# D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game

The D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game is an award presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during the D.I.C.E. Awards. This is "awarded to a game that embodies the independent spirit of game creation, representing a higher degree of risk tolerance and advances our media with innovative gameplay and experiences". All active creative/technical, business, and affiliate members of the Academy are qualified to vote for this category.
The award's most recent winner is Balatro, developed by LocalThunk and published by PlayStack.

## Past Variations

The Academy introduced the computer genre award of Downloadable Game of the Year for the 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards. "Downloadable games are those games in which the user must download a copy to their hard drive of their computer to play. These games sometimes feature a username and password to play, but are not a requirement for entry". 2006 was the first year that did not offer separate console and PC genre categories, so console and PC games were eligible. The nomination packet for the 2007 awards listed a genre category for Casual Game of the Year. The category description matched the description for "Downloadable" and even used past finalists as examples. Finalists were still listed for "Downloadable" instead of "Casual". Casual Game of the Year was officially offered for the 2009 awards. Some of the past finalists for "Downloadable" were listed as examples for "Casual". Casual games were defined as "titles that are designed to appeal to novice or experienced players; are produced with low-cost budget targets; are available through online or retail distribution; and may be played on console, computer, or mobile platforms". Downloadable Game of the Year was reintroduced for the 2012 awards as a "Game of the Year" category; recognizing the "game where the sole form of distribution is through a digital marketplace on PC or console". Both awards for "Downloadable" and "Casual" would not be offered for the 2015 awards. That same year, the Academy introduced the D.I.C.E. Sprite Award which was "awarded to a game having disproportionate resources for development and exposure (as compared to AAA titles), represent a higher degree of risk tolerance and advances our media with innovative gameplay and experiences. Examples include: The Walking Dead, Limbo, and Fez". The D.I.C.E. Sprite Award would be replaced with Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game for the 2019 awards ceremony.
* Downloadable Game of the Year (2004—2008, 2012—2014)
* Casual Game of the Year (2009—2014)
* D.I.C.E. Sprite Award (2015—2018)
* Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game (2019—present)

## Winners and nominees

Table key :
* Indicates the winner

### 2000s

| Year | Game | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) | Ref. |
| 2003 (7th) | Hamsterball | Raptisoft | Real.com | [14][15] [16][17] |
| 2003 (7th) | Poppit! To Go | Pogo.com | Electronic Arts | [14][15] [16][17] |
| 2003 (7th) | Word Whomp To Go | Pogo.com | Electronic Arts | [14][15] [16][17] |
| 2003 (7th) | Zuma Deluxe | PopCap Games | PopCap Games | [14][15] [16][17] |
| 2004 (8th) | The Incredibles: Escape from Nomanisan Island | Backbone Entertainment | Disney Interactive | |
| 2004 (8th) | Diner Dash | Gamelab | PlayFirst | |
| 2004 (8th) | Mahjong Garden To Go | Pogo.com | Electronic Arts | |
| 2004 (8th) | Shroomz - Quest for Puppy | The Planet | GameTrust, Inc. | |
| 2005 (9th) | Wik: The Fable of Souls | Reflexive Entertainment | Reflexive Entertainment | [21][22] [23][24] |
| 2005 (9th) | Chuzzle | Raptisoft | PopCap Games | [21][22] [23][24] |
| 2005 (9th) | Egg vs. Chicken | Gamelab | PlayFirst | [21][22] [23][24] |
| 2005 (9th) | Oasis | Mind Control Software | PlayFirst | [21][22] [23][24] |
| 2005 (9th) | Tradewinds Legends | Sandlot Games | Sandlot Games | [21][22] [23][24] |
| 2006 (10th) | Bookworm Adventures | PopCap Games | PopCap Games | |
| 2006 (10th) | Diner Dash: Flo on the Go | PlayFirst | PlayFirst | |
| 2006 (10th) | Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects | Big Fish Studios | Big Fish Games | |
| 2006 (10th) | Plantasia | Gamelab | PlayFirst | |
| 2006 (10th) | Virtual Villagers: A New Home | Last Day of Work | Big Fish Games | |
| 2007 (11th) | Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords | Infinite Interactive, 1st Playable Productions | D3 Publisher | |
| 2007 (11th) | Azada | Big Fish Studios | Big Fish Games | |
| 2007 (11th) | Build-a-lot | HipSoft | HipSoft | |
| 2007 (11th) | flOw | Thatgamecompany | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| 2007 (11th) | Peggle | PopCap Games | PopCap Games | |
| 2008 (12th) | Braid | Number None | Microsoft Game Studios | |
| 2008 (12th) | Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst | Big Fish Studios | Big Fish Games | |
| 2008 (12th) | Patapon | Japan Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| 2008 (12th) | Professor Layton and the Curious Village | Level-5 | Nintendo | |
| 2008 (12th) | World of Goo | 2D Boy | 2D Boy, Nintendo | |
| 2009 (13th) | flower | Thatgamecompany | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| 2009 (13th) | Drawn: The Painted Tower | Big Fish Studios | Big Fish Games | |
| 2009 (13th) | Flight Control | Firemint | Firemint | |
| 2009 (13th) | Plants vs. Zombies | PopCap Games | PopCap Games | |
| 2009 (13th) | Scribblenauts | 5th Cell | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | |

