The NZ Games Festival is back in 2022, and with it are The Pavs, the awards that celebrate the best video games developed in Aotearoa New Zealand in the past year.
This year sees a diverse bunch of games shortlisted from around 50 submissions, which cover familiar categories like Excellence in Visual Art, Audio, Design and Narrative, as well as awards highlighting Excellence in Representation and Accessibility.
There is also the Grand Prize, as well as the Student Game Award – two categories which have a common finalist this year. Well done to The Many Misfortunes of Kyran Pierre Cadenza The First!
In addition to the categories listed below, The Pavs ceremony will also award two individuals to be named the year’s Unsung Hero, as well as Industry Pillar. There is also a category dedicated to Australian games, which has some very stiff competition.
The NZ Games Festival will be held from 1-16 July 2021, and be streaming online for all to see. Good luck to all the finalists!
More details can be found on the NZ Games Festival website.
The Pavs 2022 – List of Finalists
The ‘Slice of Heaven’ Grand Prize
- Dread Hunger, Digital Confectioners & Slowdrive Studios
- Grimguard Tactics, Outerdawn
- Tana’s S.H.A.P.E., Tana Tanoi & Poppy de Raad
- The Many Misfortunes of Kyran Pierre Cadenza The First, [SAMPLE TEXT] Studios Ltd
- Wanderer, Wanderer
The Student’s Slice (Student Game Award)
- 11pm Onwards, Endroll Games
- The Many Misfortunes of Kyran Pierre Cadenza The First, [SAMPLE TEXT] Studios Ltd
- What Draws Me In, Antmarch
- Zeitgeist, [SAMPLE TEXT] Studios Ltd
The Perfect Recipe: Excellence in Design
- Battlecruisers, Mecha Weka
- Dread Hunger, Digital Confectioners & Slowdrive Studios
- Nitro Kid, Wildboy Studios
- Sapiens, Majic Jungle
- Tana’s S.H.A.P.E., Tana Tanoi & Poppy de Raad
The Poetic Serving: Excellence in Narrative
- Her Jentle Hi-ness, Sky Bear Games
- Instruments of the Chrysanthemum Throne, Imaginary Empire Games
- Wanderer, Wanderer
- Winning Love By Daylight, Cutlass Boardgames
The Decorative Piece: Excellence in Visual Art
- Battlecruisers, Mecha Weka
- Dread Hunger, Digital Confectioners & Slowdrive Studios
- Nitro Kid, Wildboy Studios
- Wanderer, Wanderer
- Winning Love By Daylight, Cutlass Boardgames
The Composed Segment: Excellence in Audio
- Grimguard Tactics, Outerdawn
- Matcha, Delphinium Games
- Nitro Kid, Wildboy Studios
- Tana’s S.H.A.P.E., Tana Tanoi & Poppy de Raad
The Accessible Ambrosia: Excellence in Accessibility
- Clusterduck, PikPok
- Hohi 1816, Ruth Lemon and Richard Durham
- Kaupapa, Kura Rēhhia
- Winning Love By Daylight, Cutlass Boardgames
The Diverse Delight: Excellence in Representation
- Her Jentle Hi-ness, Sky Bear Games
- Kaupapa, Kura Rēhhia
- Realising Utopia, PlayAble
- Winning Love By Daylight, Cutlass Boardgames
The Tactile Taste: Excellence in Physical Games
- Instruments of the Chrysanthemum Throne, Imaginary Empire Games
- Kaupapa, Kura Rēhhia
The Guest Plate (Australian Games)
- Justice Sucks, Samurai Punk
- The Forgotten City, Modern Storyteller
- Unpacking, Witch Beam
- Webbed, Sbug Games
