2023 ‘Origins’ Award Winners Revealed

Tabletop Games

Jul 11

Twenty-four products from across the landscape of tabletop gaming were honored at the Origins Awards during the Origins Game Fair (June 19-23, 2024).

The annual awards were distributed at a ceremony recognizing the best products released in 2023.

The Origins Awards were presented for the first time at the very first Origins Game Fair in Baltimore, Md., in 1975. The purpose of the awards is to recognize excellence in game design and increase awareness and sales for the nominees, winners, the Origins Game Fair, and hobby gaming.

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The categories were significantly expanded in 2024, looking to encompass and recognize the massive growth and quality from across the tabletop industry.

Any publisher or designer can submit their products for consideration during the eligibility period. Submissions in each category are evaluated by a jury of industry professionals who choose their top products. These become the nominees, which are sent to the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design. The Academy places their votes by email and the winners are announced during the Awards ceremony.

2023 Origins Award Winners

BEST COOPERATIVE BOARD GAME

Sky Team (SCORPION MASQUE, Designed by: Luc Rémond)

BEST GATEWAY BOARD GAME

Wandering Towers (Capstone Games, Designed by: Michael Kiesling, Wolfgang Kramer)

BEST LIGHT STRATEGY GAME

Leaf (Weird City Games, Designed by: Tim Eisner)

BEST THEMATIC BOARD GAME

Freelancers: A Crossroads Game (Plaid Hat Games, Designed by: Donald Shults)

BEST HEAVY STRATEGY GAME

Dune: Imperium - Uprising (Dire Wolf, Designed by: Paul Dennen)

BEST PARTY/SOCIAL BOARD GAME

Smug Owls (Runaway Parade Games, Designed by: Mike Belsole, Grace Kendall)

BEST SOLO BOARD GAME

Legacy of Yu (Renegade Game Studios, Designed by: Shem Phillips)

BEST CHILDREN’S & FAMILY BOARD GAME

Diced Veggies (KTBG, Designed by: Josh Cappel, Jory Cappel, Rowan Cappel)

BEST FIXED CONSTRUCTIBLE GAME

Magic: The Gathering Universes Beyond - The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth Commander Decks (Wizards of the Coast)

BEST RANDOMIZED CONSTRUCTIBLE GAME

Magic: The Gathering Universes Beyond The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth Collector Booster (Wizards of the Coast)

BEST MINIATURES GAME PRODUCT

Star Wars: Shatterpoint (Atomic Mass Games, Designed by: Will Shick)

BEST PUZZLE GAME

Threads of Fate (Post Curious, Designed by: Rita Orlov)

BEST ROLE-PLAYING GAME ADVENTURE

Heckna! Deluxe Box Set (Hit Point Press)

BEST ROLE-PLAYING GAME CORE PRODUCT

DIE: The Roleplaying Game (Rowan, Rook and Decard, Designed by: Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans)

BEST ROLE-PLAYING GAME STARTER PRODUCT

Dreams and Machines: Starter Set (Modiphius Entertainment)

BEST ROLE-PLAYING GAME SUPPLEMENT

Dune: Power and Pawns (Modiphius Entertainment)

BEST DICE/DICE RELATED ACCESSORY

Glyphic Blind Dice Bags Series 3.5 (Level Up Dice)

BEST GAME ACCESSORY

Frameamajigs (Hit Point Press)

BEST ROLE-PLAYING GAME RELATED ACCESSORY

D&D Icons of the Realms: Adventure in a Box - Mind Flayer Voyage (WizKids)

BEST 2D ARTWORK

Kwanchai Moriya for Empire's End (Brotherwise Games)

BEST 3D COMPONENT

Threads of Fate - Puzzle Box (Post Curious, Designed by Rita Orlov)

BEST GAME RELATED WRITING

Grace Collins for Shadow in the Night Part 2, Cozy Companion Magazine (Snowbright Studio)

BEST MEDIA PRODUCTION

Eleni Papadopoulou for Making Board Games - The CGE Documentary (8-Part Series)

ORIGINS GAME FAIR FAN FAVORITE

Distilled (Paverson Games, Designed by: Dave Beck)-

About The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA)

The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) was formed in 1977 as the nexus for the tabletop game industry to network and do business with each other. Since then, it has grown to nearly 1,600 member companies in 26 countries, and become the premier trade association for hobby games companies. GAMA organizes the Origins Game Fair as a promotional opportunity for member companies to share their games with consumers and to grow the hobby gaming market.

For more information about GAMA’s programs and services, please visit GAMA.org.

About The Academy Of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design (AAGAD)

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 the design and production of games and game-related materials.

The members of the Hall of Fame select new individuals and games for induction each year and the inductions take place at the Origins Game Convention in Columbus, Ohio.

While there are some exceptions, individuals are generally considered for induction after they have been in the field for 20 years, with work in any area of gaming or gaming-related activities applying towards consideration. Products and media entries are considered after 10 years from the date of first publication or launch. Tactics, the first modern wargame, came out in 1952 and that year is used as the cutoff for induction as that started the modern core hobby era.

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