Indian indie games like Raji: An Ancient Epic have already made an impact on the global stage. The buzz around upcoming titles such as Raji 2, We Are So Cooked, and Son of Thanjai is a testament to that.
Rightfully so, the 18th edition of the India Game Development Conference (IGDC 2026) was all about the country’s indie gaming scene. As we moved across the conference venue, we witnessed some promising games as well as some finished products that would make many a gamer from India beam with pride. India is clearly going through a transformative time when it comes to the video game industry. This includes a clear shift in the market from an earlier mobile-heavy scenario to PC and console titles taking centre stage.
The India Game Awards 2026 at IGDC celebrated this. And leading the charge this year were two breakout titles—Brewed Games' dark fantasy epic Winds of Arcana: Ruination and BornMonkie's fun puzzle-platformer Dodo Duckie—which together bagged many top honours.
Game of the Year: ‘Winds of Arcana: Ruination’
Developed by a nine-member team at Brewed Games, Winds of Arcana: Ruination is a 2.5D Action Metroidvania published by 1312 Interactive.
After watching the preview, we were so impressed that, with a few clicks on Steam, it made its way into our library. Expect a detailed review soon at our dedicated Game Review section on THE WEEK.
Founded in late 2020 as a four-person team, Brewed Games expanded to nine developers over five years of development. The founders invested over ₹1.5 crores into the project while foregoing personal salaries to achieve high production values. The game features a fully voiced narrative cast, rich dark fantasy biomes, and rewarding platforming challenges. It is now listed at ₹625 on Steam.
And those who are into consoles, don’t fret: Brewed Games is launching a PlayStation 5 port within two months, followed by an optimised release on the Nintendo Switch.
Indie Game of the Year: ‘Dodo Duckie’
Devolver Digital’s Joshua Cauller, who served on the judging panel, in his interaction with THE WEEK, was all in praise of Dodo Duckie’s joyful discovery and unique voice. Developed by another single-digit team at BornMonkie, this perspective-shifting puzzle platformer won both Indie Game of the Year and Best Game Direction, as well as securing the runner-up spot for PC/Console Game of the Year.
Dodo Duckie won over judges and audiences with fun gameplay. We play as Dodo, a clumsy but determined duck, as the game switches between 2D side-scrolling and 3D third-person POVs. With Dodo Duckie, it was all about perspective. On Steam, you can get your copy of the game at just ₹350 in India.
Studios of both these titles have a zero-generative-AI policy in development, so that adds to the overall charm of the games.
Winners of India Game Awards at IGDC 2026
- Game of the Year (PC/Console): Winds of Arcana: Ruination
- Indie Game of the Year: Dodo Duckie
- Best Game Direction: Dodo Duckie
- Best Art Direction: Fishbowl
- Mobile Game of the Year: Bible Merge: Holy Puzzle Game
- Student Game of the Year (Rahul Sehgal Award): HellGear
- Upcoming PC/Console Game of the Year: Rotted - A Brain Rot Simulator
- Upcoming Mobile Game of the Year: Ludaro
- Web Game of the Year: Constella
- Board Game of the Year: Kantara - Spirits of the Forest
- Serious/Applied Game of the Year: Jatra
- Popular Choice Award: Jolly Friends
