The Gayming Awards is back for 2022!

The first and only global award ceremony celebrating LGBTQ+ video gaming and queer geek culture is back in person on the 25th of April and live on Twitch

Author: Poppy DavenportPublished 11th Apr 2022

The Gayming Awards, presented by Twitch, returns for its second year in April 2022. With a mission to celebrate diversity and inclusivity globally within games and interactive media, it’s set to be even grander than the inaugural event.

The categories for this year’s Gayming Awards have been expanded to include further elements of geek culture, by introducing awards for Comic Books, Esports and Tabletop Gaming. Much like last year, the judge’s have had a tough challenge shortlisting the nominations.

This year the event will feature an in-person exclusive nerdy drag pre-show featuring London’s iconic Cybil’s House starring Cybil War, Aubrey Wodonga, RhyssPieces, Lolo Brow and Shardeazy Afrodesiak. Do not miss out!!

You can find out more and buy your tickets here

Hits Radio Pride listeners can get a huge 15% off their tickets to the show by using the code HitsRadio15

Who are the nominees?

This year’s nominees include Life is Strange: True Colors, Unpacking, Psychonauts 2, When The Night Comes and many other fantastic LGBTQ+ creators, games and initiatives. The official nominees for 2022 are as follows:

Game of the Year - Sponsored by PlayStation

● Boyfriend Dungeon - Kitfox Games

● Life is Strange True Colors - Deck Nine/Square Enix

● Psychonauts 2 - Double Fine/Xbox Game Studios

● Unpacking - Witch Beam/Humble Bundle

Gayming Magazine Readers’ Award - Sponsored by EA

This award celebrates Gayming Magazine readers’ favourite game of 2021

● Boyfriend Dungeon - Kitfox Games

● Forza Horizon 5 - Playground Games/Xbox Game Studios

● Metroid Dread - MercurySteam/Nintendo

● Resident Evil Village - Capcom

● Sable - Shedworks/Raw Fury

● Shin Megami Tensei V - SEGA

● Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania - Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/SEGA

● The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles - Capcom

Industry Diversity Award - Sponsored by Hangar 13 & 2K Games

This award celebrates an organisation or person who has done a significant amount of work in promoting, developing and championing diversity in the global games industry.

● I Need Diverse Games

● London Gaymers

● Ukie's #RaiseTheGame pledge

● Women in Games International

Authentic Representation Award - Sponsored by Marvelous Europe

This award recognises the best example of authentic LGBTQ representation in a game.

● Boyfriend Dungeon - Kitfox Games

● Life is Strange: True Colours - Deck Nine/Square Enix

● Unpacking - Witch Beam/Humble Bundle

● Unsighted - Studio Pixel Punk

Best LGBTQ Character Award - Sponsored by Rocksteady

This award recognises the best LGBTQ character (playable or significant NPC) in a game.

● Alex Chen, Life is Strange: True Colors - Deck Nine/Square Enix

● Helmut Fullbear & Bob Zanotto, Psychonauts 2 - Double Fine/Xbox Game Studios

● Steph Gingrich, Life is Strange: True Colors - Deck Nine/Square Enix

● Meredith Weiss, Lake - Gamious/Whitethorn Digital

Best LGBTQ Indie Game Award - Sponsored by Xbox

This award acknowledges the best indie game made by an independent developer which is focussed on telling an LGBTQ story, or heavily features an LGBTQ element.

● A Year Of Spring - NPCKC

● Boyfriend Dungeon -Kitfox

● Lake - Gamious/Whitethorn Digital

● Sword of the Necromancer - Grimorio of Games

● Unpacking - Witch Beam/Humble Bundle

● When The Night Comes - Lunaris Games

LGBTQ Streamer of the Year Award - Sponsored by Twitch

This award is for the most popular LGBTQ streamer, as chosen by the watching public.

● Aimsey

● BlizzB3ar

● CriticalBard

● Eevoh

● Eret

● Nihachu

● ReadySetBen

● RekItRaven

● Sammy M Jay

● Shaaba and Jamie

● Shawn

● Toph

LGBTQ Streamer Rising Star Award - Sponsored by Twitch

This award is to celebrate the success of a rising star of LGBTQ streaming.

● ItsMeHollyy

● Cruuuunchy

● CoderGirlChan

● LuciaEverblack

● Luke_Boogie

● Trish Olson

Best LGBTQ Comic Book Moment - Sponsored by Square Enix London Mobile

This award recognises the best LGBTQ moment in a comic book in 2021.

● DC Pride #1 - DC Comics

● Killer Queens - David Booher / Dark Horse Comics

● The Pride Omnibus - ComiXology/Dark Horse Comics

● X-Factor #10 - Leah Williams / Marvel

LGBTQ Tabletop Game Award

This award recognises the best tabletop game with LGBTQ themes.

● Adventuring With Pride: Queer We Go Again - Jack Dixon

● The House Doesn't Always Win - Michael 'Wheels' Whelan

● Thirsty Sword Lesbians - Evil Hat Productions

● Wanderhome - Possum Creek Games

Best LGBTQ Contribution to Esports

This award recognises the contribution of a person or organisation who has done a significant amount of work in promoting, developing and championing diversity in esports.

● Amanda Stevens

● Cloud9 White Valorant Team

● Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association CMSA

● Emi "CaptainFluke" Donaldson

Find out more and how to get involved