Record-breaking edition selects 81 games from 966 submissions across 75 countries, highlighting the global strength and diversity of the indie scene
São Paulo, 5 March, 2026 – The finalists for the 2026 edition of the gamescom latam BIG Festival have been announced, marking another year of diversity, innovation, and powerful storytelling in independent game development.
Hosted in Brazil, the gamescom latam BIG Festival, the world’s largest awards show dedicated to indie games, selected 81 standout projects from a record 966 submissions representing 75 countries. This year sets a new milestone for the festival in both total entries and geographic reach, with developers from 75 territories participating — the highest number in its history. Brazil leads the way with 451 submitted titles, while other Latin American countries account for an additional 87 entries.
With 608 entries, the Americas represent the largest share of submissions, followed by Europe with 197. The 2026 edition brings together developers from four continents and also sees increased participation from territories with little or no previous presence at the festival, including the Åland Islands, Andorra, Brunei, and Oman, further highlighting its expanding global reach.
For 2026, 81 titles have been selected to compete at the gamescom latam BIG Festival. The chosen projects will be showcased on-site throughout the event and will compete for festival awards. Latin America is represented by 28 competing titles, including 15 from Brazil and three from Argentina, along with entries from Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Uruguay.
The awards ceremony will take place in two parts: the first on Wednesday, 29 April , during Preview Day, and the second on Sunday, 3 May , as part of the official gamescom latam 2026 program. A total of 18 awards will be presented across both ceremonies held throughout the event.
Among the finalists, five titles received the highest number of nominations, with four each: Aether & Iron (Seismic Squirrel), Keep Driving (YCJY Games), MIO: Memories in Orbit (Douze Dixièmes), Moonlighter 2 (Digital Sun), and TetherGeist (O. and Co. Games). Their strong performance across multiple categories places them among the year’s standout titles, earning recognition from the festival’s Selection Committee.
Also among the nominees is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, shortlisted for Best Sound and Best Game. The title arrives at the festival following a strong run in 2025, including being named Game of the Year at The Game Awards.
“The gamescom latam BIG Festival has always been a driving force for independent developers — not just in Brazil, but around the world. This year’s record-breaking number of submissions and participating countries further demonstrates the festival’s global impact, as it continues to attract more studios from an ever-growing range of regions,” said Gustavo Steinberg, CEO of gamescom latam.
Beyond the competition, finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their games to a diverse and highly engaged audience, strengthen industry connections, exchange insights with fellow developers, and explore new business opportunities.
The full list of nominees for the gamescom latam BIG Festival
Best Art
Aether & Iron – Seismic Squirrel
Gretel & Hansel – Spider House
MIO: Memories in Orbit – Douze Dixièmes / Focus Entertainment
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth – Hyper Games
Moonlighter 2 – Digital Sun / 11 bit studios
Neon Knives – Cookiecrayon
SacriFire – Pixelated Milk
Schrödinger’s Call – acrobatic chirimenjako/ Shueisha Games
TetherGeist – O. and Co. Games
Walk of Life – Porcelain Fortress
Best Narrative
Aether & Iron – Seismic Squirrel
Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime – Bonte Avond / offbrand Games
Desktop Explorer – Recurring Dream
Dispatch – AdHoc Studio
Goodnight Universe – Nice Dream / Skybound Games
Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland – Pepita Digital / MeCrew Games
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth – Hyper Games
Schrödinger’s Call – acrobatic chirimenjako / Shueisha Games
Tavern Keeper – Greenheart Games
The Roottrees Are Dead – Evil Trout, Inc.
