By Sagar V. Mankar Gamescom Latam 2024 took São Paulo by storm from June 26 to 30, turning the city into a gamer’s paradise.
Held at the São Paulo Expo, this massive event brought together gamers, developers, and industry experts for five days of non-stop excitement.
Visitors got to test new games, meet their favorite creators, watch thrilling eSports matches, and admire amazing cosplay.
The BIG Festival, a highlight of the event, showcased the best indie games Latin America has to offer, with all entries available for attendees to try.
In a surprising twist, the indie game “Chants of Sennaar” walked away with the Game of the Year award, proving that creativity can trump big budgets.
Here are all the winners of the Gamescom Latam 2024 Awards:
Game of the Year: “Chants of Sennaar“
Chants of Sennaar is a unique adventure game released in 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PC, and Xbox One.
Developed by the French indie team Rundisc and published by Focus Entertainment, the game draws inspiration from the Tower of Babel myth.
Players explore a mysterious tower, solving puzzles and deciphering fictional languages to communicate with different tribes.
The gameplay combines language translation challenges with light stealth elements, creating an innovative and immersive experience.
The game has received widespread critical acclaim for its creative concept, thoughtful design, and striking art style.
Reviewers have also praised its ingenious puzzles, well-crafted languages, and engrossing setting.
Prior to Gamescom Latam, Chants of Sennaar has been recognized at various award ceremonies, including wins and nominations at the New York Game Awards, Independent Games Festival, and BAFTA Games Awards.
Its unique approach to gameplay and storytelling has earned it Game of the year at Gamescom Latam.
A member of the Rundisc team expressed gratitude for the win, stating, “We’re incredibly honored by this recognition. We hope this award will encourage more people to discover and enjoy our game.”
Best Game from Latin America: “Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure“
Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure is an innovative puzzle game developed by Furniture & Mattress, featuring stunning artwork by Braid’s David Hellman.
Set to release on July 25, 2024, for multiple platforms including PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile via Netflix, Arranger has already garnered attention for its creative approach to puzzle-solving and its vibrant, comic-inspired art style.
The game’s developers aimed to blend the vocabulary of adventure games with puzzle mechanics, resulting in a non-traditional gaming experience that allows for free-form artistic expression within its grid-based gameplay.
With its demo available on Steam, Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure promises to offer players a distinctive and thought-provoking gaming experience.
Best Brazilian Game: “Momodora: Moonlit Farewell“
Momodora: Moonlit Farewell, the fifth installment in the Momodora series, is a critically acclaimed indie Metroidvania game released on January 11, 2024, for PCs.
Developed by Brazialian studio Bombservice and published by Playism, this game continues the story from Momodora III, featuring protagonist Momo Reinol.
The game has received widespread praise from critics and players alike and boasts an impressive Metacritic score of 84 out of 100.
Best Art: “Harold Halibut“
Harold Halibut is a unique narrative-driven adventure game developed by German indie studio Slow Bros over a decade-long period.
Released in 2024 for Windows, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5, the game follows Harold, a janitor on a submerged spacecraft, as he completes tasks for the ship’s inhabitants.
What sets Harold Halibut apart is its stunning visual presentation, created using hand-crafted models and sets made from clay, wood, and textiles, which were then digitized and animated in the Unity engine.
This ambitious approach to game design earned the title Best Art at Gamescom Latam and nominations at various game, film, and culture festivals during its development.
While the game’s visual presentation was universally praised for its craftsmanship, attention to detail, and unique stop-motion-inspired aesthetic, some critics found fault with the game’s pacing, describing it as slow and occasionally mundane.
The lack of traditional puzzle elements and limited interactivity in favor of a more narrative-focused experience was also a point of contention.
Despite these criticisms, Harold Halibut was recognized for its ambition and artistic vision, with several reviewers commending its fresh approach to storytelling in games.
Best Gameplay: “Pacific Drive“
Pacific Drive is a unique survival game developed by Ironwood Studios and released in 2024 for PlayStation 5 and Windows.
The game combines first-person exploration with vehicle management, as players scavenge for resources, repair their car, and avoid various supernatural threats.
The game was praised for its atmospheric setting, compelling characters, and innovative vehicle-based gameplay.
Many reviewers highlighted the unique relationship players develop with their car, praising the customization options and maintenance systems.
The game’s blend of car maintenance, exploration, and supernatural elements created a distinctive experience that resonated with many players and critics alike.
Best Mobile Game: “WHAT THE CAR?“
WHAT THE CAR? is an innovative indie game developed by Triband, the creators of the popular WHAT THE GOLF?
Players control various unconventional “cars” that range from everyday objects like toasters and bathtubs to more absurd creations.
The game features a series of short, physics-based levels where the goal is to navigate these bizarre vehicles to the finish line, often in hilariously unexpected ways.
What Other Indie Games Took Home Awards?
- Best Narrative: “Once Upon a Jester“
- Best Multiplayer: “Extremely Powerful Capybaras“
- Best Audio: “Dordogne“
- Innovation Award: “Cryptmaster“
- Best Casual Game: “Station to Station“
- Best XR/VR: “Sky Climb“
- Best Pitch From Regional Game Development Associations: “Dark Crown“
By highlighting a diverse range of titles, particularly from Latin American developers, Gamescom Latam promotes cultural exchange and broadens the gaming landscape for players worldwide.
For more information, visit the official Gamescom Latam website. And remember to subscribe to Gaming Foodle for more news!