Deutscher Entwicklerpreis

  1. Home
  2. News
  3. The nominations for 2023 have been announced!

The nominations for 2023 have been announced!

Deutscher Entwicklerpreis

11/16/2023 - On Thursday, December 7, 2023, the games industry will meet for the German Developer Award (DEP) in Cologne and celebrate the best computer games of the year from German-speaking countries. Daniel Budiman and Lynne Glaner will host this year's big show at the Flora. Following the work of the 160-strong "Grand Jury", all the nominations have now been decided.

The nominations and winning titles were determined in a two-stage jury process. From 187 submissions, the expert juries first deliberated on the best games and projects in the specialist categories. The "Grand Jury" then selected the nominees for the "Best German Game" from these nominated games. Five games are nominated three times this year and are therefore hot contenders for an award. Chained Echoes by Matthias Linda, Dome Keeper by Bippinbits, EVERSPACE 2 by ROCKFISH Games, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew by Mimimi Games and SIGNALIS by rose-engine are in the running.

Kristin Janulik, project manager and deputy chairwoman of games.nrw: "Our guests can look forward to a particularly exciting awards ceremony this year with some new features. Behind the scenes, we have also been able to further develop the award together with the industry and have, for example, reintroduced the 'Studio of the Year' category. We would like to thank all the companies and experts who support the DEP as idea providers, sponsors or with their commitment and expertise in the jury's work."

The nominated games and their developer teams:

Best German Game

  • Chained Echoes (Matthias Linda, Ratingen - NRW)
  • EVERSPACE 2 (ROCKFISH Games, Hamburg)
  • Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew (Mimimi Games, Munich - Bavaria)

Studio of the Year

  • Deck13 Interactive (Frankfurt am Main - Hesse)
  • Mimimi Games (Munich - Bavaria)
  • Paintbucket Games (Berlin)

Best Indie Game

  • Chained Echoes (Matthias Linda, Ratingen - NRW)
  • Dome Keeper (Bippinbits, Radeberg - Saxony)
  • SIGNALIS (rose-engine, Hamburg)

Best Casual Game

  • Spells & Secrets (Alchemist Interactive, Düsseldorf - NRW)
  • Sticky Business (Spellgarden Games, Stuttgart - Baden-Württemberg)
  • Thronefall (Grizzly Games, Berlin)

Best Game Beyond Entertainment

  • Duru - About Mulle and Depression (Twisted Ramble Games, Berlin)
  • Friedrich Ebert - The Road to Democracy (Playing History, Berlin)
  • Nature? Political. (Tiny Crocodile Studios, Berlin)

Best Game Design

  • Chained Echoes (Matthias Linda, Ratingen - NRW)
  • Dome Keeper (Bippinbits, Radeberg - Saxony)
  • EVERSPACE 2 (ROCKFISH Games, Hamburg)

Best Audio Design

  • The Settlers: New Alliances (Ubisoft Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf - NRW)
  • Fall of Porcupine (Critical Rabbit, Cologne - NRW)
  • Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew (Mimimi Games, Munich - Bavaria)

Best Graphics

  • The Settlers: New Alliances (Ubisoft Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf - NRW)
  • SIGNALIS (rose-engine, Hamburg)
  • Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew (Mimimi Games, Munich - Bavaria)

Best Story

  • Ad Infinitum (Hekate, Berlin)
  • Fall of Porcupine (Critical Rabbit, Cologne - NRW)
  • SIGNALIS (rose-engine, Hamburg)

Best Technical Performance

  • EVERSPACE 2 (ROCKFISH Games, Hamburg)
  • Farming Simulator 22 - Platinum Edition (GIANTS Software, Schlieren - Switzerland)
  • Railway Empire 2 (Gaming Minds Studios, Gütersloh - NRW)

Innovation Award

  • Dome Keeper (Bippinbits, Radeberg - Saxony)
  • Marble Maze (Fox-Assembly, Hamburg)
  • Touch Type Tale - Strategic Typing (Pumpernickel Studio, Münster - NRW)

Special prize for social commitment

  • Andreas Gottschalt (Halberstadt - Saxony-Anhalt)
  • GAME:IN (Cologne - NRW)
  • Loot for the World (Berlin)

Ubisoft Newcomer Award

  • Misgiven (Symmetry Break Studio, Hamburg)
  • Tiny Bookshop (neoludic Games, Cologne - NRW)
  • Tom the postgirl (Oopsie Daisies Studio, Zurich - Switzerland)

Highlight Games

More about this topic

Hearthstone

Patch 29.2.2: Strategic realignments and map changes

Yesterday - Blizzard Entertainment released the patch notes for version 29.2.2 of Hearthstone yesterday, April 25, 2024. This update brings changes to card balancing to improve the player experience and promote strategic diversity. Read more

Lost Ark

New content and updates: Lost Ark's roadmap for the coming quarter

The day before yesterday - The latest update to the 2024 roadmap for Lost Ark brings a wealth of exciting content for the coming months, including new raids, quests and special events. These updates are characterized by a mix of new challenges, exploration opportunities and system improvements. Read more

War Robots

10 years of War Robots: Anniversary update and new content revealed

04/24/2024 - The mobile action game War Robots is celebrating its tenth anniversary with an extensive update that includes lots of new content and a major community event. One highlight is the introduction of a new map called Ground Zero, which is at the center of the celebrations. Read more

Neverwinter

New chapter in Neverwinter: Adventures in Wildspace now playable

04/24/2024 - Cryptic Studios recently released the latest expansion for the free-to-play MMORPG Neverwinter. "Adventures in Wildspace" offers the grand finale of the Spelljammer story and is now available on PC, PlayStation and Xbox. This expansion takes players to new adventure zones and offers various new content and improvements. Read more

