International Mobile Gaming Awards

The International Mobile Gaming Awards ("IMGA") is an annual competition and awards ceremony that honors outstanding games made for mobile devices. It is the longest standing international competition for mobile games. Notable IMGA winners include Candy Crush Saga and Monument Valley.

The best mobile games submissions are awarded at the prize-giving IMGA ceremony, which takes place in various cities across the United States and Asia. IMGA was founded by Maarten Noyons in 2004 and is headquartered in Marseilles, France.

## History[edit]

In 2004 the mobile games industry was still finding its feet. As developers began carving out a space in the market, the French division of Discreet announced the first "International 3D Mobile Gaming Competition."[1] With over $50,000 of prizes to be won, the contest was designed by NCC Partners CEO Maarten Noyons to help showcase young mobile games and was supported by Nokia, Orange, Intel, IBM and more.[2]

With 85 entries, the awards took place on 3 February 2004, at the IMAGINA festival in Monte Carlo. There were four categories: Grand Prix, 16MB, 1MB, 200K/native, and 200K/Java. Later that year, Discreet was acquired by Autodesk who decided to close the French office – and thus the competition. However, Noyons convinced Discreet to let him take full control of the event and in doing so he founded IMGA as it's known today.[3]

Renaming the event the International Mobile Gaming Awards, Noyons has grown IMGA into a worldwide competition. Each year, the awards now receive around 1,000 submissions, 600 of which are usually submitted to the jury. Over a two-day judging process, the entrants are whittled down to 60 nominees.[4]

For ten years the winners were announced at the GSMA's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but the 11th IMGA saw the ceremony moved to GDC in San Francisco,[5][6][7] during the Game Developers Conference and Game Connection.

In 2016, the competition added a new category for VR games[8] and announced 102 nominations and 11 categories.[9] Sam Barlow won the Grand Prix that year with Her Story, a detective game.[10]

After Europe and the US, the IMGA has launched its program in China in 2015 and Southeast Asia in 2016 creating two additional competitions: IMGA Southeast Asia[11] in partnership with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and IMGA China[12] in partnership with Migu – China Mobile's digital content entity, and co-hosted by MyGamez,[13] a publisher for foreign mobile games in China.

## Judging session[edit]

The judging process takes place in Marseilles, France in January every year. Jury members are invited to review and play all submitted games and select the nominees. The main judging criteria are the mechanics of the gameplay, the quality of the sound design and visual art and the originality in storytelling.[14]

IMGA is open to entries from all mobile games developers. Past participants include students, researchers, artists, individual developers and publishers. The winners of each of eight category are decided by an international jury of experts and journalists from Asia, the US and Europe.

Past judges include industry veterans such as King's former games guru Tommy Palm, Dean Takahashi[15] of VentureBeat, and Unity Evangelist Oscar Clark[16]

## Award Categories[edit]

The awards celebrate innovation and creativity in mobile games worldwide. Based on their merit, games are recognized in a variety of categories that are decided on by the jury, when they meet each year for the judging process. The categories for the 2020 International Mobile Gaming Awards included:[17]

* Best AR Game
* Best Game for 5G
* Best Meaningful Play

* Best Quickplay Game
* Best Technical Achievement

* Best VR Game
* Excellence in Art

* Excellence in Audio
* Excellence in Design

* Excellence in Gameplay
* Excellence in Innovation
* Excellence in Storytelling

## Winners[edit]

The following games won the "Grand Prix" at their respective IMGA ceremonies, the award that recognises the best mobile game of that year's nominees.

Aside from the main categories and the Grand Prix, there are two more prizes. These include the "People's Choice" award, which was introduced in 2008, for the game that receives the most votes from the general public; while the jury's "Honorable Mention" was introduced in 2012, for the game the judges believe deserves extra credit.

### 2020[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Grand Prix  | Sky: Children of the Light | [17][18]
Jury's Honorable Mention  | Sayonara Wild Hearts
People's Choice  | Hados 2
Excellence in Art  | The Gardens Between
Best Game for 5G  | Dragon Raja
Best AR Game  | Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs
Excellence in Innovation  | What the Golf
Best Quickplay Game  | Archero
Excellence in Audio  | Alien: Blackout
Excellence in Gameplay  | Call of Duty: Mobile
Excellence in Storytelling  | Forgotton Anne
Best Meaningful Play  | Dear Reader
Best Technical Achievement  | Call of Duty: Mobile
Best VR Game  | Acron: Attack of the Squirrels!
Excellence in Design  | Figment: Journey Into the Mind

### 2019[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Grand Prix  | Florence | [19][20]
Jury's Honorable Mention  | Flipping Filip
People's Choice  | Cooking Diary: Restaurant Game
Best Multiplayer Game  | Brawl Stars
Best Quickplay Game  | Oddman
Best Feel Good Game  | Valleys Between
Excellence in Audio  | Eloh
Excellence in Gameplay  | Bring You Home
Excellence in Storytelling  | Florence
Excellence in Visual Art and Design  | Chuchel
Excellence in Innovation  | Gladiabots
Best Meaningful Play  | Florence
Best Technical Achievement  | Asphalt 9: Legends
Best VR Game  | Narrows
Guilty Pleasure  | Bacon - The Game
Best Upcoming Game  | Agatha Knife