### 2010s

| Year | Game | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) |
| 2010 (14th) | Angry Birds HD | Rovio Entertainment | Chillingo |
| 2010 (14th) | Bejeweled 3 | PopCap Games | PopCap Games |
| 2010 (14th) | Kinect Sports | Rare | Microsoft Game Studios |
| 2010 (14th) | Pac-Man Championship Edition DX | Namco Bandai Games | Namco Bandai Games |
| 2010 (14th) | Plants vs. Zombies | PopCap Games | PopCap Games |
| 2011 (15th) | Downloadable Game of the Year | Downloadable Game of the Year | Downloadable Game of the Year |
| 2011 (15th) | Bastion | Supergiant Games | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment |
| 2011 (15th) | Drawn: Trail of Shadows | Big Fish Studios | Big Fish Games |
| 2011 (15th) | Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet | Shadow Planet Productions | Microsoft Studios |
| 2011 (15th) | Ms. Splosion Man | Twisted Pixel Games | Microsoft Studios |
| 2011 (15th) | Orcs Must Die! | Robot Entertainment | Microsoft Studios |
| 2011 (15th) | Fruit Ninja Kinect | Halfbrick Studios | Microsoft Studios |
| 2011 (15th) | Jetpack Joyride | Halfbrick Studios | Halfbrick Studios |
| 2011 (15th) | Monsters Ate My Condo | Adult Swim Games | PikPok |
| 2011 (15th) | Tiny Wings | Andreas Illiger | Andreas Illiger |
| 2011 (15th) | Where's My Water? | Disney Interactive | Disney Interactive |
| 2012 (16th) | Downloadable Game of the Year | Downloadable Game of the Year | Downloadable Game of the Year |
| 2012 (16th) | The Walking Dead | Telltale Games | Telltale Games |
| 2012 (16th) | Fez | Polytron Corporation | Microsoft Studios |
| 2012 (16th) | Journey | Thatgamecompany | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2012 (16th) | Mark of the Ninja | Klei Entertainment | Microsoft Studios |
| 2012 (16th) | The Unfinished Swan | Giant Sparrow, Santa Monica Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2012 (16th) | Journey | Thatgamecompany | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2012 (16th) | Fairway Solitaire | Big Fish Studios | Big Fish Games |
| 2012 (16th) | Puzzle Craft | Ars Thanea | Electronic Arts |
| 2012 (16th) | Rayman Jungle Run | Ubisoft Montpellier, Pastagames | Ubisoft |
| 2012 (16th) | Sound Shapes | Queasy Games | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2013 (17th) | Downloadable Game of the Year | Downloadable Game of the Year | Downloadable Game of the Year |
| 2013 (17th) | Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons | Starbreeze Studios | 505 Games |
