ENnie Awards 2022: Nominees are rich with indie RPGs

The nominees for the 2022 ENnie Awards are out, and it’s an exciting mix.

The independent awards, no longer part of EN World, are open to anyone and this year have plenty of indie RPGs tussling for titles like Best Game, Best Adventure and Best RPG Related Product.

I’ve seen people squabble over the definition of “indie” in indie RPG, and so I’m not going to do that here. Instead, Geek Native invites you to consider whether this list is dominated by D&D’s 5e, whether it’s a mix of names you recognise and new names, and whether any publisher is dominant.

Some official partners are also nominees, but this is a small hobby community. The ENnies are typically held at GenCon. 

Judges’ Spotlight Winners

• Amelia Antrim– Dwelling, Good Luck Press (Author: Seb Pines)
• Di – Stack of Goblins, CobblePath Games (Author: Jack Milton)
• Christopher Gath – Shanty Hunters, Molten Sulfur Press (Author: Tristan Zimmerman)
• Salim Hakima – Kobold Guide to Monsters, Kobold Press (Authors: Monte Cook, Wolfgang Baur, Mike Mason, Crystal Frasier, Mike Shea, Shanna Germain, Steve Winter, and many more)
• Christian (Shiny) O’Brien – Wickedness, Possum Creek Games (Author: M Veselak)

Best Adventure

• Extraction From Demon-Fucked Cleveland 1996, MegaCorp Games (Author: Logan Dean)
• HARK! Says the Frog Magus (Author: Diwata ng Manila)
• Odd Jobs, MacGuffin & Co. (Authors: Sasha Sienna & Johathan Sims)
• The Troubleshooters – The U-Boat Mystery, Helmgast (Author: Krister Sundelin)
• Uncaged: Goddesses, Unseelie Studios (Authors: Amber Litke, Anthony Beal, Arnout Brokking, Cat Evans, D.E. Chaudron, Dylan Ramsey, Garrett Colón, Grady Wang, Isla Lader, Jackie Yang, Jesse Heinig, Jessica Marcrum, Karren Loomer, Laurie O’Connel, Lee Morgan, Margaret Mae, Matthew Campbell, Michael Reid, Nina Nicole, Sadie Lowry, Steffie de Vaan, Theo Thourson)

Best Aid/Accessory – Digital

• Call of Cthulhu 3D Digital Gamer Props – Masks of Nyarlathotep, TYPE40
• HEXROLL, Pen, Dice & Paper
• MÖRK BORG Digital Monster Generator, Stockholm Kartell & Ockult Örtmästare Games
• Tales of Xadia: The Dragon Prince Roleplaying Game Digital Toolset, Fandom, Inc.
• The Goblin’s Notebook, The Goblin

Best Aid/Accessory – Non–Digital

• Call of Cthulhu Classic Prop Set, H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
• City of Mist: Crime Board Map, Son of Oak Game Studio
• Fate Accessibility Toolkit, Evil Hat Productions
• The Metropolis: Core Set, Son of Oak Game Studio
• Tome of Summoning: Archmage Royal Bundle , Tome of Summoning, LLC

Best Art, Cover

• Colostle: A Solo RPG Adventure, Nich Angell (Artist: Nich Angell)
• Lore of Aetherra: The Lost Druid, Alchemy RPG & Hit Point Press (Artist: Jeff Langevin)
• Thirsty Sword Lesbians, Evil Hat Productions (Artist: Kanesha C. Bryant)
• Uncaged: Goddesses, Unseelie Studios (Artist: Gwen Bassett)
• Wanderhome, Possum Creek Games (Artist: Ruby Lavin and Sylvia Bi)