### 2018[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Jury's Honorable Mention  | Hidden Folks | [21]
People's Choice  | Life Is Strange
Excellence in Innovation  | Splitter Critters
Best Multiplayer Game  | Arena of Valor
Best Quickplay Game  | Tiny Bubbles
Excellence in Audio  | Virtual Virtual Reality
Excellence in Gameplay  | Framed 2
Excellence in Storytelling  | The Witch's Isle
Excellence in Art  | Tokaido
Best Meaningful Play  | Bury Me, My Love
Best VR Game  | Virtual Virtual Reality
Guilty Pleasure  | Death Coming
Best Upcoming Game  | The Enchanted World
Best Port to Mobile  | The Witness
Game Artist of 2017  | Old Man's Journey

### 2017[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Grand Prix  | Pokémon Go | [22][23]
Jury's Honorable Mention  | Mekorama
People's Choice  | Skygarden: Farm In Paradise
Excellence in Innovation  | Human Resource Machine
Best Multiplayer Game  | Clash Royale
Best Quickplay Game  | Conduct This!
Excellence in Visual Art  | Invisible, Inc.
Excellence in Audio  | Crypt of the NecroDancer
Excellence in Gameplay  | The Battle of Polytopia
Excellence in Storytelling  | Reigns
Best Meaningful Play  | 1979 Revolution: Black Friday
Best Technical Achievement  | Dawn of Titans
Best VR Game  | Wands
Guilty Pleasure  | Steppy Pants
Best Upcoming Game  | Steamburg
Game Artist of 2016  | Dawn of Titans

### 2016[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Grand Prix  | Her Story | [24][10]
Jury's Honorable Mention  | LongStory
People's Choice  | Shadowmatic
Excellence in Innovation  | Her Story
Best Multiplayer Game  | Agar.io
Best Quickplay Game  | Smashy Road: Wanted
Excellence in Gameplay  | Badland 2
Excellence in Storytelling  | Her Story
Best Meaningful Play  | This War of Mine
Best Technical Achievement  | Shadowmatic
Best VR Game  | Land's End
Guilty Pleasure  | Fallout Shelter
Best Upcoming Game  | Clash Royale
Excellence in Audio, Visual Art & Design  | Lumino City

### 2015[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Grand Prix  | Monument Valley | [25][26]
Jury's Honorable Mention  | Threes!
People's Choice  | Vainglory
Excellence in Innovation  | Bounden
Best Multiplayer Game  | Soccer Physics
Best Quickplay Game  | Crossy Road
Excellence in Gameplay  | Hearthstone
Excellence in Storytelling  | 80 Days
Best Meaningful Play  | Papers, Please
Best Technical Achievement  | Vainglory
Guilty Pleasure  | 2048
Best Upcoming Game  | Prune
Excellence in Audio, Visual Art & Design  | Tengami

### 2014[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Grand Prix  | Badland | [27]
Jury's Honorable Mention  | Luxuria Superbia
People's Choice  | Tiny Thief
Excellence in Innovation  | Blek
Best Quickplay Game  | Colossatron: Massive World Threat
Excellence in Gameplay  | Rymdkapsel
Excellence in Storytelling  | République
Best Technical Achievement  | Clumsy Ninja
Best Upcoming Game  | Framed
Best Serious Game  | Artistico: The Game for Art Lovers
Best Shared Experience in a Game  | Heads Up!
Excellence in Sound Design  | Papa Sangre II
Excellence in Art Design  | Year Walk

### 2013[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Grand Prix  | The Walking Dead | [28]
Jury's Honorable Mention  | Devil's Attorney, Zombies Run!
People's Choice  | The Room
Excellence in Innovation  | Spaceteam
Excellence in Storytelling  | The Walking Dead
Best Social Game  | Candy Crush Saga
Best Serious Game  | DragonBox Algebra 5+

### 2012[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Grand Prix  | Infinity Blade II | [29][30]
Jury's Honorable Mention  | Contre Jour
People's Choice  | Flick Tennis: College Wars
Excellence in Gameplay  | Infinity Blade II
Most Innovative Game  | Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP
Best Sports Game  | Touchgrind BMX
Best Real World Game  | Meatspace Invasion
Best Mobile Social Game  | Charadium II
Best Casual Game  | Sprinkle

### 2011[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Grand Prix  | Beyond Ynth | [31]
People's Choice  | Perfect Cell
Excellence in Gameplay  | Beyond Ynth
Operators Choice  | Snowboard Hero
Excellence in Design  | Infinity Blade
Most Innovative Game  | Papa Sangre
Best Sports Game  | Snowboard Hero
Best Real World Game  | AR Invaders
Best Casual Game  | Plants vs. Zombies

### 2009[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Grand Prix  | Labyrinth 2 | [32]
People's Choice  | Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior
Operators Choice  | Krazy Kart Racing

