German Computer Game Awards 2026: game association congratulates the winners

German Computer Game Awards 2026: game association congratulates the winners

• ‘Best German Game’ goes to ‘The Darkest Files’ by Paintbucket Games

• ‘weltenbauer. Software Entwicklung’ named ‘Studio of the Year’

• The ‘Newcomer Award: Best Debut’ goes to ‘Tiny Bookshop’ by neoludic games

• ‘Blue Prince’ receives the the award for ‘Best International Game’

• German Computer Game Awards 2027 to be held in Berlin

Impressive games made in Germany, delighted winners and an entertaining show packed with familiar faces: that was the German Computer Game Awards 2026 ceremony. Hundreds of guests from the games industry, media, culture, society and politics gathered in the Herkulessaal of Residenz Munich this evening to celebrate the best German video games and the teams behind them. Many more watched via live stream as hosts Katrin Bauerfeind and Uke Bosse led the audience through the show. Prizes were awarded in 15 categories, with total prize money of 800,000 euros.

The winner of the coveted main category ‘Best German Game’ was the detective game ‘The Darkest Files’ by Paintbucket Games, in which players take on the role of a post-war prosecutor investigating Nazi crimes and bringing them to trial. The award was presented on stage by Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär, who holds the games brief. The title also won in the ‘Best Serious Game’ category. The two other nominees in the main category also took home awards: the cosy game ‘Tiny Bookshop’ by neoludic games won ‘Newcomer Award: Best Debut’, and the city-building simulation ‘Anno 117: Pax Romana’ by Ubisoft Mainz received the prize for ‘Best Innovation and Technology’. The adventure game ‘The Berlin Apartment’ by Blue Backpack picked up two awards as well, winning ‘Best Story’ and ‘Best Graphic Design’. ‘Studio of the Year’ went to Wiesbaden-based ‘weltenbauer. Software Entwicklung’. The adventure game ‘Blue Prince’ by Dogubomb and RAW FURY won the award in the unendowed category for ‘Best International Game’.

The German Computer Game Awards (DCP) are organised by the German Federal Government, represented by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, and game – The German Games Industry Association.

‘We warmly congratulate all winners of the German Computer Game Awards 2026 and are delighted by a fantastic evening of outstanding games and gripping stories. The winning titles are a powerful showcase for the quality of games made in Germany — and we want to see even more of that in the years ahead. It is now vital to seize this momentum together with the Federal Government to further strengthen our studios in global competition and put them in the spotlight on the international stage,’ said Felix Falk, Managing Director of game.

The venue for next year’s ceremony has also been confirmed: the German Computer Game Awards 2027 will be held in the capital, Berlin. From next year, the DCP ceremony will once again alternate between the host cities of Berlin and Munich, as announced today by the organisers and both federal states.

All winners of the DCP 2026 at a glance:

Best German Game (prize money: 100,000 euros)

• The Darkest Files(Paintbucket Games)

The remaining nominees each receive 30,000 euros:

• Anno 117: Pax Romana (Ubisoft Mainz / Ubisoft)
• Tiny Bookshop (neoludic games / Skystone Games) 

Best International Game (no prize money)

• Blue Prince(Dogubomb / RAW FURY)

Studio of the Year (prize money: 50,000 euros)

• Software Entwicklung(Wiesbaden)

Newcomer Award: Best Debut (prize money: 60,000 euros)

• Tiny Bookshop(neoludic games / Skystone Games)

The remaining nominees each receive 25,000 euros:

Causal Loop (Mirebound / Headup)

Constance (Blue Backpack / ByteRockers’ Games)

Newcomer Award: Best Prototype (prize money: 50,000 euros)

• Garden Ink(Arne Jürgens, Sven Mehlhorn)

The remaining nominees each receive 25,000 euros:

Burn With Me (Eva Manuilovich, Ivan Bushmin, Nikita Melnikov)

• Cards and Cannons (Anica Gritzki, Jennifer Seeber, Luca Schmidt, Lucas Thieme, Jan-Ivo Lattek, Julian Seidel / HTW Berlin / DE:HIVE)
• Heart Drive (Jonas Pfeiffer / HAW Hamburg)
• UnderPressure (Aaliyah Schäfer, Romy Scherwat, Lea Eschlberger, Tim Richter, Fabius Sachs, Felina Westrich, Malvina Arakelian, Rosalie Stallmann / Hochschule Darmstadt) 

Best Family Game (prize money: 40,000 euros)

• Flick Shot Rogues(Butter By The Fish / Noodlecake Studios)

Best Innovation and Technology (prize money: 40,000 euros)

• Anno 117: Pax Romana(Ubisoft Mainz / Ubisoft)

Best Audio Design (prize money: 40,000 euros)

• EVERSPACE 2: Wrath of the Ancients(ROCKFISH Games)

Best Game Design (prize money: 40,000 euros)

• Super Meat Boy 3D(Sluggerfly / Headup)

Best Graphic Design (prize money: 40,000 euros)

• The Berlin Apartment(Blue Backpack / ByteRockers’ Games)

Best Mobile Game (prize money: 40,000 euros)

• MicroMacro: Downtown Detective(Soft Boiled Games)

Best Story (prize money: 40,000 euros)

• The Berlin Apartment(Blue Backpack / ByteRockers’ Games)

Best Serious Game (prize money: 40,000 euros)

• The Darkest Files(Paintbucket Games)

Player of the Year (no prize money)

• Dennsen86

Special Jury Award (prize money: 10,000 euros)

• Forschungsverbund RadiGaMe

game – The German Games Industry Association

We are the association of the German games industry. Our members represent the entire video game ecosystem, from development studios and publishers to esports event organisers, educational institutions and other related entities. We are co-organisers of gamescom, the world’s biggest event for video games. We are a shareholder in the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK), the Foundation for Digital Games Culture, the esports player foundation, game events and the collecting society VHG, as well as co-host of the German Computer Game Awards. Serving as a central point of contact for media, as well as political and social institutions, we provide comprehensive expertise in areas including market development, game culture and media literacy, and address any inquiries or concerns. Together we are making Germany the heart of gaming worldwide. With games, we enrich the lives of all people.