Best Art, Interior

• Historia – Dark Fantasy Renaissance Setting for 5e, Mana Project Studio (Artists: Alberto Besi, Andrea Tentori Montalto, Angelo Peluso, Antonio De Luca, Daniela Giubellini, Daniele Solimene, Domenico Cava, Edoardo Campagnolo, Fabio Porfidia, Federica Costantini, Giulio Perozziello, Imma Botti, Mauro)
• The One Ring RPG, Second Edition, Free League Publishing (Artists: Martin Grip, Alvaro Tapia, Jan Pospíšil, Niklas Brandt, Henrik Rosenborg, Antonio De Luca, Federica Costantini, Luca Sotgiu, Daniele Sorrentino, Melissa Spandri, Giuditta Betti)
• Thirsty Sword Lesbians, Evil Hat Productions (Artists: Kanesha C. Bryant, Hannah Templer, Avery Andruszkiewicz, Chelsea Geter, Faith Schaffer, Kiku Hughes, Marty Tina G., Naomi Castro, Ryan Kingdom, Trivia Fox)
• Uncaged: Goddesses, Unseelie Studios (Artists: Alaire Racicot, Alex Niederberger, Amelia Ng, Angela O’Hara, Beatriz F. Valverde, Cecilia Nesti, David Markiwsky, DW Dagon, Elaine Ho, Fernando Salvaterra, Flo Young, Gretchen Meinzen, Gwen Bassett, H. “Ink” Kugler, Herman Lau, Jeong Kim, Kari Kawachi, Kata Kemi, Kendal Gates, Lore Evans, Maartje Heere, Margarita Bourkova, Mike Pape, Mina Dupont-Issalys, Morrighan Corbel, Nala J. Wu, Reid Aster, Sabaa Bismil, Saga Mackenzie, Samara Lee, Sejuti Bala, Sonya Henar, William Hallett)
• Wanderhome, Possum Creek Games (Artist: Ruby Lavin, Letty Wilson, Jennie Lindberg, Conner Fawcett, Danny Kyobe, Jo Thierolf, L Henderson, Dominique Ramsey, Nadhir Nor, Geneva Bowers, Cam Adjodha, Juho Choi, Núria Tamarit, Kimberli Johnson, and Sabii Borno)

Best Cartography

• City of Mist: Crime Board Map, Son of Oak Game Studio (Steffen Brand)
• Czepeku Maps Collection, Czepeku Ltd (Cze and Peku)
• HandyMaps: Dungeons, Caves & Strange Locales, MonkeyBlood Design & Publishing (Glynn Seal)
• KULT: Labyrinths & Secret Chambers, Helmgast (Andreas Ruu Viklund, Fredik Toreblad, Roplans, Petter Nallo, Anita Siastra)
• Scarlet Citadel Map Folio, Kobold Press (Jon Pintar)

Best Electronic Book

• A Complicated Profession, AlwaysCheckers Publishing (Author: Jason Price)
• Anamnesis with Designers Commentary, Blinking Birch Games (Author: Samantha Leigh)
• One Night Strahd, Hedra Group (Authors: Jake Kurzer, Adam Seats, Evangeline Gallagher)
• The Lazy DM’s Companion, Sly Flourish (Author: Michael E. Shea)
• The Tomb of Black Sand VTT Digital Deluxe, Swordfish Islands, LLC (Authors: Jacob Hurst, Donnie Garcia)

Best Family Game / Product

• Babes in the Wood, World Champ Game Co (Author: Adam Vass)
• Good Strong Hands, NerdBurger Games (Author: Craig Campbell)
• Laser Ponies (2nd Edition), Hex Games (Author: Leighton Connor)
• Questlings: RPG, Letiman Games, LLC (Authors: Banana Chan, Tim Devine)
• Wanderhome, Possum Creek Games (Author: Jay Dragon)

Best Free Game / Product

• Auld Sanguine: A Vampire: The Masquerade New Year’s Eve Story, Renegade Game Studios (Author: Eddy Webb)
• Champions Begins, Hero Games (Author: The Hero Fan Base)
• Extraction From Demon-Fucked Cleveland 1996 MegaCorp Games (Author: Logan Dean)
• The 2021 Level 1 Anthology, 9th Level Games (Authors: Adam Bell, Whitney Delaglio, Michael Faulk, Zane Graves, Josh Hittie, Tim Hutchings, N. Maxwell Lander, Mara Li, Tim McCracken, Nat Mesnard, Dawn Metcalf, RK Payne, Lysa Penrose, Helena Real, Jack Rosetree, Starshine Scribbles, Joel Salda, Alexi Sargeant, Scott Uhls, and Max V.)
• Worlds Beyond The Infernal Breach, Mundos Infinitos (Author: Benjamín Aníbal Reyna)

