Annual awards for works of interactive fiction
The XYZZY Awards are the annual awards given to works of interactive fiction , serving a similar role to the Academy Awards for film. [ 1] The awards were inaugurated in 1997 by Eileen Mullin, the editor of XYZZYnews . [ 2] Any game released during the year prior to the award ceremony is eligible for nomination to receive an award. The decision process takes place in two stages: members of the interactive fiction community nominate works within specific categories and sufficiently supported nominations become finalists within those categories. Community members then vote among the finalists, and the game receiving a plurality of votes is given the award in an online ceremony. [ 3]
Since 1997, the XYZZY Awards have become one of the most important events within the interactive fiction community. [ 4] Together with events like the Interactive Fiction Competition and Spring Thing , the XYZZY Awards provide opportunities for the community to encourage and reward the creation and development of new works within a genre that is no longer commercially lucrative. [ 5]
The name of the awards comes from the magic word "xyzzy " causing teleportation from the popular early text adventure game Adventure .
Awards The awards have been presented in the following categories. [ 6]
Best game The game which is the most enjoyable as a whole; other awards recognize merit in particular qualities.
Best writing A game which rises above the others in the quality of its descriptive text.
1996 : So Far by Andrew Plotkin1997 : Sunset Over Savannah by Ivan Cockrum1998 : Photopia by Adam Cadre1999 : For a Change by Dan Schmidt2000 : Metamorphoses by Emily Short2001 : Fallacy of Dawn by Robb Sherwin2002 : The Moonlit Tower by Yoon Ha Lee 2003 : Narcolepsy by Adam Cadre2004 : Blue Chairs by Chris Klimas2005 : Vespers by Jason Devlin2006 : Delightful Wallpaper by Andrew Plotkin2007 : Lost Pig by Admiral Jota2008 : Violet by Jeremy Freese2009 : Alabaster by Emily Short et al.2010 : Hoist Sail for the Heliopause and Home by Andrew Plotkin2011 : Cryptozookeeper by Robb Sherwin2012 : Howling Dogs by Porpentine 2013 : their angelical understanding by Porpentine2014 : With Those We Love Alive by Porpentine and Brenda Neotenomie2015 : Birdland by Brendan Patrick Hennessy2016 : Take by Katherine Morayati2017 : Eat Me by Chandler Groover2018 : Bogeyman by Elizabeth Smyth; Animalia by Ian Michael Waddell (tie)2019 : Crème de la Crème by Hannah Powell-Smith2020 : Jolly Good: Cakes and Ale by Kreg Segal2021 : Sting by Mike Russo2022 : The Absence of Miriam Lane by Abigail CorfmanBest story The game with the deepest or most original story.
1996 : Tapestry by Daniel Ravipinto1997 : Babel by Ian Finley1998 : Photopia by Adam Cadre1999 : Worlds Apart by Suzanne Britton2000 : My Angel by Jon Ingold2001 : All Roads by Jon Ingold2002 : Savoir Faire by Emily Short2003 : Slouching Towards Bedlam by Daniel Ravipinto and Star Foster2004 : Blue Chairs by Chris Klimas2005 : Beyond by Mondi Confinanti (Roberto Grassi, Paolo Lucchesi, and Alessandro Peretti)2006 : The Traveling Swordsman by Mike Snyder2007 : A Fine Day for Reaping by James Webb2008 : Nightfall by Eric Eve2009 : Blue Lacuna by Aaron A. Reed 2010 : The Warbler's Nest by Jason McIntosh2011 : The Play by Deirdra Kiai.2012 : Howling Dogs by Porpentine 2013 : Solarium by Alan DeNiro2014 : 80 Days by inkle and Meg Jayanth2015 : Birdland by Brendan Patrick Hennessy2016 : Foo Foo by Buster Hudson2017 : The Wizard Sniffer by Buster Hudson2018 : Bogeyman by Elizabeth Smyth2019 : Crème de la Crème by Hannah Powell-Smith; Turandot by Victor Gijsbers (tie)2020 : A Rope of Chalk by Ryan Veeder2021 : What Heart Heard Of, Ghost Guessed by Amanda Walker2022 : Fairest by Amanda WalkerBest setting The most original or best-described locations.
