Latest News

Pocket Gamer Awards 2021

Published

5 years ago

March 17, 2021

Reading Time: 4 minutes

PocketGamer.com – the leading and longest-running site for mobile gamers – revealed the winners of this year’s Pocket Gamer Awards.

The top game of the year prize went to Genshin Impact, whilst Rovio’s seminal Angry Birds picked up the prestigious Hall Of Fame gong.

Other winners across the 16 categories included platform games like Little Orpheus, hypercasual titles like Clusterduck, big-name RPGs like Knighthood and AAA franchises like Pokemon and Call Of Duty. Riot Games, famous for League Of Legends, picked up the best developer category. The full list of winners is below. This year, the Pocket Gamer Awards are sponsored by RedMagic.

The Pocket Gamer Awards are a celebration of the best in mobile games. Organised and hosted by industry experts but voted on by gamers themselves, the Pocket Gamer Awards reward the passion and effort that developers pour into making games. Over 350,000 votes were cast in the last two months, a phenomenal outpouring of love for the best iOS and Android games of the last 12 months.

A new Hall Of Fame category celebrates landmark titles that have had a major impact on the mobile games industry over the years. It’s the only category picked by the editorial experts rather than put to a public vote. Angry Birds, Rovio’s classic franchise first launched in 2009, is the first recipient. Editor of PocketGamer.com, Dann Sullivan, said of Angry Birds: “No IP has done more for mobile games than Angry Birds, and while we might remember it as a lightning-strike for touch controls, over the years Rovio’s flagship franchise forged the way into social gaming and was one of the first mobile games to pioneer major licensing deals in the mobile space. The birds have also had more movies and TV episodes than Mario and Sonic combined.”

Sullivan continued: “While some of these milestones might not have anything to do with the small touchscreen, it’s impossible to deny that Rovio’s Red & Co managed to become a cultural powerhouse, and played a critical role in getting mobile gaming to where it is today.”

The award ceremony itself took place this evening, March 16, on Twitch and PocketGamer.com and broadcast across YouTube and the Enthusiast Gaming network of sites.

Launched by Steel Media, Pocket Gamer has been delivering news, reviews, tips, guides and features that inform and entertain mobile and handheld gamers since 2006.

Enthusiast Gaming, the largest gaming network in North America, has owned Steel Media and Pocket Gamer since 2019. Since 2020, Pocket Gamer has hosted quarterly LaunchPad online events celebrating new and updated mobile games to an audience of three million viewers on Twitch.

For more information, visit https://www.pocketgamer.com/pgawards2021/ now. A recording of the Pocket Gamer Awards ceremony will be available soon on the site and also on the official YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/PocketGamerVideo/videos.

Winners

Best Platform Game: Little Orpheus

Best Simulation Game: Transport City: Truck Tycoon

Best Sports Game: Retro Bowl

Best Game Narrative: There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension

Best ‘Quick Play’ Game: Clusterduck

Best Mobile Conversion: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Best Apple Arcade Game: Alba: a Wildlife Adventure

Best Educational Game: Dish Life: The Game

Best Strategy Game: Company of Heroes

Best RPG: Knighthood

Most Innovative Game: HoloVista

Best Gaming Accessory: Razer Kishi Controller

Best Gaming Tablet: Apple iPad Pro

Best Battle Royale Game: Garena Free Fire

Best AR Game: LEGO Hidden Side

Best Puzzle Game: Pokemon Cafe Mix

Best Racing Game: Dirt Bike Unchained

Best Google Play Pass Game: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Best Mobile Publisher: Garena

Best Action Game: Pascal’s Wager

Best Digital Board Game: The Game of Life 2

Best Gaming Phone: Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

Best Multiplayer Game: EVE Echoes

Best Shooter: Warface: Global Operations

Best Game We’re Still Playing: Call of Duty Mobile

Best Mobile Developer: Riot Games

Hall Of Fame: Angry Birds

Mobile Game of the Year: Genshin Impact

Additional Quotes

Editor of PocketGamer.com, Dann Sullivan, added: “We’re overjoyed with the reaction from the fans in the voting process. Just looking at the sheer variety of games that have been championed by their players and communities really cements how diverse and rapidly-evolving the mobile games sphere is. The development speed and growth of the mobile games industry is truly amazing – every year is a milestone year, as can be seen from the amazing selection of winners.”