Best Gameplay
Backpack Battles – PlayWithFurcifer / IndieArk
Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days – PikPok / Boltray Games
Keep Driving – YCJY games
MIO: Memories in Orbit – Douze Dixièmes / Focus Entertainment
Moonlighter 2 – Digital Sun / 11 bit studios
Öoo – NamaTakahashi / AMAAT Games
Retrace the Light – Xiaming Game / GlintForge
Tavern Keeper – Greenheart Games
TerraScape – Bitfall Studios / Stray Fawn Publishing
The Alters – 11 bit studios
Best Sound
Aether & Iron – Seismic Squirrel
Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime – Bonte Avond / offbrand Games
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive
Fresh Tracks – Buffalo Buffalo
Keep Driving – YCJY games
MIO: Memories in Orbit – Douze Dixièmes / Focus Entertainment
Moonlighter 2 – Digital Sun / 11 bit studios
SacriFire – Pixelated Milk
Sektori – Kimmo Lahtinen
TetherGeist – O. and Co. Games
Innovation
Cardburners – GrosChevaux Ltd
Family Reunion – Waibinin
Gambonanza – Blukulélé / Stray Fawn Publishing
Goodnight Universe – Nice Dream / Skybound Games
Islets Defense – MiniGoof Studio / Nuntius Studio
Keep Driving – YCJY games
Stretchmancer – Triangle Wave / offbrand Games
Best Game: Brazil
A.I.L.A – Pulsatrix Studios / Fireshine Games
Apogea – Trinitas
Capote – Luski Game Studio / CriticalLeap
Emptiness Sire – Oaks Games Studio
Islets Defense – MiniGoof Studio / Nuntius Studio
Mark of the Deep – Mad Mimic / Light Up Games
Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland – Pepita Digital / MeCrew Games
Stackmon – Riftpoint / Alibi Games
The Warrior – ThornDuck
URBANO – Legends’ Debut – barosa
Best Game: Latin America
A Rat’s Quest – The Way Back Home – The Dreamerians / HandyGames
Colorbound – Panpipe Studio / Whitethorn Games
Desktop Explorer – Recurring Dream
Family Reunion – Waibinin
Go Slimey Go! – Tembac and Chabbie
Keepers of Vyrellia – Ghost Pixel
Kentum – Tlön Industries / V-Publishing
Retail Hell – Leap Game Studios
The Trolley Solution – byDanDans / the bueno Interactive
Vlad Circus: Curse Of Asmodeus – Indiesruption / Blowfish Studios
Best Game
Aether & Iron – Seismic Squirrel
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive
Dispatch – AdHoc Studio
Goodnight Universe – Nice Dream / Skybound Games
Keep Driving – YCJY games
MIO: Memories in Orbit – Douze Dixièmes / Focus Entertainment
Moonlighter 2 – Digital Sun / 11bit studios
Tavern Keeper – Greenheart Games
TetherGeist – O. and Co. Games
The Alters – 11 bit studios
BIG Impact
Crimson Tale – Thruster Games
Dungeon-Bot – XR.EALL – Changing the Learning Experience
Egglets – The Long 10 Days – wieLuft Studio
Equate 8 – Cinq-Mars Media
Exílio de Si – Updog Software
Flotsam – Pajama Llama Games / Stray Fawn Publishing
I Don’t Want To Be A Good Woman – We Remember
Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland – Pepita Digital / MeCrew Games
No means Nothing – BOBER BROS
TetherGeist – O. and Co. Games
Best Multiplayer
Capote – Luski Game Studio / CriticalLeap
Duo Quest – 1+1 Studios
POPUCOM – Countersurge Salient / GRYPHLINE
Rematch – Sloclap / Kepler Interactive
Rivals of Aether 2 – Aether Studios / offbrand Games
Best Game for Kids
Cozy Caravan – 5 Lives Studios
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth – Hyper Games
POPUCOM – Countersurge Salient / GRYPHLINE
Reggie, His Cousin, Two Scientists and Most Likely the End of the World – degoma
WHAT THE CLASH? – Triband
Best Student Game
Acrônimo Tupiniquim – Cigarras & Cigarros (UNISO – Universidade de Sorocaba)
Candellum – Isart Digital
Dungeon Concierge – Lassar Games (ESCUELA SUPERIOR DE ARTE MULTIMEDIAL Instituto Leonardo Da Vinci)
Egglets – The Long 10 Days – wieLuft Studio (Kunsthochschule Kassel)
House Of Horror: Outside Is Better – TakenJoyDesignGames (Da Vinci)
Insider Trading – Naiive Studio (School of Visual Arts)
Rangolithical – Octo-Podium (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais)
StackHead – ESMA
Tellyport – Isart Digital
The Warrior – ThornDuck (USP)
Best Mobile Game
Equate 8 – Cinq-Mars Media
Kingdom Rush Battles – Ironhide Game Studio
WHAT THE CLASH? – Triband
Best XR/VR
Jolly Match: First MR Match-3 Puzzles – JollyCo LLC
Tammuz: Blood and Sand – Bad GOAT and CloverBite
Zombisco – Immerse Game
Best Casual Game
Cozy Caravan – 5 Lives Studios
Elfie: A Sand Plan – Pressed Elephant
Emptiness Sire – Oaks Games Studio
Gemporium: A Cute Mining Sim – Merge Conflict Studio
Instants – Endflame
Is This Seat Taken? – Poti Poti Studio / Wholesome Games Presents
Islets Defense – MiniGoof Studio / Nuntius Studio
Lexispell – MrEliptik
Spooky Express – Draknek & Friends
WHAT THE CLASH? – Triband
2026 Edition Overview
gamescom latam 2026 will take place from 30 April to 3 May, 2026, at Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo. Press, content creators, and B2B visitors will have access to the event during the Preview Day, held on 29 April. As in previous years, the event will bring together leading names and companies from the games’ industry, showcase hundreds of playable titles, host announcements, brand and publisher activations, and connect fans with their favorite influencers, cosplayers, and more.
gamescom latam also promises to thrill visitors with esports competitions and the gamescom latam BIG Festival, the world’s largest indie games awards.
For industry professionals, in addition to opportunities to join panels and lectures, the event offers a lively business platform that brings together hundreds of companies from Latin America and around the world for networking and partnership meetings.
