Danial Norjidi
The winners of the Canadian Game Awards (CGA) 2023 were recently unveiled, with accolades presented across 18 categories.
The awards, which took place on April 21, were organised by Northern Arena Productions and aimed to “spotlight the wonderful games developed in Canada, as well as the individuals that give the industry its heart and soul”.
This year’s event saw isometric action game Tunic garner the biggest awards haul, winning a total of six accolades, including Game of the Year, which “recognises the excellence of a game in all categories, as well as its impact on the game industry on setting new standards”.
Developed by Isometricorp Games and published by Finji, Tunic also took home the awards for Best Game Design, Best Audio Design, Best PC Game, Best Console Game and Studio of the Year.
According to the developers, Tunic is an isometric action game about a small fox on a big adventure, where the player explores a land filled with lost legends, ancient powers and ferocious monsters.
“Stranded in a ruined land, and armed with only your own curiosity, you will confront colossal beasts, collect strange and powerful items, and unravel long-lost secrets.”
Meanwhile, Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course, a downloadable content (DLC) expansion to run and gun action game Cuphead, won two awards for Best Art Direction and Best Score/Soundtrack.
Developed by Studio MDHR, Cuphead features a unique visual and audio style heavily inspired by cartoons of the 1930s, with hand drawn cel animation, watercolour backgrounds and original jazz recordings. This new expansion sees protagonists Cuphead and Mugman joined by “the clever, adventurous Ms Chalice for a rollicking adventure on a previously undiscovered Inkwell Isle”.
“With the aid of new weapons, magical charms, and Ms Chalice’s unique abilities, players will take on a new cast of fearsome, larger than life bosses to assist the jolly Chef Saltbaker in Cuphead’s final challenging quest.”
Another winner at the event was I was a Teenage Exocolonist by Northway Games, which won the award for Best Narrative.
Described as a narrative deckbuilding role-playing game, the title sees the player spend their teenage years on an alien planet. “The choices you make and skills you master over 10 years will determine the course of your life and the survival of your colony.”
In the realm of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), the award for Best VR/AR Game went to Broken Edge.
Developed by Trebuchet, Broken Edge is a VR multiplayer fantasy dueling game where the player embodies historical swordfighters, using “their unique techniques and powers combined with cutting-edge fencing mechanics to claim victory against online opponents and climb the ranks”.
Also among the winners was Best Mobile Game recipient Disney Mirrorverse. This action role-playing game was developed by Kabam and is set in “an all-new divergent Disney universe where players assemble teams of amplified, action-ready, Disney and Pixar characters to battle against a dark force that seeks to shatter the Mirrorverse”.
The game sees players fight their way “through this dangerous universe” with guardians such as Buzz Lightyear and Woody from Toy Story, Simba from The Lion King, Aladdin, Elsa from Frozen, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and more.
The award for Best Performance went to Kari Wahlgren for her role as supervillain Harley Quinn in open world action role-playing game Gotham Knights by WB Games Montreal.
According to the game’s website, “Batman is dead. A new expansive, criminal underworld has swept the streets of Gotham City. It is now up to the Batman Family; Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin; to protect Gotham, bring hope to its citizens, discipline to its cops, and fear to its criminals.
“From solving mysteries that connect the darkest chapters in the city’s history to defeating notorious villains in epic confrontations, you must evolve into the new Dark Knight and save the streets from descent into chaos.”
The event also included award categories for content creators, with one such accolade going to Linus Tech Tips for Best Content Creator/Show, which “recognises a TV show, web show or web clips that have a big impact on the gaming industry or community, and have an outstanding entertainment value.
In addition, the Best Streamer award, which “recognises the impact of a streamer (or group of streamers) on their community and presents an outstanding entertainment value” went to Stenphanie ‘missharvey’ Harvey.
Esports were also in the spotlight at the CGA with four award categories. Rocket League player JKnaps won Best Esports Player; Rob “rob-wiz” Kennedy won Best Esports Coach; Overwatch League Summer Showdown 2022 won Best Esports Event; and Camille ‘Camco’ Salazar-Hadaway won Best Gaming Talent.
In a press statement prior to the CGA, the founder of the event Carl Edwin-Michel said, “We believe that Canada has one of the most vibrant and dynamic gaming industries in the world, and we are excited to recognise the contributions of those who have made it so successful.”
