Latest News

Colt Canyon crowned ‘Best Game’ and LUNARK ‘Most Anticipated’ at GameMaker Awards 2021

Published

5 years ago

July 21, 2021

The judges have deliberated. Over 33,000 votes have been cast. And we can now reveal that Colt Canyon has been crowned ‘Best Game’ and LUNARK ‘Most Anticipated’ game of the year, at the GameMaker Awards 2021.

Created by German-based developer Retrific, Colt Canyon is a stylish western-themed pixel art shooter combining roguelike elements with real-time combat. The judges were impressed with Colt Canyon’s highly engaging gameplay and heavily pixelated artist style. While in the popular vote, members of the GameMaker and Opera GX communities voted Colt Canyon the clear winner.

The other finalists for ‘Best Game’ included: Chicory: A Colorful Tale, Jet Lancer, Post Void and Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!.

The winner of ‘Most Anticipated’ game is LUNARK, from Canari Games. LUNARK is a 2D cinematic platformer, designed in the vein of ’80s and ’90s classics. The game challenges players to run, jump, hang, climb, roll, and shoot their way through a kaleidoscope of different environments. These include mysterious alien ruins, a flying penitentiary, a high-tech megalopolis, and a majestic forest.

The judges were blown away with how the Canari Games team have pushed the creative limits of cutscenes and pixel art in GameMaker, to create a game that is both visually stunning and great to play. Set for release later this year, LUNARK also made a big impression with the voters – who overwhelmingly crowned it the ‘Most Anticipated’ game of 2021.

The other finalists for ‘Most Anticipated’ game included: NYKRA, Jitsu Squad, APICO and Toodee and Topdee.

The GameMaker Awards, in partnership with SpecialEffect, a charity that uses video games to enhance the lives of those people with physical disabilities, celebrate creativity and innovation in Indie game development, honouring the best games created using GameMaker Studio 2 as well as the Indies and Studios that designed them.

From over 200 entries, only 5 games for each category were selected by an expert panel of industry peers, including GameMaker Studio CTO Russell Kay, Opera GX Product Director Maciej Kocemba, and Into Indie Games Editor Harry Cole.

Russell Kay, CTO, GameMaker Studio, said: “This year’s GameMaker Awards has redefined what we’ve come to expect from the indies and studios that choose GameMaker as their creative engine of choice. Each of the finalists have demonstrated both amazing creativity, plus the technical ability to harness GameMaker’s powerful functionality to design a game that really pushes the boundaries. Given the incredible standard of this year’s entries, I am only glad that the final decision was left in the hands of our loyal GameMaker and Opera GX communities.”

Jonathan Mannshoven of Retrific, said: “Colt Canyon wasn’t a bestseller when it launched last year. It wasn’t free from criticism either. But by working closely with the community, I’ve been able to make many improvements to the game which have helped turn a lot of criticism into positive feedback. Having all that hard work now paying off with Colt Canyon winning ‘Best Game’ at the GameMaker Awards 2021 is an overwhelming and surreal feeling – just incredible!

“GameMaker has always been my engine of choice as it is just so easy to use yet also powerful, enabling me to reach maximum productivity. Which as a solo developer is extremely valuable. Put simply – I wouldn’t be a game developer now if it wasn’t for GameMaker.”

Johan Vinet of Canari Games, added: “LUNARK started as a passion project to create a game in the genre I loved in my youth. Making it a reality became so clear that I decided to quit my job, start my own studio and launch a Kickstarter campaign. Winning the “Most Anticipated Game” award is an incredible recognition from the players and the GameMaker Community, which brings some welcome legitimacy and a massive confidence boost to actually finish the game! Thank you!”

Up Next

Reflex Gaming sets sights on US market

Don't Miss

GGPoker Launches Full WSOP Online 2021 Schedule for International Players; 33 WSOP Bracelets to be Won

Latest News

N1 Traffic Cups: The Year of Traffic Tournaments Starts soon

Published

1 hour ago

February 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

n1-traffic-cups:-the-year-of-traffic-tournaments-starts-soon

N1 Partners is launching a new series of traffic competitions, N1 Traffic Cups, with the first tournament set to begin this March. The 2026 program will feature multiple promotional events, including standalone cups and a global championship, offering partners new opportunities to scale performance and compete on an international stage.

The initiative builds on the success of the year-long N1 Puzzle Promo in 2025. Drawing on participant feedback and proven mechanics from that campaign, N1 Partners has developed a refreshed competitive format designed to reward consistent growth, efficiency, and strategic traffic management.

The season opens with the N1 SEO Traffic Cup, introducing a dedicated leaderboard with a tiered performance system and a structure focused on real traffic efficiency rather than scale alone. The spring launch sets the tone for what promises to be a highly competitive year for SEO teams and traffic specialists.

Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners, comments on the upcoming launch:
“There are plenty of races and battles in the industry, but it was important for us to create a format that stands out in both spirit and approach. We’re not just preparing another competition – we’re building a story with character, centered around strategy, structure, and true competitive drive.

2026 is a year of major sporting events: the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. The spirit of competition and top-level achievement perfectly aligns with the DNA of N1 Partners: energy, high performance, and healthy competitive ambition are what motivate and push both us and our partners forward.”

To learn more about the tournament launch, contact N1 Partners Leadgen Manager, Kristina:
Email: [email protected]
Telegram: https://t.me/Christina_N1L
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-ladik-6a7068206/

N1 Partners supports affiliates with a portfolio of more than 14 casino and sportsbook brands, coverage across 10+ Tier-1 GEOs, and commission models including CPA up to €700, RevShare up to 45%, and hybrid options.

The post N1 Traffic Cups: The Year of Traffic Tournaments Starts soon appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Latest News

N1 Traffic Cups: The Year of Traffic Tournaments Starts soon

Published

1 hour ago

February 18, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

N1 Partners is launching a series of traffic tournaments N1 Traffic Cups – with the first one kicking off this March. Throughout 2026, partners can expect a variety of promo activities: from standalone cups to a global championship.

This marks a logical continuation of N1 Partners’ community-focused initiatives. Recently, the team summed up the results of N1 Puzzle Promo – a top-tier promotion in the iGaming industry that ran for almost the entire year of 2025. After gathering participant feedback, consolidating the best practices from the successful campaign, and enhancing it with new engaging mechanics and a fresh perspective, N1 Partners developed a brand-new concept. The traffic tournament series will provide additional opportunities for teams working with traffic and focused on consistent performance growth and scaling results.

SEO teams, get ready – the first stage will be the N1 SEO Traffic Cup, opening the new season and setting the tone for the entire 2026 tournament series. A dedicated leaderboard with a tiered level system based on performance, a new competitive format, and a focus not only on scale but also on real traffic efficiency – this spring promises to be truly competitive.

Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners, comments on the upcoming launch:

“There are plenty of races and battles in the industry, but it was important for us to create a format that stands out in both spirit and approach. We’re not just preparing another competition – we’re building a story with character, centered around strategy, structure, and true competitive drive.
2026 is a year of major sporting events: the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. The spirit of competition and top-level achievement perfectly aligns with the DNA of N1 Partners: energy, high performance, and healthy competitive ambition are what motivate and push both us and our partners forward.”

We’ll reveal all the details very soon…
Stay tuned to N1 Partners’ social media channels and follow the latest updates in iGaming media.