1996 : Small World by Andrew D. Pontious1997 : A Bear's Night Out by David Dyte1998 : Anchorhead by Michael Gentry1999 : Hunter, in Darkness by Andrew Plotkin2000 : Shade by Andrew Plotkin2001 : All Roads by Jon Ingold2002 : 1893: A World's Fair Mystery by Peter Nepstad2003 : Slouching Towards Bedlam by Daniel Ravipinto and Star Foster2004 : The Fire Tower by Jacqueline A. Lott2005 : Vespers by Jason Devlin2006 : Floatpoint by Emily Short2007 : Varkana by Maryam Gousheh-Forgeot2008 : Nightfall by Eric Eve2009 : Blue Lacuna by Aaron A. Reed ; The King of Shreds and Patches by Jimmy Maher (tie)2010 : Aotearoa by Matt Wigdahl2011 : Cryptozookeeper by Robb Sherwin2012 : Counterfeit Monkey by Emily Short 2013 : Robin & Orchid by Ryan Veeder and Emily Boegheim2014 : Hadean Lands by Andrew Plotkin2015 : Sunless Sea by Failbetter Games2016 : Cactus Blue Motel by Astrid Dalmady2017 : 1958: Dancing With Fear by Victor Ojuel2018 : Cannery Vale by Hanon Ondricek2019 : Heretic's Hope by Grim Baccaris2020 : Jolly Good: Cakes and Ale by Kreg Segall2021 : The Weight of a Soul by Chin Kee Yong2022 : Prism by Eliot M.B. HowardBest puzzles The most well-crafted, clever, and appropriate puzzles.
1996 : So Far by Andrew Plotkin1997 : The Edifice by Lucian P. Smith1998 : Spider and Web by Andrew Plotkin1999 : The Mulldoon Legacy by Jon Ingold2000 : Ad Verbum by Nick Montfort 2001 : First Things First by J. Robinson Wheeler2002 : Savoir Faire by Emily Short2003 : Gourmet by Aaron A. Reed 2004 : The Dreamhold by Andrew Plotkin2005 : Distress by Mike Snyder2006 : Delightful Wallpaper by Andrew Plotkin2007 : Suveh Nux by David Fisher2008 : Gun Mute by C. E. J. Pacian2009 : Earl Grey by Rob Dubbin and Adam Parrish2010 : Aotearoa by Matt Wigdahl2011 : PataNoir by Simon Christiansen2012 : Counterfeit Monkey by Emily Short 2013 : Coloratura by Lynnea Glasser2014 : Hadean Lands by Andrew Plotkin2015 : Sub Rosa by Joey Jones and Melvin Rangasamy2016 : 16 Ways to Kill a Vampire at McDonalds by Abigail Corfman2017 : The Wand by Arthur DiBianca2018 : Junior Arithmancer by Mike Spivey2019 : Zozzled by Steph Cherrywell2020 : The Impossible Bottle by Linus Åkesson2021 : Grooverland by Mathbrush2022 : The Bones of Rosalinda by Agnieszka TrzaskaBest NPCs Appropriate, amusing, and well-written casts of non-player characters.
1996 : Kissing the Buddha's Feet by Leon Lin1997 : The Frenetic Five vs. Sturm und Drang by Neil deMause 1998 : Once and Future by G. Kevin Wilson1999 : Varicella by Adam Cadre2000 : Being Andrew Plotkin by J. Robinson Wheeler2001 : Pytho's Mask , by Emily Short2002 : Lock & Key by Adam Cadre2003 : City of Secrets by Emily Short2004 : Sting of the Wasp by Jason Devlin2005 : Vespers by Jason Devlin2006 : Floatpoint by Emily Short2007 : Child's Play by Stephen Granade2008 : Everybody Dies by Jim Munroe2009 : Broken Legs by Sarah Morayati2010 : Aotearoa by Matt Wigdahl2011 : Cryptozookeeper by Robb Sherwin2012 : Guilded Youth by Jim Munroe 2013 : Ollie Ollie Oxen Free by Carolyn VanEseltine2014 : Creatures Such As We by Lynnea Glasser2015 : Birdland by Brendan Patrick Hennessy2016 : Cactus Blue Motel by Astrid Dalmady; Foo Foo by Buster Hudson (tie)2017 : The Wizard Sniffer by Buster Hudson2018 : Animalia by Ian Michael Waddell2019 : Zozzled by Steph Cherrywell2020 : Jolly Good: Cakes and Ale by Kreg Segall2021 : Lady Thalia and the Seraskier Sapphires by E. Joyce and N. Cormier2022 : Lady Thalia and the Rose of Rocroi by E. Joyce and N. CormierBest individual puzzle The most inspired, well-crafted, and intriguing puzzle.