Best Game

• Colostle: A Solo RPG Adventure, Nich Angell (Author: Nich Angell)
• Root: The RPG, Magpie Games (Authors: Brendan Conway, Mark Diaz Truman, Sarah Doom, Marissa Kelly, Miguel Ángel Espinoza)
• The Troubleshooters, Helmgast (Author: Krister Sundelin)
• Thirsty Sword Lesbians, Evil Hat Productions (Author: April Kit Walsh)
• Wise Women, Aleksandra Brokman (Author: Aleksandra Brokman)

Best Layout and Design

• Achtung! Cthulhu 2d20: Gamemaster’s Guide, Modiphius Entertainment
• Delta Green: Impossible Landscapes, Arc Dream Publishing (Dennis Detwiller, Stephen Buck, Shane Ivey)
• NOVA, Gila RPGs (Julie-Anne Muñoz & Spencer Campbell)
• Putrescence Regnant, Exalted Funeral Press
• Voidheart Symphony, Rowan, Rook and Decard (Minerva McJanda)

Best Monster/Adversary

• Archvillain Archive, Steven Pankotai (Authors: Hiten Dave, Noah Grand, Brittney Hay, Bryan Holmes, E.R.F. Jordan, Alexis Lewis, Cassandra MacDonald, Steven Pankotai, Vall Syrene)
• Big Bad Booklet 19-30, Hit Point Press (Authors: Bailey Wright, Verity Lane, Serena Langton, Jamila R. Nedjadi, Celeste Conowitch, Beth Ball, Lulu St James, Jasmine Bhullar, Jessica Marcrum, Kat Kruger, Jason Levine, Yubi Coates)
• Hal and Roger’s Creature Compendium, The Grinning Frog (Author: Stephen Hart)
• Home-Field Advantage: a Compendium of Lair Actions (Authors: Trekiros, Sean Vas Terra, Taron Pounds, Boyan Valev, Kirsty Kidd, Xhango Games, Zavier Bates, Devlin DM, Joe Gaylord)
• Nightfell – Bestiary for 5e, Mana Project Studio (Authors: Angelo Peluso, Andrea Lucca, Marco Giulio Fossati)

Best Online Content

• Across RPGSEA, momatoes
• Dave Thaumavore RPG Reviews, Dave Thaumavore
• Everhearth Inn, Everhearth Inn
• RPGBOT.net, RPGBOT LLC
• Sly Flourish Blog, Sly Flourish

Best Organized Play

• Beneath a Stony Stump (Author: Douglas Bushong)
• I Find That Familiar (Author: Paul Gabat)
• Play the Game (Author: Robbie Pleasant)
• The Monster of Wonderia, Anthony Dreams Inc. (Author: Anthony Joyce)
• Two Hearts Apart (Author: Shu Qing Tan)

Best Podcast

• +1 Forward Gauntlet Community
• Ain’t Slayed Nobody Push the Roll LLC
• Kill Every Monster
• Pink Fohawk
• Role To Cast

Best Production Values

• Bardsung: Legend of the Ancient Forge, Steamforged Games
• Call of Cthulhu Classic Prop Set, H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
• Complete Wizard Chronicle, Beadle and Grimm’s Pandemonium Warehouse
• Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall, Wet Ink Games
• Star Trek Adventures: Tricorder Collector’s Box Set, Modiphius Entertainment

Best RPG Related Product

• Dice Carousel Kit, Gamer Concepts
• Everway Silver Anniversary Edition – Deluxe Fortune Deck, The Everway Company
• KULT: Labyrinths & Secret Chambers, Helmgast (Authors: Catherine Evans, Kristina Horner, Andreas Ruu Viklund, Alex Obernigg, Jacqueline Bryk, Fredik Toreblad, Mattias Närvä, Petter Nallo, Terje Nordin)
• Shadows of Esteren: Adeliane CD, Studio Agate
• Things Heroes Say: A Fantasy Artbook & Phrasebook, Andrews McMeel Publishing (Author: Bryn Jones)

Best Rules

• Colostle: A Solo RPG Adventure, Nich Angell (Author: Nich Angell)
• Good Strong Hands, NerdBurger Games (Author: Craig Campbell)
• Haunted West, Darker Hue Studios (Authors: Chris Spivey, Angel Adeyoha, Evan Perlman, Daniel Kwan, Alexandra Jackson, Adam Alexander, Alex Mayo, Neall Raemonn Price, Misha Bushyager, Cameron Hays, Rose Bailey, Kenneth Hite, Cori Redford, Mark Morrison, Dennis Detwiller)
• NOVA, Gila RPGs (Author: Spencer Campbell)
• Rest in Pieces, Imagining Games (Author: Pete Petrusha)

