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The RPG Maker Festival 2026, hosted by KADOKAWA group subsidiary Gotcha Gotcha Games, today announced the winners and categories for the very first RPG Maker Awards event. The annual festival celebrating the creative projects of the more than 10 million users worldwide will run until Monday, Feb. 23, 2026 PST (Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026 JST).
About RPG Maker Award
New this year, these awards recognize particularly outstanding titles among the RPG Maker series games released in the past two years. Nominations were primarily based on submissions from RPG Maker series’ game creators.
A worldwide network of RPG fans and community members have voted, and the organizers have selected the winners of the "Grand Award," "Excellence Awards," and "Special Award." Here are the results:
Award Categories and Winners:
Grand Award
As Selected By The RPG Maker Community
Grand Award Winner: Artis Impact
Creator: Mas
Genre: RPG
Artis Impact is the Grand Award winner, selected from 215 entries! Created by Mas, it is a turn-based RPG set in a future world where humans and AI coexist. It features a warm, pixel-art-style environment and stylish combat sequences. The game’s artwork and presentation have been highly praised by players, showcasing a significant expansion of RPG Maker’s possibilities.
Excellence Awards
These Awards Are For the Best In Each Genre
Best RPG Award: Beloved Rapture
Creator: Rapturous Studio
Genre: RPG
Best Adventure Award: Flower in Us
Creator: Chalkseagull, Team Gypsophila
Genre: Visual Novel
Best Action Award: Creepy Creepy Love
Creator: BYYONI Entertainment
Genre: Action
Best Simulation Award: DRAPLINE
Creator: Vaka Game Magazine, KANAWO
Genre: Simulation
Best Free Game Award: Buy a Croquette!
Creator: 越青
Genre: Adventure
Best Free Game Award: Saihate Station
Creator: びぶ/viv
Genre: Adventure
Best Comment Award: Heroines of Swords & Spells 2
Creator: Kirillkrm
Genre: RPG
Best Comment Award: 7 Days
Creator: Daver The Dave
Genre: Adventure
Special Award Winner
Given By Gotcha Gotcha Games To A Standout Title
Maker's Special Award: Seed of Nostalgia
Creator: James Sloan, Primitive Pixels
Genre: RPG
The RPG Maker Award 2026 winners announcement page features each winning work along with enthusiastic comments from voters. Visit the page for details on each award.
Winning titles that are currently available for purchase can be purchased during this year’s RPG Maker Festival 2026, with some games available at a discounted price!
“First, congratulations to all of the winners of the very first RPG Maker Awards,” said Mr. Kitajima, Project Leader for RPG Maker Festival 2026. “The RPG Maker Series was created to help talented storytellers bring their creations to life through games, and we’re thrilled to celebrate some of those creators today with the announcement of the first RPG Maker Awards recipients.”