1996 : Opening the gate, in So Far by Andrew Plotkin1997 : The language puzzle, in The Edifice by Lucian P. Smith1998 : Getting out of the chair, in Spider and Web by Andrew Plotkin1999 : The maze, in Hunter, in Darkness by Andrew Plotkin2000 : The whole game, in Rematch by Andrew Pontious2001 : Deciphering the language, in The Gostak by Carl Muckenhoupt2002 : Setting the traps, in Lock & Key by Adam Cadre2003 : The purple room, in The Recruit by Mike Sousa2004 : The time puzzle, in All Things Devours by "half sick of shadows"2005 : Following the murderer, in Beyond by Mondi Confinanti (Roberto Grassi, Paolo Lucchesi, and Alessandro Peretti)2006 : Navigating the mansion in Delightful Wallpaper by Andrew Plotkin2007 : Identifying the killer, in An Act of Murder by Christopher Huang2008 : Disconnecting the Internet/getting rid of the key in Violet by Jeremy Freese2009 : Finding out how the goggles work in Byzantine Perspective by Lea Albaugh2010 : Crossing the river in Aotearoa by Matt Wigdahl2011 : The hat mystery (also in Doctor M , Last Day of Summer , and Playing Games ) in Cold Iron by Andrew Plotkin 2012 : Surviving the fall in Bigger Than You Think by Andrew Plotkin 2013 : Creating the meat monster in Coloratura by Lynnea Glasser2014 : The sequence of time-travel in Fifteen Minutes by Ade McT2015 : Understanding how the RPS cannon works in Brain Guzzlers from Beyond! by Steph Cherrywell2016 : Customizing the robot in The Mary Jane of Tomorrow by Emily Short2017 : Getting past the dragon in The Wizard Sniffer by Buster Hudson2018 : Solving your murder in Erstwhile by Maddie Fialla and Marijke Perry2019 : Inspiring the artist in Zozzled by Steph Cherrywell2020 : Leaving the house in The Impossible Bottle by Linus Åkesson2021 : The hair swap in The Libonotus Cup by Nils Fagerburg2022 : The escape room in The Little Match Girl 2: Annus Evertens by Ryan VeederBest individual NPC A particularly well-implemented and well-written non-player character .
1996 : The burin , in Frobozz Magic Support by Nate Cull1997 : Bob, in She's Got a Thing for a Spring by Brent VanFossen1998 : The interrogator, in Spider and Web by Andrew Plotkin1999 : Miss Sierra, in Varicella by Adam Cadre2000 : Galatea, in Galatea by Emily Short2001 : Yahoweh Porn, in Fallacy of Dawn by Robb Sherwin2002 : Boldo, in Lock & Key by Adam Cadre2003 : Triage, in Slouching Towards Bedlam by Daniel Ravipinto and Star Foster2004 : Audrey, in Necrotic Drift by Robb Sherwin2005 : The storyteller, in Whom the Telling Changed by Aaron A. Reed 2006 : Leela, in The Elysium Enigma by Eric Eve2007 : The gnome, in Lost Pig by Admiral Jota2008 : Violet in Violet by Jeremy Freese2009 : Snow White in Alabaster by Emily Short et al.2010 : Dr Sliss in Rogue of the Multiverse by C. E. J. Pacian2011 : Grimloft in Cryptozookeeper by Robb Sherwin2012 : New Rat City in Rat Chaos by Winter Lake [ 7] 2013 : Captain Verdeterre in Captain Verdeterre’s Plunder by Ryan Veeder2014 : The Empress in With Those We Love Alive by Porpentine and Brenda Neotenomie2015 : Bell Park in Birdland by Brendan Patrick Hennessy2016 : The robot (variously-named) in The Mary Jane of Tomorrow by Emily Short2017 : Squire Tuck in The Wizard Sniffer by Buster Hudson2018 : The bogeyman in Bogeyman by Elizabeth Smyth2019 : Turandot in Turandot by Victor Gijsbers2020 : The parrot in The Magpie Takes the Train by MathBrush; Kingfisher in Vain Empires by Thomas Mack, Xavid (tie)2021 : Liz in Sting by Mike Russo2022 : Computerfriend in Computerfriend by Kit RiemerBest individual PC A particularly well-defined and well-written player character.