Chris James, CEO of Steel Media, said: “We’re genuinely thrilled by how many people voted in this year’s awards, and how many tuned in to watch the ceremony streamed live. When we launched Pocket Gamer 15 years ago, mobile gaming was still niche. But now – thanks to the success of games like Hall Of Fame inductee Angry Birds – mobile is THE dominant force in the games industry. Over the last 12 months, iOS and Android titles saw further huge surges in popularity as people hunted for experiences to keep them occupied during lockdown. And the quality has never been higher. Games like Genshin Impact prove that the device in your pocket can match the addictiveness and playability of the best consoles have to offer.”

James added: “As well as celebrating the best of the current crop of games, we’re always on the lookout for the next generation of blockbuster mobile titles. That’s why we’ve invented activities like the Big Indie Pitch and Pocket Gamer LaunchPad to champion new arrivals. So if you want to get an inside track on the next hidden gaming gem in 2021, there’s really nowhere else to go!”

gaming and gambling harms

Ygam achieve milestone of reaching 5 million young people

Published

6 hours ago

October 22, 2025

George Miller

ygam-achieve-milestone-of-reaching-5-million-young-people

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ygam has now surpassed the milestone of reaching an estimated five million children and young people across the UK through its portfolio of prevention programmes.

Founded in 2014, Ygam has now delivered its award-winning training and resources on gaming and gambling harms to over 32,000 delegates.

Ygam’s reach extends beyond the education sector, with training delivered to more than 5,500 professionals working across health and social care — including hospitals, health boards, GP surgeries, and community nursing settings. This work, aligned with a public health approach to preventing gambling harms, has directly contributed to the digital safeguarding of nearly half a million children and young people accessing health services.

With growing concerns from parents and carers about the role of gaming and gambling in the wider online safety conversation, Ygam has become a trusted and respected source of advice and guidance for families. The charity has delivered workshops to more than 4,500 parents and carers.

Ygam is a national charity with a footprint across every region of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and a presence in 64 of the UK’s 76 cities.

Ygam’s work has also seen a significant increase in the longevity of its reach, with nearly 100,000 resource downloads of its award-winning resources, and at least 50% of educators implementing these materials into their lessons.

Helen Martin, Interim CEO of Ygam, said: “This milestone is more than just a number – it’s a reflection of the positive impact we’re making in every corner of the UK. We’re incredibly proud of the growing community that shares our passion for safeguarding children’s wellbeing in an increasingly complex digital world, where gaming and gambling are more accessible than ever. From schools to sports clubs, parents to practitioners, and colleges to community centres, we’re raising awareness through the powerful tool of education. As we mark this extraordinary achievement, the demand for our resources has never been greater. We remain committed to expanding our reach and deepening our impact, ensuring that every child has the knowledge and confidence to navigate the risks of gaming and gambling harms.”

But there’s so much more to do – help us reach the next 5 million…

The post Ygam achieve milestone of reaching 5 million young people appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Boomerang Partners set to shine at SiGMA Europe 2025 with sports-themed booth activities and the Golden Boomerang League winners celebration

Published

7 hours ago

October 22, 2025

Master Editor

From November 4th to 6th, 2025, Boomerang Partners will participate in SiGMA Europe 2025 in Rome, one of the most important events in the world for the affiliate marketing and iGaming industry. The company’s booth 5046 G will be a focal point, thanks to the signature ‘Boomerang Arena’ concept.

