Blue Prince and The Darkest Files secure top honors at the German Computer Game Awards 2026

At the 2026 German Computer Game Awards, Blue Prince was honored as the Best International Game, while The Darkest Files secured victories in both the Best German Game and Best Serious Game categories.

A total of €800,000 in prizes was allocated among 15 different categories, with The Darkest Files obtaining €140,000.

Neoludic Games' Tiny Bookshop captured the Newcomer Award for Best Debut and earned a nomination for Best German Game.

Anno 117: Pax Romana from Ubisoft Mainz received the accolade for Best Innovation and Technology and was considered for Best German Game as well.

The Berlin Apartment by Blue Backpack was awarded for Best Graphic Design and Best Story.

These awards are facilitated by the German Federal Government, in collaboration with the German Games Industry Association (Game), with representation from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.

Felix Falk, the Game managing director, remarked, "We warmly congratulate all winners of the German Computer Game Awards 2026 and are delighted by a fantastic evening of outstanding games and gripping stories."

He emphasized the importance of leveraging this success to enhance German game studios' global recognition by working with the Federal Government.

Below is a complete listing of the victors from the 2026 German Computer Game Awards:

Best German Game (prize: €100,000)

• Winner: The Darkest Files (Paintbucket Games)

Other nominees receiving €30,000 each:

• Anno 117: Pax Romana (Ubisoft Mainz/Ubisoft)
• Tiny Bookshop (Neoludic Games/Skystone Games)

Best International Game (no prize money included)

• Blue Prince (Dogubomb/Raw Fury)

Studio of the Year (award money: €50,000)

• Weltenbauer. Software Entwicklung (Wiesbaden)

Newcomer Award: Best Debut (award money: €60,000)

• Tiny Bookshop

Other nominees receiving €25,000 each:

• Causal Loop (Mirebound/Headup)
• Constance (Blue Backpack/ByteRockers’ Games)

Newcomer Award: Best Prototype (award money: €50,000)

• Garden Ink (Arne Jürgens, Sven Mehlhorn)

Other nominees receiving €25,000 each:

• Burn With Me (Eva Manuilovich, Ivan Bushmin, Nikita Melnikov)
• Cards and Cannons (Anica Gritzki, Jennifer Seeber, Luca Schmidt, Lucas Thieme, Jan-Ivo Lattek, Julian Seidel/HTW Berlin/De:Hive)
• Heart Drive (Jonas Pfeiffer/HAW Hamburg)
• UnderPressure (Aaliyah Schäfer, Romy Scherwat, Lea Eschlberger, Tim Richter, Fabius Sachs, Felina Westrich, Malvina Arakelian, Rosalie Stallmann/Hochschule Darmstadt)

Best Family Game (award: €40,000)

• Flick Shot Rogues (Butter By The Fish/Noodlecake Studios)

Best Innovation and Technology (award: €40,000)

• Anno 117: Pax Romana

Best Audio Design (award: €40,000)

• Everspace 2: Wrath of the Ancients (Rockfish Games)

Best Game Design (award: €40,000)

• Super Meat Boy 3D (Sluggerfly/Headup)

Best Graphic Design (award: €40,000)

• The Berlin Apartment (Blue Backpack/ByteRockers’ Games)

Best Mobile Game (award: €40,000)

• MicroMacro: Downtown Detective (Soft Boiled Games)

Best Story (award: €40,000)

• The Berlin Apartment (Blue Backpack/ByteRockers’ Games)

Best Serious Game (award: €40,000)

• The Darkest Files (Paintbucket Games)

Player of the Year (no prize money)

• Dennsen86

Special Jury Award (award: €10,000)

• Forschungsverbund RadiGaMe