1997 : Tracy Valencia, in I-0 by Adam Cadre1998 : The employee, in Little Blue Men by Michael Gentry1999 : Primo Varicella, in Varicella by Adam Cadre2000 : Rameses Alexander Moran, in Rameses by Stephen Bond2001 : The Kissing Bandit, in The Tale of the Kissing Bandit by J. Robinson Wheeler2002 : Pierre, in Savoir Faire by Emily Short2003 : The player character in Episode in the Life of an Artist by Peter Eastman2004 : Julia, in Sting of the Wasp by Jason Devlin2005 : Wendy Little, in Tough Beans by Sara Dee2006 : The player character in Delightful Wallpaper by Andrew Plotkin2007 : Grunk, in Lost Pig by Admiral Jota2008 : Hardy the Bulldog in Snack Time! by Renee Choba2009 : Lottie Plum in Broken Legs by Sarah Morayati2010 : Anthony Saint Germain in Death Off the Cuff by Simon Christiansen2011 : Mentula Macanus in Mentula Macanus: Apocolocyntosis by Adam Thornton2012 : Alexandra in Counterfeit Monkey by Emily Short 2013 : The Aqueosity in Coloratura by Lynnea Glasser2014 : The PC in the uncle who works for nintendo by michael lutz2015 : Bridget in Birdland by Brendan Patrick Hennessy2016 : BEL/S in Open Sorcery by Abigail Corfman2017 : Fred Strickland in Will Not Let Me Go by Stephen Granade2018 : The Magpie in Alias 'The Magpie' by J. J. Guest2019 : Hazel Greene in Zozzled by Steph Cherrywell2020 : The doppelganger in Doppeljobs by Lei2021 : Marid in The Weight of a Soul by Chin Kee Yong2022 : Bell Park in The Grown-Up Detective Agency by Brendan Patrick HennessyBest use of medium The category had no specific criteria given to voters; many chose to interpret this award as a recognition of particularly daring interpretations of the limits and abilities of interactive fiction, especially as regards the relationship between the player , narrator, and player character. This award was retired in 2010, when Best Implementation and Best Use of Innovation were introduced as replacements.
1997 : The Tempest by Graham Nelson1998 : Spider and Web by Andrew Plotkin1999 : Aisle by Sam Barlow 2000 : shrapnel by Adam Cadre2001 : The Gostak by Carl Muckenhoupt2002 : Earth and Sky 2: Another Earth, Another Sky by Paul O'Brian2003 : ASCII and the Argonauts by J. Robinson Wheeler2004 : The Dreamhold by Andrew Plotkin 2005 : Mystery House Possessed by Emily Short2006 : The Baron by Victor Gijsbers2007 : Deadline Enchanter by Alan DeNiro2008 : The Moon Watch by Paolo Maroncelli and Alessandro Peretti2009 : Blue Lacuna by Aaron A. Reed Best implementation Introduced in 2010 along with Best Use of Innovation, to replace the Best use of Medium award. It recognizes "completeness of implementation, excellence in parser messages, etc". [ 8]
2010 : Aotearoa by Matt Wigdahl2011 : Six by Wade Clarke2012 : Counterfeit Monkey by Emily Short 2013 : Trapped in Time by Simon Christiansen2014 : Hadean Lands by Andrew Plotkin2015 : Midnight. Swordfight. by Chandler Groover2016 : Superluminal Vagrant Twin by C.E.J. Pacian2017 : Eat Me by Chandler Groover2018 : Cragne Manor by Ryan Veeder et al.2019 : Ryan Veeder's Authentic Fly Fishing by Ryan Veeder2020 : The Impossible Bottle by Linus Åkesson2021 : The Libonotus Cup by Nils Fagerburg; The Weight of a Soul by Chin Kee Yong (tie)2022 : According to Cain by Jim NelsonBest use of innovation Introduced in 2010 along with Best Implementation, to replace the Best use of Medium award. It recognizes the "most innovative game". [ 8]
2010 : Aotearoa by Matt Wigdahl2011 : Kerkerkruip by Victor Gijsbers2012 : First Draft of the Revolution by Emily Short , Liza Daly, and Inkle Studios2013 : 18 Cadence by Aaron A. Reed2014 : Hadean Lands by Andrew Plotkin2015 : Laid Off from the Synesthesia Factory by Katherine Morayati2016 : The Ice-Bound Concordance by Aaron A. Reed and Jacob Garbe2017 : Harmonia by Liza Daly2018 : I. A. G. Alpha by Serhii Mozhaiskyi2019 : AI Dungeon by Nick Walton2020 : The Impossible Bottle by Linus Åkesson2021 : 4×4 Archipelago by Agnieszka Trzaska; Excalibur by J.J. Guest, G.C. Baccaris, and Duncan Bowsman; The Last Night of Alexisgrad by Milo van Mesdag (tie)2022 : The Bones of Rosalinda by Agnieszka Trzaska.Best technological development Recognizes "interpreters, authoring systems, libraries, utilities, and so on". [ 8]
Best supplemental materials Outstanding non-game content ("feelies ") created to accompany specific games. Eligibility is based on the year when the supplemental materials were released, regardless of the year of release of the game.
2014 : 80 Days by inkle and Meg Jayanth2015 : Secret Agent Cinder by Emily Ryan2016 : The Ice-Bound Concordance by Aaron A. Reed and Jacob Garbe2017 : Harmonia by Liza Daly2018 : Bandersnatch by Charlie Brooker2019 : Dull Grey by Provodnik Games; Heretic's Hope by Grim Baccaris (tie)2020 : Crocodracula: The Beginning by Ryan Veeder, Harrison Gerard2021 : Fish & Dagger by grave snail games2022 : Gent Stickman vs Evil Meat Hand by AZ / ParserCommanderThis page is based on this
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