| 2013 (17th) | Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft |
| 2013 (17th) | Gone Home | Fullbright | Fullbright |
| 2013 (17th) | Papers, Please | Lucas Pope | 3909 |
| 2013 (17th) | The Stanley Parable | Galactic Cafė | Galactic Cafė |
| 2013 (17th) | Plants vs. Zombies 2 | PopCap Games | Electronic Arts |
| 2013 (17th) | Candy Box! | aniwey | aniwey |
| 2013 (17th) | Peggle 2 | PopCap Games | Electronic Arts |
| 2013 (17th) | Rayman Fiesta Run | Ubisoft Casablanca | Ubisoft |
| 2013 (17th) | Ridiculous Fishing | Vlambeer | Vlambeer |
| 2014 (18th) | Transistor | Supergiant Games | Supergiant Games |
| 2014 (18th) | Hohokum | Honeyslug | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2014 (18th) | Monument Valley | ustwo | ustwo |
| 2014 (18th) | The Banner Saga | Stoic | Versus Evil |
| 2014 (18th) | Threes | Sirvo | Sirvo |
| 2015 (19th) | Rocket League | Psyonix | Psyonix |
| 2015 (19th) | Galak-Z: The Dimensional | 17-Bit | 17-Bit |
| 2015 (19th) | Her Story | Sam Barlow | Sam Barlow |
| 2015 (19th) | Kerbal Space Program | Squad | Squad |
| 2015 (19th) | Undertale | Toby Fox | Toby Fox |
| 2016 (20th) | Inside | Playdead | Playdead |
| 2016 (20th) | 1979 Revolution: Black Friday | iNK Stories | iNK Stories |
| 2016 (20th) | Firewatch | Campo Santo | Campo Santo |
| 2016 (20th) | Superhot | Superhot Team | Superhot Team |
| 2016 (20th) | That Dragon, Cancer | Numinous Games | Numinous Games |
| 2017 (21st) | Snipperclips | SFB Games | Nintendo |
| 2017 (21st) | Everything | David O'Reilly | Double Fine Productions |
| 2017 (21st) | Gorogoa | Jason Roberts, Buried Signal | Annapurna Interactive |
| 2017 (21st) | Night in the Woods | Infinite Fall, Secret Lab | Finji |
| 2017 (21st) | Pyre | Supergiant Games | Supergiant Games |
| 2018 (22nd) | Celeste | Matt Makes Games | Matt Makes Games |
| 2018 (22nd) | Florence | Mountains | Annapurna Interactive |
| 2018 (22nd) | Into the Breach | Subset Games | Subset Games |
| 2018 (22nd) | Minit | Jan Willem Nijman, Kitty Calis, Jukio Kallio, Dominik Johann | Devolver Digital |
| 2018 (22nd) | Return of the Obra Dinn | Lucas Pope | 3909 |
| 2019 (23rd) | Untitled Goose Game | House House | Panic Inc. |
| 2019 (23rd) | A Short Hike | Adam Robinson-Yu | Adam Robinson-Yu |
| 2019 (23rd) | Disco Elysium | ZA/UM | ZA/UM |
| 2019 (23rd) | Sayonara Wild Hearts | Simogo | Annapurna Interactive |
| 2019 (23rd) | What the Golf? | Triband | Triband, The Label |

