The game Tiny Bookshop from Cologne-based studio Neoludic Games has won the German Developer Award 2025 for best German game. It was presented at a ceremony in Cologne on Tuesday evening and also triumphed in two other categories. The award recognizes outstanding productions from the German-speaking region.
The German Developer Award, presented annually since 2004, honors the best video games from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This year, 175 jurors selected winners from 244 entries. The ceremony took place on Tuesday evening in Cologne and is currently organized by the games.nrw industry association. From next year, a new non-profit foundation will take over.
Tiny Bookshop, a relaxed management game about running a small bookstore in a coastal town, emerged as the best German game. Players recommend books, sell them, and unlock new shelves or expansions. As a cozy game, it emphasizes leisurely play without intense time pressure. Since its August release, it has sold over 300,000 copies in the first four weeks. The Cologne studio Neoludic Games also received awards for best indie game and best graphics.
Another multiple winner is The Darkest Files from Berlin's Paintbucket Games, which triumphed in best game design and best game beyond entertainment. The title focuses on investigating crimes from the Nazi era. Studio of the Year went to Berlin's Toukana Interactive for games like Star Birds and Dorfromantik.
Further honors included Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping for best audio design, Mindlock – The Apartment for best story, and Firefighting Simulator: Ignite for best technical achievement. The NRW Funding Award was given to Serenad Yilmaz of Food for Thought Media, which develops games and diversity workshops for youth. The Ubisoft Newcomer Award went to the creators of Stuntboost, a finger skateboard game. The jury's special prize was awarded to the FemDevsMeetup networking event. Dungeon Clawler from Swiss studio Stray Fawn won the innovation prize and best casual game for its arcade claw machine mechanics.