### 2008[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Grand Prix  | N/A  | [33]
People's Choice  | Kroll
Excellence in Gameplay  | Edge
Special Innovation  | Kodo Evolved
Operators Choice  | Edge
Excellence in Connectivity  | Real Racing
Best Real World Game  | Fastfoot Challenge
Best Casual Game  | Tropical Towers

### 2007[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Grand Prix  | Metal Gear Solid Mobile | [34]
People's Choice  | WRC 3D
Best Licensed IP-Based Game  | Furby Island
Excellence in 3D  | ONE Sequel
Operators Choice  | Metal Gear Solid Mobile

### 2006[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Grand Prix  | Triangler | [35]
Best Use of Flash  | Crazy Matches
Most Innovative Game  | Triangler

### 2005[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Grand Prix  | AR Tennis | [36]
Excellence in Gameplay  | Monkey Pole Climb
Best Artwork  | 3D World Warriors
Achievement  | AR Tennis

### 2004[edit]

Award  | Winner  | Ref

|
|

Grand Prix  | Burt | [37]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "International 3D Mobile Gaming Competition".
2. ^ "Autodesk – Press Room Archive – Discreet and Partners Announce the First International 3D Mobile Gaming Competition to Drive 3D Mobile Game Development". usa.autodesk.com. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
3. ^ VentureBeat – How mobile gaming has evolved, as seen through prism of its global awards
4. ^ "How we judge – International Mobile Gaming Awards". Retrieved 1 September 2015.
5. ^ "International Mobile Gaming Awards hit San Francisco – CNET". CNET. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
6. ^ 148 Apps – IMGA Awards To Be Announced in San Francisco at Game Connection
7. ^ CNET – International Mobile Gaming Awards hit San Francisco
8. ^ "IMGA Launches Mobile Virtual Reality Category – VR Focus". VR Focus. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
9. ^ "The International Mobile Game Awards announces its nominees for 2016 – VentureBeat". VentureBeat. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
10. ^ a b "Sam Barlow's Her Story is the big winner of the 12th IMGAs - PG.biz". PG.biz. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
11. ^ "Malaysia host first ever IMGA mobile games competition Southeast Asia".
12. ^ "IMGA announces first China edition".
13. ^ "MyGamez, the Chinese publishing platform for high quality foreign mobile game titles in China".
14. ^ "How the International Mobile Gaming Awards is changing with the industry". pocketgamer.biz. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
15. ^ "How mobile gaming has evolved, as seen through prism of its global awards (interview)". VentureBeat. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
16. ^ "The 11th IMGA". YouTube. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
17. ^ a b "16th IMGA nominated and awarded games". International Mobile Gaming Awards. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
18. ^ Partleton, Kayleigh (3 August 2020). "Call of Duty: Mobile takes home two accolades at International Mobile Gaming Awards". pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
19. ^ "15th IMGA nominated and awarded games". International Mobile Gaming Awards. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
20. ^ Forde, Matthew (21 March 2019). "GDC 2019: International Mobile Gaming Awards winners revealed". pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
21. ^ "14th IMGA nominated and awarded games". International Mobile Gaming Awards. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
22. ^ "13 th IMGA awarded games – International Mobile Gaming Awards". Retrieved 1 September 2015.
23. ^ Takahashi, Dean (1 March 2017). "IMGA names Pokémon Go as the mobile game of the year". VentureBeat. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
24. ^ "12 th IMGA awarded games – International Mobile Gaming Awards". Retrieved 1 September 2015.
25. ^ "11 th IMGA awarded games – International Mobile Gaming Awards". Retrieved 1 September 2015.
26. ^ Priestman, Chris (5 March 2015). "Monument Valley wins big at both the IMGAs and the GDC Awards". pocketgamer.com. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
27. ^ "10 th IMGA awarded games – International Mobile Gaming Awards". Retrieved 1 September 2015.
28. ^ "9 th IMGA awarded games – International Mobile Gaming Awards". Retrieved 1 September 2015.
29. ^ "8 th IMGA awarded games – International Mobile Gaming Awards". Retrieved 1 September 2015.
30. ^ Oxford, Nadia (7 March 2012). "IMGA 2012: And the winners are…". Gamezebo.[permanent dead link]
31. ^ "7 th IMGA awarded games – International Mobile Gaming Awards". Retrieved 1 September 2015.
32. ^ "6 th IMGA awarded games – International Mobile Gaming Awards". Retrieved 1 September 2015.
33. ^ "5 th IMGA awarded games – International Mobile Gaming Awards". Retrieved 1 September 2015.
34. ^ "4 th IMGA awarded games – International Mobile Gaming Awards". Retrieved 1 September 2015.
35. ^ "3rd IMGA games". Retrieved 1 September 2015.
36. ^ "2nd IMGA games". Retrieved 1 September 2015.
37. ^ "1st IMGA edition in 2005, Barcelona". Retrieved 1 September 2015.

## External links[edit]

* Official website
* International Mobile Gaming Awards channel at YouTube