controller’s triggers to independently control Nate’s feet by lifting them off the ground, and the control stick to make Nate lean in the direction you intend to travel. Even a simple walk requires maintaining a pace, and things get even more difficult as you climb slippery slopes and difficult rock faces.
I’m so happy to see Baby steps get that kind of recognition. Not only does it advance the burgeoning genre of physics-based “rage games,” practically invented by co-developer Bennett Foddy (who previously directed QWOP And Get over it), but it also manages to question the very concept of challenging video game mechanics through gameplay and storytelling. Please play this game and remember, Baby steps doesn’t want you to be angry, he wants you to love yourself.
Quirky local TV broadcast simulator Blippo+surreal strategy game Titanium Courtand the disconcerting controversy Horses also received several nominations. After seeing the Game Awards, the Game Developers Choice AwardsAnd DICE prices focus almost exclusively on Chiaroscuro and other mainstream AAA fare, it’s refreshing to know that there are still shows dedicated to plumbing the depths of the medium rather than staying at surface level.
Additionally, this year’s show introduces a new category honoring games created by women and other marginalized developers in collaboration with an investment fund. Interactive wings. Each award comes with a $2,000 bonus, except for the grand prize which awards $20,000.
Here is the full list of nominees:
Best student game BubbleBeast DigiDungeon (EchoLane) Kiloton (Jack Morehart) Little (Whalefall, Micah Boursier) It’s raining (each) Sip Fisher (Syphon software) SPRKLS.exe (PesiiDom) Excellence in audio Baby steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital) BALL x PIT (Kenny Sun and Friends, Devolver Digital) Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robot, Panic) Eclipse (House fire, CRITICAL THINKING) Songs (Forcula, Annapurna Interactive) Wheel World (Messhof, Annapurna Interactive) Excellence in design Angeline era (Analgesic productions) Baby steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital) ÖALWOA (NamaTakahashi, small cactus studio, Tsuyomi) Deep skin (Blendo Games, Annapurna Interactive) Titanium Court (AP Thomson, traveling companion) Time flies (Playable, Panic) Excellence in storytelling Baby steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital) Perfect tides: from station to station (Three bees) Promise Mascot Agency (Kaizen game works) Titanium Court (AP Thomson, traveling companion) Type Help (William Rous) Wednesdays (The Pixel Hunt, ARTE France) Excellence in visual arts Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robot, Panic) CARIMARA: Under the desperate members (Bastinus Rex, CRITICAL THINKING) Eclipse (House fire, CRITICAL THINKING) Locomotive pattern (Rugged Games, Chucklefish) Songs (Forcula, Annapurna Interactive) Skating history (Sam Eng, Devolver Digital) New price Baby steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital) Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robot, Panic) HORSES (Andrea Lucco Borlera, Santa Ragione) Mini Mini Golf Golf (Three more years) Plum Road Tea Dream (Reveal Game Studio) Titanium Court (AP Thomson, traveling companion)) Kevin plays in Berlin (Kevin you) Wednesdays (The Pixel Hunt, ARTE France) WINGS Price Ambrosia Sky (gentle rains) Backpack Battles (Play with Furcifer, IndieArk) The wandering village (Stray Fawn Studio, Stray Fawn Editions, Whisper Games) Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall (Brave at night) 13Z: The trials of the zodiac (Mixed Kingdoms Pte Ltd) Seumas McNally Grand Prix Baby steps (Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy, Devolver Digital) Angeline era (Analgesic productions) Blippo+ (YACHT, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robot, Panic) HORSES (Andrea Lucco Borlera, Santa Ragione) Titanium Court (AP Thomson, traveling companion) Perfect tides: from station to station (Three bees) The 2026 Independent Games Festival Awards are scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. PST. It will be broadcast live on Tic.