Empyreal has been awarded the title of Best Indie Game Made in The North

Silent Games secured the award for Best Indie Game Made in The North at the Game Republic Awards with their title Empyreal.

Held at WX Wakefield in Yorkshire, the event drew over 500 attendees from the gaming sector. Game Republic Managing Director Jamie Sefton took on the role of the event's host. The winner in the Best Indie Game Made in The North category was determined through a public vote. Among the 15 contenders were The Siege and the Sandfox by Cardboard Sword and XR Games' Starship Troopers Continuum.

The other categories were reviewed by Keith Stuart, a gaming journalist for the Guardian. Though he wasn't present at the event, Stuart contributed a pre-recorded speech to commence the awards.

The Game Republic Awards were held at WX Wakefield — The Game Republic Awards took place at WX Wakefield | Image credit: Lewis Packwood

Ian Stewart, a pioneer behind the Sheffield-based Gremlin Graphics, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Gremlin, founded in 1984 and celebrated for hits like Zool and Premier Manager, was acquired by Infogrames in 1999, eventually closing its doors in 2003.

The awards ceremony coincided with an exhibition of over 60 games from companies in Northern regions, including ten from Scotland, facilitated by a collaboration between Game Republic and the Scottish Game Developers Association.

Ian Stewart won the Game Legend award at the Game Republic Awards — Ian Stewart honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award | Image credit: Yijia Zhan

The winners announced at the Game Republic Awards included:

Best Small Studio sponsored by Yogscast Games – Dink
Best Mid-Sized Studio sponsored by Other Things – Tanglewood Games
Best Large Studio sponsored by Eaton Smith Solicitors – D3T
Studio Hero Award sponsored by Plus Accounting – Natasha Vincent (EA Playdemic)
Inclusivity Award – Safe In Our World
Inspiring Course Leader sponsored by Double Eleven – Rob Charlish (Wakefield College)
Innovative Use of Technology Award sponsored by HP, AMD with Escape Technology – Reflex Arc
Community Manager Award – Pedro Silva (Double Eleven)
Martyn Brown Rising Star Award – Sarah York (Panda Cat Games)
Best Game-Related Research – Francesca Foffano (IGGI)
Games Legend Award sponsored by Red Kite Games – Darren Falcus
Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Red Kite Games – Ian Stewart
Best Indie Game Made in The North sponsored by Xsolla – Empyreal (Silent Games)