 Best Setting

• Colostle: A Solo RPG Adventure, Nich Angell (Author: Nich Angell)
• Eldritch Century – Chronicles of the Wounded Earth, Draco Studios (Authors: Ezzy Languzzi, Helen Gould, Ed Turner, Elizabeth Chaipraditkul, Hiromi Cota, Erykah Fassett, Spider B. Perry, David Castro, Bernardo Alvarez, JC Alvarez, Ruben Bañuelos, Alastor Guzmán, Alvaros Zinos-Amaro, Dan SRT, Angus Abranson, Jerry D. Grayson, Hugo Huesca Thomas)
• Historia – Dark Fantasy Renaissance Setting for 5e, Mana Project Studio (Authors: Mirko Failoni, Michele Paroli, Matteo Pedroni)
• Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall, Wet Ink Games (Authors: Banana Chan, Sen-Foong Lim, Elton Lau, James Mendez Hodes, Aaron Catano-Saez, Ross Cheung, Kienna Shaw, Daniel Kwan, Jonaya Kemper, Sammi Lai)
• Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Darrington Press (Authors: Matthew Mercer, Hannah Rose, Joames J. Haeck)

Best Supplement

• Call of Cthulhu: Cults of Cthulhu, Chaosium Inc. (Authors: Chris Lackey and Mike Mason)
• City of Mist: Shadows & Showdowns, Son of Oak Game Studio (Authors: Amit Moshe, Omer Shapira, Eran Aviram, Itamar Karbian, Jack Godwin, Chris Gunning, Saar Shai, Alicia Zur Szpiro, Marshall Oppel, Marcin Soboń)
• Root: The RPG: Travelers and Outsiders, Magpie Games (Authors: Brendan Conway, Sarah Doom, Marissa Kelly, Danielle Lauzon, Simon Moody, Sarah “Sam” Saltiel, Mark Diaz Truman, Camdon Wright, Miguel Ángel Espinoza)
• Sin: A Spire Sourcebook, Rowan, Rook and Decard (Authors: Grant Howitt, Christopher Taylor, JP Bradley, Basheer Ghouse, N Masyk, Thomas Manuel, Pauline Chan, Helen Gould, Cat Evans, Lio Keahna, Viditya Voleti, Chris Farnell, Christine Beard, Eleanor Hingley, Adrian Stone, Minerva McJanda, Mary Hamilton, Kyle Latino, Alex Darnaceno, Diogo assunção)
• Untold Encounters of the Random Kind, Loke Battle Mats (Authors: Tamzin Henderson, Matt Henderson, James Gray, Andres Roche)

Best Writing

• Colostle: A Solo RPG Adventure, Nich Angell (Author: Nich Angell)
• Dune – Adventures in the Imperium: Core Rulebook , Modiphius Entertainment (Authors: Nathan Dowell, Chris Spivey, Mari Tokuda, Rachael Cruz, Jack Norris, Banana Chan, Khaldoun Khelil, Peter Wright, Helena Nash, Richard August, Ben Woerner, and Simon Berman)
• Fateforge: Tetralogy Box Set 5e, Studio Agate
• KULT: Beyond Darkness and Madness, Helmgast (Author: Jason Fryer, Jacqueline Bryk, Alex Obernigg, and Petter Nallo)
• Rosenstrasse, A Story of Love and Survival, Unruly Designs (Author: Moyra Turkington, Jessica Hammer)

Product of the Year

• Call of Cthulhu Classic Prop Set, H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
• Colostle: A Solo RPG Adventure, Nich Angell
• Dune – Adventures in the Imperium: Core Rulebook Atreides Collector’s Edition , Modiphius Entertainment
• Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall, Wet Ink Games
• Odd Jobs, MacGuffin & Co.
• Putrescence Regnant, Exalted Funeral Press
• Root: The RPG, Magpie Games
• The Troubleshooters, Helmgast
• Thirsty Sword Lesbians, Evil Hat Productions
• Uncaged: Goddesses, Unseelie Studios