NAVGTR

Great sound design can completely transform how players experience a game. In “Innovation in Audio: Award-Winning Games With Excellent Sound Design,” NAVGTR explores how audio helps build atmosphere, improve immersion, and enhance gameplay across different genres, including horror: just in time for Halloween. Read more here: navgtr.org/2023/12/20/innova… #NAVGTR #GameAudio #SoundDesign #GameDev

The 2026 NAVGTR Awards submission deadline is quickly approaching. From groundbreaking indie titles to blockbuster releases, every great game is the result of countless hours of creativity, collaboration, and craftsmanship. If your team released a game during the eligibility period, now is the time to submit it for consideration. Whether your project shines through its gameplay, storytelling, animation, music, technical achievement, or another discipline, we'd love to see your work. The deadline for submissions is November 23, 2026. Learn more and submit your game here: navgtr.org/entries #GameDev #IndieDev #GameAwards #NAVGTR #NAVGTRawards #GameDevelopment

Performer of the Day: Lorien Testard! Testard is a French composer, most well known for composing the soundtrack to the 2025 hit video game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which was created over a 5-year period alongside Alice Duport-Percier. Like the game itself, its soundtrack has garnered near-unanimous praise from both fans and critics. #LorienTestard #ClairObscur #Expedition33 #ClairObscurExpedition33

The NAVGTR Awards recognize excellence across every corner of game development, from design and engineering to animation, writing, audio, cinematics, and more. If your team has released a game you're proud of, consider submitting it for this year's awards. The deadline for submitting your game is November 23, 2026. Submit your game here: navgtr.org/entries #NAVGTR #NAVGTRawards #GameDev #IndieDev #GameAwards #GameDevelopment

2011 was an amazing year for games, with the Game of the Year award-nominated titles consisting of classics like Batman: Arkham City, Portal 2, Dark Souls, Catherine, Uncharted 3, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and more. The winner of the award that year went to Minecraft. While undoubtedly a classic game, its GOTY award seemed like a split decision in a tight race with stiff competition. #GOTY #GameoftheYear #Minecraft #Portal2 #BatmanArkhamCity #Uncharted3 #Skyrim #ElderScrolls #Catherine #DarkSouls

Developer of the Day: Fumito Ueda! Ueda is known as the creative mind behind the two PlayStation 2 classics, Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, where he served as Game Director and Lead Designer at Japan Studio’s Team Ico. Ueda later worked on The Last Guardian through his own development company, GenDesign, where he is currently working on a new untitled project. #FumitoUeda #TeamIco #GenDesign #Ico #ShadowoftheColossus #TheLastGuardian Have a game you feel is award-worthy? Submit your game to NAVGTR awards here: navgtr.org/express

In 2005, NAVGTR awarded Half-Life 2 Game of the Year! The game was praised for its physics-based gameplay, realistic visuals, and engaging story. Read more about it in our most recent blog post: buff.ly/3Zuxv0I #GOTY #GameoftheYear #HalfLife2

Ben Starr has won NAVGTR’s award for Supporting Performance in a Drama for his role as “Verso” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33! Other nominees in this category include Anthony Ingruber as “Mr. Kyn” in Bye Sweet Carole, Andy Serkis as “Renoir” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Troy Baker as “Higgs” in Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Judy Alice Lee as “Melinoë” in Hades 2, and Jane Perry as “Lou Graham” in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. View the full list of winners here: navgtr.org/ #ClairObscur #Expedition33 #ClairObscurExpedition33 #BenStarr

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach has been named the winner of NAVGTR’s Contemporary Art Direction award! Other nominees in this category include The Alters, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, Shiobi: Art of Vengeance, and South of Midnight. View the full list of winners here: navgtr.org/ #DeathStranding2 #DeathStranding2OntheBeach #KojimaProductions #HideoKojima

Matthew Mercer has won NAVGTR’s Supporting Performance in a Comedy award for his role as Shroud in Dispatch! Fellow nominees for this award include Laura Bailey as “Invisigal” in Dispatch, Thot Squad as “Prism” in Dispatch, Hidetaka Tenjin as “Doctor Carnival” in Hotel Barcelona, and Cassandra Lee Morris as “Galacta” in Marvel Rivals. Take a look at the full list of winners here: navgtr.org/ #MatthewMercer #Dispatch

Ball x Pit takes home NAVGTR’s Special Class game award! Fellow nominees in this category include Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, Despelote, No, I’m not a Human, and Old Skies. View the full list of winners here: navgtr.org/ #BallxPit #KennySun #KennySunandFriends

Mario Kart World has won NAVGTR’s Racing Game award! Fellow nominees in this category include EA SPORTS F1 25, Kirby Air Riders, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Launch Edition, and Wheel World. View the full list of winners here: navgtr.org/ #MarioKartWorld #MarioKart

Rift of the NecroDancer has been named winner of NAVGTR’s Rhythm Game award. The other nominees in this category are Fresh Tracks and Unbeatable. View the full list of winners here: navgtr.org/ #RiftoftheNecroDancer #NecroDancer #BraceYourselfGames #TicTocGames

Norman Reedus is the winner of NAVGTR’s Lead Performance in a Drama award for his role as Sam in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach! Fellow nominees include Elsie Lovelock as “Lana Benton” in Bye Sweet Carole, Charlie Cox as “Gustave” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Jennifer English as “Maelle” in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,and Erika Ishii as “Atsu” in Ghost of Yōtei. View the full list of winners here: navgtr.org/ #NormanReedus #DeathStranding2 #DeathStranding2OntheBeach

Skate Story is the winner of NAVGTR’s Sports Game award! Other nominees in this category include Drag x Drive, MLB The Show 25, NBA 2K26, and Rematch. View the full list of winners here: navgtr.org/ #SkateStory #SamEng

Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club is the winner of NAVGTR’s Original Family Game award! Fellow nominees include Born of Bread, Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo, Star Overdrive, and Sunderfolk. View the full list of winners here: navgtr.org/ #SnoopyGreatMysteryClub #CradleGames

Two Point Museum takes home NAVGTR’s Simulation Game award! Other nominated games this category include Baby Steps, Consume Me, Jurassic World Evolution 3, and Promise Mascot Agency. View the full list of winners here: navgtr.org/ #TwoPointMuseum #TwoPointStudios

Dispatch takes home NAVGTR’s Writing in a Comedy award! Fellow nominees in the category include Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Marvel’s Deadpool VR, The Outer Worlds 2, and Revenge of the Savage Planet. View the full list of winners here: navgtr.org/ #Dispatch #AdHocStudio

ARC Raiders takes home NAVGTR’s Original Action Game award! Other nominees include The Alters, Blade Chimera, The First Berserker: Khazan, and Split Fiction. View the full list of winners here: navgtr.org/ #ARCRaiders #EmbarkStudios