The ‘Boomerang Arena’ symbolizes the strong connection between sports and technological innovations, and reflects Boomerang Partners’ focus on the sports aspect of their business. The booth will be divided into several themed zones dedicated to football, golf, tennis, and boxing, as well as a location for sports-related interactive experiences.

Booth 5046 G will be the must-visit hub for SiGMA Europe 2025’s guests for many reasons. Boomerang Partners is preparing a variety of activities that are sure to generate heightened interest from booth visitors. They can look forward to various sports-related interactive experiences, mini-games, table tennis activity, and a unique gift auction. Details about the participation conditions will be announced later. Stay tuned for updates.

On November 5th, Boomerang Partners will ceremoniously announce and award the winners of its first sports traffic tournament, the Golden Boomerang League. It runs from September 1st to October 31st and is designed for both current and new affiliate partners of the company. The prizes include direct entry into the annual global tournament, the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026, and two all-expenses-paid AC Milan Experience packages, which include flights, accommodations, and tickets to a match at the San Siro Stadium. Boomerang Partners will provide this opportunity as the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan.

Book a meeting with Boomerang Partners’ managers now to learn about collaboration opportunities. There are only a few slots left.

About Boomerang

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards — a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. The agency launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.

The agency’s client portfolio contains 13+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.

Chris Loftus CEO at Northern Lights Gaming

Introducing Prize Ladder from Northern Lights Gaming

Published

8 hours ago

October 22, 2025

George Miller

introducing-prize-ladder-from-northern-lights-gaming

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Studio’s latest classic slot delivers exhilarating bonus action against a glamorous TV gameshow backdrop, with cascading reels adding to the excitement

Have you got what it takes to take on the Prize Ladder and come out on top? That’s the question players must answer before taking on the latest classic slot title from in-demand content house, Northern Lights Gaming.

Bright lights and big wins are the order of the day in Prize Ladder, a game-show style blockbuster that promises twists and turns from the very first game round to the last.

Set on a vibrant stage with dazzling neon lights and a booming announcer voice, this ANYWAYS Rolling Reels game pays both left-to-right and right-to-left.

ANYWAYS Rolling Reels is triggered on any win and kick-starts a cascade where winning symbols are removed and new ones roll in, opening up chances for more consecutive wins.

The excitement builds with the Prize Ladder™ itself, which increases the value of winning symbols with every consecutive cascade in a single spin. And if a Padlock symbol lands on the final cascade, those juicy symbol values get locked in for the next spin.

This wouldn’t be a Northern Lights Gaming slot without a glitzy Free Spins bonus, which gets triggered when three or more Scatter symbols land. This gets the player eight Free Games with the Awards Cards held for the duration.

Then there’s the Super Spins, which are triggered when the player lands a full reel of the same symbol with Star overprints on reels one or five.

One whole reel of the same symbol also has a chance to trigger the Super Spins. The reels then spin in more of that symbol across the reels. Each position that is not held, spins, with either the triggering symbol, blank or Scatters.

Additional symbols and Scatters that land are held on the reels, and for each Super Spin, the Prize Ladder award rolls up one level.

Now for the Buy the Bonus options – players can Booster Buy, which increases the chance of triggering the Free Spins, Super Spins and the Padlock Bonus, or they can opt for the Bonus Buy to head straight to the Free Spins, Super Spins or Super Free Spins.

Chris Loftus CEO at Northern Lights Gaming, said: “Prize Ladder is a classic slot that plays more like a bonus-heavy video slot. It’s a game that’s all about the glitz and glamour, and climbing that ladder to unlock the game’s biggest bonuses and wins.

“The entire team has really pulled together for Prize Ladder, and the result is a visually striking slot with gameplay that gets pulses racing thanks to a smart combination of mechanics and bonuses, including some of our unique in-house features like Rolling Reels.

“Think your players are ready to take on the Prize Ladder? There’s only one way to find out.”

The post Introducing Prize Ladder from Northern Lights Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.