Game developers have their favorite games, and every year they vote on them for the Game Developers Choice Awards. The 2016 awards ceremony was held March 16 in San Francisco as part of the Game Developers Conference.
Game of the year was The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It’s an open-world role-playing game that was not only critically acclaimed but a big seller from developer CD Projekt Red.
Witcher 3 also won for best technology. But Her Story, an indie game that combines interactive fiction with video clips, got the most awards. It won for Innovation, Best Narrative and Best Handheld/Mobile Game. In her rave review, Pixelkin’s Simone de Rochefort said, “Her Story is a deceptively simple game that succeeds on every level.”
Three individual developers also received awards. Todd Howard won the Lifetime Achievement award for his work on the Fallout and Elder Scrolls series of games.
“The world of video games can include every imaginable and unimaginable experience, from the vast world of The Witcher 3, to the intimate interrogations in Her Story, and the Choice Awards have evolved to honor this diversity of titles,” said Meggan Scavio, General Manager of the Game Developers Conference. “All of these winning and nominated titles have expanded what we think what games can be, how to maturely handle story, and how to make games that are ridiculously fun. I’m excited to see all of these wonderful developers recognized for their amazing contributions, and I congratulate all of this year’s winners and nominees.”
Straight from the GDC website, here’s the full list of winners:
- Best Debut
Moon Studios (Ori and the Blind Forest) - Best Audio
Crypt of the NecroDancer (Brace Yourself Games) - Innovation Award
Her Story (Sam Barlow) - Best Technology
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (CD Projekt RED) - Best Visual Art
Ori and the Blind Forest (Moon Studios) - Best Narrative
Her Story (Sam Barlow) - Best Design
Rocket League (Psyonix) - Best Handheld/Mobile Game
Her Story (Sam Barlow) - Audience Award
Life is Strange (DONTNOD Entertainment) - Game of the Year
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (CD Projekt RED) - Pioneer Award
Markus “Notch” Persson - Ambassador Award
Tracy Fullerton - Lifetime Achievement Award
Todd Howard