Forge of Empires

New update 1.281: Improvements and upcoming events

04/22/2024 - The latest version 1.281 of the popular online game will be released on April 24. This update includes numerous technical improvements, bug fixes and new content for upcoming events. We provide an overview of the most important changes. Read more

Torchlight: Infinite

Explore the Netherrealms in Torchlight: Infinite's latest update

04/19/2024 - Torchlight: Infinite, the popular action role-playing game, is celebrating its first anniversary with the release of the SS4 "Whispering Mist" update. This update brings a mix of dungeon crawling and Cthulhu-esque horror and takes players to the spooky town of Mistville, where they can work together in the new multiplayer mode. Read more

Runescape

New game plans for RuneScape: focus on permanent content in spring

04/18/2024 - RuneScape players can expect a series of new updates in May and June. Based on community feedback, the developers have made some adjustments that promise both new challenges and long-term content. Read more

Crossout

Update brings new brawls and gameplay optimizations in the April update

04/18/2024 - The latest update for the popular vehicle combat game CROSSOUT adds a number of new brawls and improvements. Starting April 18, players will be able to participate in three consecutive brawls with special challenges and rewards. Read more

Overwatch 2

Season 10 of Overwatch 2: Venture and new modes in the spotlight

04/16/2024 - The tenth season of Overwatch 2 brings a breath of fresh air to the gaming experience. In addition to the introduction of the new hero Venture, an archaeological damage powerhouse, players can also expect the brand new game mode "Clash". In addition, all heroes will now be unlocked from the start, which represents a significant change to the previous dynamic. Read more

Forge of Empires

Update 1.280 for Forge of Empires: Overview of new features

04/15/2024 - On April 10, version 1.280 of Forge of Empires was released. This update brought a number of technical improvements, bug fixes and new content for upcoming events. The most important changes are summarized here. Read more

Warcraft Rumble

New challenges in Warcraft Rumble: Season 5 starts soon!

04/15/2024 - The fifth season of Warcraft Rumble starts on April 17 and brings exciting new features for all players. A mysterious new mini, a brand new mode for guilds and the captivating Darkmoon Faire await you this season. Read more

World of Warships

Battleship Wisconsin comes with the April update

04/11/2024 - Wargaming is letting players build the historic American battleship Wisconsin in the shipyard. In addition to the new ship build, there's a special event pass with two 20-level progression lines to ring in the Japanese Golden Week holidays and the remake of the fan-favorite Asymmetric Battles! Read more

Overwatch 2

Season 10: Introduction of broad-based groups

04/11/2024 - Blizzard Entertainment announces exciting updates for Overwatch 2. The latest Defensive Matrix update focuses on the introduction of "broad-based groups" for ranked matches, improved measures against game crashes and enhanced protection for streamers. Read more

Counter Strike 2

Captivating final: Natus Vincere takes the title at the CS2 Copenhagen Major

04/10/2024 - In the final of the Copenhagen Major, Natus Vincere and FaZe Clan faced each other in an epic clash. In front of an international audience of over 1.8 million viewers, the teams played a thrilling match that will go down in Counter-Strike 2 history. Read more

OGame

Game update brings new features and important corrections

04/10/2024 - OGame, the popular space strategy game, will receive a comprehensive update for the live servers on April 11. Players worldwide can look forward to new features and numerous improvements. From new templates for expedition fleets to improvements in mobile use, the update to version 11.13.0 covers a wide range of adjustments. Read more

Albion Online

Crystal weapons conquer Albion: a new arsenal for brave warriors

04/08/2024 - With the conclusion of the first guild season 2024, a new era has begun in Albion: Crystal Weapons, previously unattainable artifacts, are now accessible to players. These weapons, awarded as rewards for outstanding achievements, will leave a lasting mark on the battlefields of Albion. Read more

Hearthstone

New adventures await: Battleground season 7 and Duos mode are coming

04/05/2024 - Blizzard Entertainment announces the seventh Battlegrounds season, which introduces the new Battlegrounds: Duos mode alongside exciting updates to the classic Battlegrounds. Starting April 16, players can expect a mix of fabulous maps and rewards. Read more

Lost Ark

Thaemine - Number One: The ultimate Legion Raid competition starts

04/04/2024 - The event "Thaemine - Number One" offers players the opportunity to compete in the hardest difficulty level of the Thaemine Legion Raid. Starting April 20, adventurers can compete for prestigious rewards and try to get their name on the leaderboard. This race will not only test skill and endurance, but will also bring the community together. Read more

GigraWars

New GigraWars beta version launches: Join in and help shape it!

04/04/2024 - The world of GigraWars is about to undergo a major expansion: The open beta phase of the latest version begins on April 5. Players now have the chance to gain early access and help shape the game. With a planned duration of six months, this phase offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the deep expanses of GigraWars. Read more

Call of Duty: Warzone

New weapons and features: Everything about the Season 3 update

04/03/2024 - The third season of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Warzone is upon us and brings a wealth of new features. With the return of Rebirth Island, four new weapons, eight aftermarket parts and the full integration of Warzone Mobile, the update sets new standards for gameplay. Read more

Lost Ark

Thaemines Sage: A dark force rises in Arkesia

04/02/2024 - With the latest expansion, Arkesia faces one of its greatest challenges. The powerful commander of the Dark Legion, Thaemine, leads his knights and demons in an unprecedented attack. Players must prepare for three key dates in April to counter this threat and increase their power through the new Transcendence progression system. Read more