- PG Connects Jordan delegates get exclusive access to the awards ceremony
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The finalists for the first ever Jordan Games Awards have been officially unveiled.
The awards were created to celebrate the very best game development teams and companies who are establishing Jordan as a key player within the MENA games industry and shine a light on the key parts of this ecosystem.
From student developers, to indies, to established studios, and from prototypes, to early access, to successfully published titles… they aim to keep the focus on the talent behind the games and the games themselves, whilst also paying homage to the companies and individuals who are making an exceptional contribution to the local industry.
The awards were lobbied for by all members of the industry over the summer, with the entries you’ll find below representing this year’s selection of finalists.
They are currently being voted on by a select group of industry experts and the winners will be revealed on November 10th, exclusively as part of this year’s Pocket Gamer Connects Jordan.
And the Jordan Games Awards 2024 Finalists are…
Community Choice
This is an award nominated by players and industry alike, and recognises the best game to have received a full release or significant update between 2022 and 2024.
- Amer: The Chase Hit and Run (Mad Hook)
- Jackaro (Chickmania)
- Martha EDU
- Nida Harb 3 (Babil Games)
- Rooftop Run (Mad Hook)
- Trix King of Hearts Card Game (Maysalward)
Best Industry Initiative
This recognises any Jordan-based company that supports the domestic games development scene through the implementation and delivery of initiatives such as internships, gamejams, and more, designed to boost Jordan as a major player within the MENA region and beyond.
- Aqaba Mobile Games Hackathon
- Jordan Gaming Lab
- Jordanian Strategy for E-Gaming and E-Sports (2023–27)
- King Abdullah II Fund for Development
- Tamatem Gaming Space
- The App Challenge
Best Indie
Any Jordan-based small-scale independent games studio (individual or small team) – ideally one that has been established in the last for 24 months or less – which has made an impact on the industry through innovation, creativity and other initiatives (but has not necessarily brought a game to market yet).
- Ambrator Games
- Dimensions Games Studio
- Golden Lynx
- Green Meadow Studios
- Jondob Games
- Koala 4D
- Shanab Games
Best Academic Programme
An award that recognises the leading games development-related programme available from Jordan’s academic institutions, as judged by the established domestic games industry professionals.
- Al-Balqa Applied University
- Al Hussein Technical University (HTU)
- Al-Hussein Bin Talal University
- Jordan University of Science and Technology
- King Abdullah II School of Information Technology (University of Jordan)
- Mu’tah University
- SAE Institute Jordan
- Yarmouk University
Best Audio / Visual Accomplishment
This accolade is for any game pushing the boundaries of the medium through audio and/or visual accomplishments. To be eligible for this award, games must have been given a full release (or received a significant and noteworthy expansion) over the past 24 months or, as a mark of support for near-finalised projects, set for launch in 2024.
- Amira (Jondob Games)
- Arkan: Dawn of Knights (Babil Games)
- Clash of Empire (Tamatem)
- Hajwala 2 (Rababa Games)
- Hope (Dimensions Games Studio)
- Pro Car Driving Simulator (Mad Hook)
- Rage of the Brave (Tamatem)
- The Golden Era of Baghdad (Golden Lynx)
Best in Esports
This award recognises and celebrates the most impressively implemented and strategically sustained Jordan-based esport-related team, initiative, activity, or support service of last year.
- FATE Esports
- Desert Fox Racing
- Jordan Esports Federation
- Team Secret ME
- The Esports Management Course
- Zain Esports
Best Social Game
An award that celebrates the most impressive, successful, and continually strongly supported Jordan-developed social ‘live’ game, widely enjoyed by the domestic player community.
- Baloot Royale (Babil Games)
- Dominoes Pro (Maysalward)
- Jackaro (Chickmania)
- The Grand Frontier (Babil Games)
- VIP Baloot (Tamatem)
- Wanas (Tamatem)
Most Promising Prototype
An award that recognises the most exciting prototype or gamejam project, showcasing some of the highest potential, discovered within the Jordan games development community. Nominations are considered for this award, although the winner is selected directly by the committee of the Jordan Games Awards.
- Amira (Jondob Games)
- Hope (Dimensions Games Studio)
- Manzel (Hadeel Balasmeh)
- The Golden Era of Baghdad (Golden Lynx)
Future Star
An accolade that shines the spotlight on an individual or team who looks set to emerge as one of the most promising talents of the next generation of Jordan-based games developers. Nominations are considered for this award, although the winner is selected directly by the committee of the Jordan Games Awards.
- Hadeel Balasmeh (Manzel)
- Mustafa Dabaibeh (Dimensions Games Studio)
- Mohammad Abo AlFool
- Mumen Alhamed (Kenda AI)
- Qasim Kaddumi (WeAstrals)
Best Game Maker
Any established Jordan-based games company (developer or publisher) that has released a game – either self-developed or assisted another developer wtih publishing support – or successfully grown an existing game, mostly during the past year, as well as expanded their business and made an impact on the local industry through innovation and creativity.
- Babil Games
- Chickmania
- Mad Hook
- Maysalward
- Tamatem Games
Jordan Games Guru
A special award that recognises a person from the Jordan games development community who has achieved a considerable amount of success in their career and has acted as a pioneer in, and made an outstanding contribution to, the regional games space. The Jordan Games Guru is a special award selected directly by the organisation committee of the Jordan Games Awards.
Game of the Year
This award recognises the finest Jordan-developed games experience based on creativity, play mechanics, popularity, technological, artistic and aural achievement, innovation, audience engagement, and both critical and commercial success. To be eligible for this award, games must have been given a full release, received a significant update, or maintained substantial live ops activity, between 2022–24.
- Grand (Shanab Games)
- Highway Drifter: Hajwala Simulator (Mad Hook)
- Nida Harb 3 (Babil Games)
- Pro Car Driving Simulator (Mad Hook)
- Rage of the Brave (Tamatem)
- VIP Baloot (Tamatem)
