INDIE Live Expo Winter 2022 Reveals Show Times, Content, and Award Nominees

TOKYO — November 15, 2022 — INDIE Live Expo Winter 2022, the sixth entry in the biannual live digital showcase connecting indie game fans all over the world with more than 57.5 million total views, reveals the show times, first content, and third-annual INDIE Live Expo Awards nominees. The two-day event takes place Saturday, Dec. 3 and Sunday, Dec. 4 at 1:00 AM PST / 4:00 AM EST / 10:00 AM CET / 6:00 PM JST, broadcast in English on YouTube and Twitch with separate Chinese and Japanese broadcasts.

DAY 1: Let’s Play will focus on titles that viewers can play right now, including new content for released games, major updates to Early Access titles, and showcases of hidden gems for new audiences to discover. INDIE Waves will feature short-form, rapid-fire presentations from more than 200 titles. Additionally, notable personalities from the indie game world will provide recommendations on some of their favorite titles.

DAY 2: Awards will focus on showcasing upcoming games and honoring the best current games. This broadcast will feature INDIE Live Premieres, with new title debuts and fresh reveals from previously announced games and more quick hit INDIE Waves for unreleased games. Additionally, a new INDIE Studios Around the World segment highlighting games and studios from a particular country will debut, with more show content and segments to be revealed ahead of the event.

DAY 2 also features the reveal of the INDIE Live Expo Awards winners, honoring the best in independent games from Oct. 2021 to Sept. 2022. A panel of experts from the worldwide media and games industry helped determine the nominees listed below, with all games eligible for the Game of the Year and joining the ranks of previous grand prize winners Road 96 and Hades. The public can voice their opinion beginning today until Dec. 3 at 11:59 AM JST at this link.

“Our panel did an exceptional job at making our nominee list aim to represent what we love from indie gaming, both the prominent titles that made an impact along with some lesser-known hidden gems,” said Ryuta Konuma, Founder, Ryu’s Office. “We hope this spirit carries on throughout our two days of INDIE Live Expo Winter 2022, where we can provide fun surprises of all kinds for indie game fans all over the world.”

INDIE Live Expo Winter 2022 takes place Saturday, Dec. 3 and Sunday, Dec. 4, with the broadcast starting at 1:00 AM PST / 4:00 AM EST / 10:00 AM CET / 6:00 PM JST each day. The English language broadcast on YouTube and Twitch will be hosted on both days by indie game content creator J-mon and Kaori “Kaotan” Horiuchi, bilingual Japanese idol member of AKIHABARA Backstage Pass and Twitch streamer. Atsugiri Jason, an American comedian based in Tokyo, will join the DAY2 broadcast.

Further information concerning the participating guests of INDIE Live Expo Winter 2022, show segments, sponsors, and more will be revealed soon on the INDIE Live Expo website. Please make sure to follow @INDIELiveExpoEN or #INDIELiveExpo on social media for more details and the latest information.

INDIE Live Expo Award 2022 - Nominees

Most Stream-Friendly Game Award

•  Needy Streamer Overload (WWS playground, xemono)
•  Poppy Playtime (MOB Games)
•  The Complex: Found Footage (IsarL)
•  Trombone Champ (Holy Wow)

Best New Characters Award

•  Needy Streamer Overload (WWS playground, xemono)
•  STRAY (BlueTwelve Studio, Annapurna Interactive)
•  Cult of the Lamb (Massive Monster, Devolver Digital)
•  DEEEER Simulator: Your Average Everyday Deer Game (Gibier Gamer, PLAYISM)

Best Game Feel Award

•  Have a Nice Death (Magic Design Studios, Gearbox Publishing)
•  Neon White (Angel Matrix, Annapurna Interactive)
•  Rogue Legacy 2 (Cellar Door Games)
•  F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch (TiGames, bilibili)

Theme of the Year Award

•  Fashion Police Squad (Mopeful Games, No More Robots)
•  Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk (Nikita Kryukov)
•  Needy Streamer Overload (WWS playground, xemono)
•  OMORI (OMOCAT, LLC)

Rules of Play Award

•  7 Days to End with You (Lizardry)
•  A=B (Artless Games)
•  Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate (PUNKCAKE Delicieux)
•  Who’s Lila (Garage Heathen, IndieArk)

Local Cultural Representation Award

•  RPG Time: The Legend of Wright (DeskWorks, Aniplex)
•  The Witch Of The Ihanashi (Fragaria, Seikei Production)
•  A Perfect Day (Perfect Day Studio)
•  Paper Bride (HeartBeat Plus)

Trailer of the Year Award

•  Fashion Police Squad - Launch Trailer (Mopeful Games, No More Robots)
•  Kenny Washmore - PowerWash Simulator Informecial (FuturLab, Square Enix)
•  STRAY - Launch Trailer (BlueTwelve Studio, Annapurna Interactive)
•  Trek to Yomi - Launch Trailer (Leonard Menchiari, Flying Wild Hog, Devolver Digital)

Best Short Game Award

•  Unpacking (Witch Beam, Humble Games), Vampire Survivors (poncle)
•  Open the Door: A Short Story About Life (Tatsuya Koyama)
•  Kanojokei Seimei Shinkaron Perfect Girl

Rediscovery Award

•  ElecHead (NamaTakahashi, Tsuyomi)
•  Happy Game (Amanita Design)
•  Songs of Conquest (Lavapotion, Coffee Stain Publishing)
•  Potato Flowers in Full Bloom (Pon Pon Games, PLAYISM)

Late Bloom Award

•  ANNO: Mutationem (ThinkingStars, Lightning Games)
•  Raft (Redbeet Interactive, Axolot Games)
•  RPG Time: The Legend of Wright (DeskWorks, Aniplex)
•  Yumeiri (Affility)

Most Addictive Game Award

•  Farthest Frontier (Crate Entertainment)
•  Raft (Redbeet Interactive, Axolot Games)
•  Vampire Survivors (poncle)
•  Yugo Puzzle (QRostar)

All nominated games are also eligible to win the “INDIE Live Expo’s Indie Game of the Year” award.

About Ryu’s Office

Ryu’s Office offers in-depth marketing solutions for smartphone, console, arcade, and PC games in Japan. They are particularly focused on the planning and production of numerous live broadcasts based out of Japan for the gaming industry.

To learn more, visit the official Ryu’s Office website.

Article by: Susan N.