### 2020s

| Year | Game | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) | Ref. |
| 2020 (24th) | Hades | Supergiant Games | Supergiant Games | |
| 2020 (24th) | Coffee Talk | Toge Productions | Toge Productions, Chorus Worldwide | |
| 2020 (24th) | If Found... | Dreamfeel | Annapurna Interactive | |
| 2020 (24th) | Kentucky Route Zero | Cardboard Computer | Annapurna Interactive | |
| 2020 (24th) | Noita | Nolla Games | Nolla Games | |
| 2021 (25th) | Unpacking | Witch Beam | Humble Bundle | |
| 2021 (25th) | Death's Door | Acid Nerve | Devolver Digital | |
| 2021 (25th) | Inscryption | Daniel Mullins Games | Devolver Digital | |
| 2021 (25th) | Loop Hero | Four Quarters | Devolver Digital | |
| 2021 (25th) | Sable | Shedworks | Raw Fury | |
| 2022 (26th) | Tunic | Isometricorps Games | Finji | |
| 2022 (26th) | Immortality | Half Mermaid Productions | Half Mermaid Productions | |
| 2022 (26th) | Neon White | Angel Matrix | Annapurna Interactive | |
| 2022 (26th) | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge | Tribute Games | Dotemu | |
| 2022 (26th) | Vampire Survivors | poncle | poncle | |
| 2023 (27th) | Cocoon | Geometric Interactive | Annapurna Interactive | |
| 2023 (27th) | Dredge | Black Salt Games | Team17 | |
| 2023 (27th) | El Paso, Elsewhere | Strange Scaffold | Strange Scaffold | |
| 2023 (27th) | Thirsty Suitors | Outerloop Games | Annapurna Interactive | |
| 2023 (27th) | Venba | Visai Games | Visai Games | |
| 2024 (28th) | Balatro | LocalThunk | PlayStack | [58][59] [60][61] |
| 2024 (28th) | Animal Well | Shared Memory | Bigmode | [58][59] [60][61] |
| 2024 (28th) | Grunn | Sokpop Collective | Sokpop Collective | [58][59] [60][61] |
| 2024 (28th) | Indika | Odd-Meter | 11 Bit Studios | [58][59] [60][61] |
| 2024 (28th) | Mouthwashing | Wrong Organ | Critical Reflex | [58][59] [60][61] |

## Multiple nominations and wins
### Developers and publishers

PopCap Games has developed the most nominees. PopCap Games, Supergiant Games, and Thatgamecompany are the only developers that have won more than once. Annapurna Interactive, Microsoft and Sony Interactive Entertainment are tied for publishing the most finalists. Microsoft, Sony, and Supergiant Games are the only companies that have published the winners of this category more than once. Big Fish Games has developed and published the most finalists that have not won.
Developers :
| Developer | Nominations | Wins |
| Supergiant Games | 4 | 3 |
| PopCap Games | 8 | 2 |
| Thatgamecompany | 4 | 2 |
| Halfbrick Studios | 2 | 1 |
| Raptisoft | 2 | 1 |
| Big Fish Studios | 6 | 0 |
| Gamelab | 3 | 0 |
| Pogo.com | 3 | 0 |
| Lucas Pope | 2 | 0 |
Publishers :
| Publisher | Nominations | Wins |
| Microsoft Game Studios | 8 | 2 |
| Sony Computer Entertainment | 8 | 2 |
| Supergiant Games | 3 | 2 |
| Annapurna Interactive | 8 | 1 |
| PopCap Games | 7 | 1 |
| Electronic Arts | 6 | 1 |
| Nintendo | 3 | 1 |
| Finji | 2 | 1 |
| Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | 2 | 1 |
| Big Fish Games | 7 | 0 |
| PlayFirst | 5 | 0 |
| Devolver Digital | 4 | 0 |
| Ubisoft | 3 | 0 |
| 3909 | 2 | 0 |
| Disney Interactive | 2 | 0 |

### Franchises

Plants vs. Zombies is the only game that has been nominated for the same category more than once: Casual Game of the Year in 2010 for the PC release, and in 2011 for iOS devices and/or the Xbox 360. Journey is the only game that is a finalist for both Downloadable Game of the Year and Casual Game of the Year within the same year, winning for the latter.
Franchises :
| Franchise | Nominations | Wins |
| Plants vs. Zombies | 3 | 1 |
| Journey | 2 | 1 |
| Diner Dash | 2 | 0 |
| Drawn | 2 | 0 |
| Mystery Case Files | 2 | 0 |
| Peggle | 2 | 0 |
| Rayman | 2 | 0 |