The Taipei Game Show has announced the finalists for the international indie game awards, "Indie Game Award 2027." This year saw 731 teams from 53 countries and regions submit entries, with 45 teams from 20 countries and regions—including South Korea—advancing to the second round of judging.
Held in partnership with PlayStation, this year's awards saw an increase of approximately 40% in participating teams compared to the previous year. Belarus and Madagascar also participated for the first time. A jury composed of global game industry experts, specialized media, and content creators will select winners across eight categories, including the Grand Prix ("Best Indie Game").
In South Korea, six games were nominated. For the Best Audio category, AshboneGames' "The Ashen OZ" and White Kite's "Hallowanderband" were selected, while SANDY FLOOR's "PengPong" was nominated for Best Visual Art. For Best Design, GuildStudio's "NAMMO" and SUPERTHUMb's "Death at Fleming Manor" made the list, and APES' "WHERE TO?" was nominated for Best Student Game.
Among the overseas nominees, Japan's "Ratatan"—which raised over 219 million yen through crowdfunding during development—and Thailand's "Lost and Found Co.," which combines hidden-object gameplay with character narrative and office decoration, were selected. Also included among the nominees were "NAME OF THE WILL," a hand-drawn psychological horror adventure from a US-based development team, and Brazil's "GHOSTLESS," which explores AI advancement, human identity, tech ethics, and trust.
In Taiwan, 10 development teams advanced to the second round. "OPUS: Prism Peak" received nominations across three categories—Best Narrative, Best Audio, and Best Visual Art—while "Selfie Worm" and "Rubinite" were nominated for Best Innovation and Best Design, respectively.
The winning titles will be showcased in a special exhibition area within "INDIE HOUSE" at the Taipei Game Show, held from January 21 to 24, 2027, at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1. Attendees will be able to play the winning games hands-on at the venue.
The Taipei Game Show also continues to support Taiwanese indie games in expanding overseas. This year, it supported 35 Taiwanese development teams in participating in international exhibitions across Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Canada, and other regions, with upcoming showcases planned for Thailand, Lithuania, and Canada. By combining both on-site and remote participation, the organizers plan to broaden touchpoints with overseas gamers and publishers.
Final waitlist registration for the Taipei Game Show's INDIE HOUSE will open on October 21. The full list of Indie Game Award 2027 nominees and event details can be found on the official Taipei Game Show website.
