The SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT 2024 is all about awarding the best indies of the year! Read on to learn more about the finalists, categories, and winners of the awards ceremony.
An Indie Game Awards Show
Sense of Wonder Night (SOWN) aims to discover what triggers a Sense of Wonder
or a feeling of changing something in one’s world when they first hear or see a concept. This will be the 17th iteration of the event, where eight finalists out of eighty selected indie games will be awarded as winners.
The event aims to introduce innovative game design and concepts that defy convention and tradition and to raise awareness of the value of that same sense of wonder, which could transform and invigorate the game industry.
The number of participants has increased from 793 participants in 2023 to a staggering 973 in 2024, almost breaking the 1,000-participant barrier for the event.
For more information, you can visit the website here!
Sponsor - Sony Interactive Entertainment
Playstation has always celebrated the creativity and innovation of game creators, from the early titles like Parappa the Rapper on PlayStation 2 to the introduction of the DualShock controller with Ape Escape and the innovative PocketStation with Dokodemo Issho. Shuhei Yoshida, President of Sony Interactive Entertainment, has celebrated these contributions, highlighting the impact of indie games in setting new standards for digital gaming. Journey, an indie game during the PlayStation 3 era that won several game awards, showcased indie games' influence on the PlayStation platform, ensuring players have access to diverse, innovative experiences.
Sponsor - KODANSHA
KODANSHA is a publishing media company with over 100 years of creative experience, with some of their notable works being: Ghost in the Shell, Attack on Titan, and more. With the goal of wanting game creators to focus on creating games, they created the Game Creators Lab Audition (GCLA) to find the best individual game creators and support them not only as publishers but also to provide help with various media and game-related concerns that need to be addressed at any given time. Investing 10 million yen into the event, they ask aspiring creators the question, Why don't you create the game you like?
SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT 2024 Awards
Top 8 Finalists
Metafictionalized World Expression
| No Case Should Remain Unsolved | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Somi |
| Publisher | Somi |
| Platforms | PC (Steam), macOS (Steam), Nintendo Switch |
| No Case Should Remain Unsolved is a metafictional mystery visual novel where the narrative itself is a puzzle. Players must uncover pieces of memory through deductions, gradually revealing every truth and lie, and the intricacies in between. | |
| Let's Build a Dungeon | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Springloaded |
| Publisher | Springloaded |
| Platforms | PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S |
| Let's Build a Dungeon is a simulation RPG where you manage your own game studio creating the world's greatest MMORPG. Hire your own team, attract more players, and make sure your game succeeds through analytics and advertising. Build the perfect game within the game using the game engine that allows you to edit dialogue, create characters, design quests, animate cutscenes, and more! | |
| ANLIFE | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Attructure |
| Publisher | Attructure |
| Platforms | PC (Steam) |
| ANLIFE is a unique god simulation game where AI species learn to move, survive, and evolve. Players can actively shape their environment, influencing the creatures' development and behaviors. As the AI learns from their interactions, they adapt to their surroundings, creating a dynamic and unpredictable ecosystem. | |
| Cinema | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Trinity Team |
| Publisher | Trinity Team |
| Platforms | PC (Steam) |
| Cinema is a film-noir inspired first-person adventure puzzle game with the power to control time. It approaches the portrayal of old silent films to another level, with its completely black-and-white visuals, and dialogue being entirely told through text cards. Massive film inspirations include classics such as Melies, Metropolis, and The Maltese Falcon, but also take heed from modern movies from David Lynch and Christopher Nolan. | |
Strange Movements
| Esophaguys | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Esophaguys Team |
| Platforms | PC(Steam, App), PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
| Esophaguys is a co-op party platformer where you play as old people with long, elongated necks. It is accompanied by a variety of game modes where you use different mechanics where it involves teamwork. The game also features stylish visuals and unique audio design that utilizes 3D animated sprites and thematic music and sound effects to create a memorable platformer. | |
| Hooopizza | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Doi Nobuhiro |
| HoooPizza is an interactive game themed around pizza cooking where you use a special hula-hoop shaped controller. With the use of the AI and microcomputers built into the controller, you will be spinning, holding, shaking, and rolling the hula-hoop to create your pizza of choice! | |
| Last Standing | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Nao Games |
| Last Standing is a 2D-action game with fast-paced flashy combat and a completely unique control scheme – completely mashing your keyboard to perform attacks and even make them stronger! Two big separate sections of the keyboard will correspond to different actions, with the spacebar being another, and with the mouse being used to aim at certain occasions. | |
| Hyper Wobbler | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Wobbly Labs |
| Hyper Wobbler is an innovative, interactive art installation that immerses three players in a fascinating, multi-dimensional realm. Players use specially designed spring joysticks to move their characters around a dodecahedron decorated with LEDs and two-way mirrors. The aim is to explore, comprehend, and collaborate to reach common goals in this intriguing and enchanting environment. | |
Game Awards and Winners
Best Technological Game Award - Hyper Wobbler
This award is a recognition of a game that showcased the most advanced and innovative use of technology, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in gaming. Hyper Wobbler created their custom joystick for this 3-player coop art installation.
Best Experimental Game Award - Hyper Wobbler
This award is for the game that explores new and unconventional ideas, offering a unique and experimental gameplay experience. Hyper Wobbler has created a mesmerizing art installation using LED lights and mirrors, effectively enhancing the overall experience of the interaction.
Best Arts Award - Hyper Wobbler
This award celebrates the game's most outstanding artistic design, including visuals, sound, and overall aesthetic appeal. Hyper Wobbler is an interactive art installation that is aimed at being used in museums.
Best Game Design Award - No Case Should Remain Unsolved
This award honors the game's most exceptional design, focusing on gameplay mechanics, level design, and overall player experience. No Case Should Remain Unsolved used the gameplay to unlock the storyline and reassemble these puzzle pieces, inspired by how we find information online, like on social media platforms like Twitter.
Best Presentation Award - Hooopizza
This award recognizes the game that delivers the best presentation, including how well the game is pitched and demonstrated to the audience and judges. Hooopizza's appeal to the masses and family-friendly nature warrant this recognition.
Audience Award Semi-Grand Prix Winner - Hyper Wobbler
The audience chooses this award and goes to the game with the second-highest number of votes, highlighting its popularity and resonance with the public.
Audience Award Grand Prix Winner - Esophaguys
Lastly, the audience also chooses this award and goes to the game that receives the highest number of votes for its appeal and impact. Esophagus has won the audience's hearts with its colorful visuals and easy gameplay.
SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT 2024 Aired on September 27 at 7:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM ET
The SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT 2024 (SOWN 2024) was broadcasted on September 27, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. PT / 10:00 p.m. ET, on their official channels: YouTube, Twitch, Tokyo Game Show’s official X account.
The actual event will take place in the Makuhari Messe International Conference Hall on September 27, 2024 at 5:15 p.m. JST.
Please refer to the table below for the streaming schedule using your local timezone:
| Region | Local Release Time |
|---|---|
| United States (EDT) | Sep 27, 10:00 p.m. |
| United States (PDT) | Sep 27, 7:00 p.m. |
| United Kingdom | Sep 28, 3:00 a.m. |
| New Zealand | Sep 28, 3:00 p.m. |
| Australian East Coast | Sep 28, 1:00 p.m. |
| Australian West Coast | Sep 28, 10:00 a.m. |
| Japan | Sep 28, 11:00 a.m. |
| Philippines | Sep 28, 10:00 a.m. |
| South Africa | Sep 28, 4:00 a.m. |
| Brazil | Sep 27, 11:00 p.m. |
