The Origins Awards were presented for the first time at the very first Origins Game Fair in Baltimore 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 convention, and hobby games in general.
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.
During the show, attendees also have the opportunity to examine and even play the nominated titles in the Nominee Showcase Area, sponsored by Game Toppers. They are encouraged to vote for their Fan Favorite, the winner of which is also 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
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)
Fan Favorite
Distilled (Paverson Games, Designed by: Dave Beck)
