Origins Awards

Promoting innovation & excellence in games since 1975.

Since 1975, the Origins Awards have been celebrating excellence in the tabletop gaming industry. Although we took a brief hiatus, we are ready to continue highlighting the amazing work industry professionals are doing. To align with our expanded membership, we have added a few awards to ensure the amazing work of artists and media professionals are also represented.

ORIGINS AWARDS ENTRY RULES

The Origins Awards’ mission is to annually recognize achievement within the game industry. The awards will be conducted with integrity, impartiality, and with clearly defined categories. The awards’ juries will be composed of knowledgeable professionals, cultivating a celebration of excellence within our industry.

These principles guide all aspects of the Awards and are integrated into all of the concepts laid out in this document. 

Eligibility

In order to be considered for an award, a product must meet these requirements: 

Release Window  

Products available to consumers between Jan 1, 2023 and Dec 31, 2023 are eligible for these awards

Submission Window  

Products may be submitted for consideration between June 21, 2023 and December 31, 2023.  

Sample Provision  

To be eligible for an award, 7 copies of a product must be delivered to the coordinator, 258 E. Campus View Blvd., Columbus, OH 43235 on or before December 31, 2023.

Attn: Origins Awards
Game Manufacturers Association
258 E. Campus View Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43235
USA
+1(614)255-4500

Digital submissions for the Creative category must also be submitted by this date to originsawards@gama.org.

Multiple Submissions  

Any individual product may only be submitted for entry in a single category. Elements of a product submitted for another award (eg art, writing) may also be submitted in the Creative category.

New Release Product

For a product to be eligible for nomination, it must be a new release for the year of submission. Reprints of existing games should have significant changes from previous editions to be eligible.

Expansions  

Submissions for expansions must be accompanied by an equal number of copies of the base game they belong to. This ensures that all Jurors can evaluate the full play experience.

Entry Fee  

Each submission to the Awards attracts a $35 processing fee. GAMA members receive one free entry per category

All submissions are subject to review by the committee of the Origins Awards

CATEGORIES

BOARD GAMES

• Best Cooperative Game

• Best Cooperative Game Expansion

• Best Gateway Game

• Best Heavy Strategy Game

• Best Heavy Strategy Game Expansion

• Best Light Strategy Game

• Best Light Strategy Game Expansion

• Best Party/Social Game

• Best Party/Social Game Expansion

• Best Solo Game

• Best Solo Game Expansion

• Best Thematic Game

• Best Thematic Game Expansion

CHILDREN’S GAMES

• Best Children’s Game for Age 5 and under

• Best Children’s Game for Ages 6 to 9

• Best Children’s Game for Ages 10 to 12

CONSTRUCTABLE GAMES

• Best Fixed Constructable Game Product

• Best Randomized Constructable Game Product

• Best Starter Constructable Game Product

CREATIVE AWARDS

• Best 2D Published Game Art

• Best 3D Published Game Component

• Best Media Production

• Best Published Creative Writing

• Best Published Technical Writing

The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design (AAGAD) is a peer based network of gaming industry professionals whose mission is to promote innovation and excellence in design and production of games and game related materials.