Honoring Innovation and Impact: Winners of the 48th Annual Origin Awards, 2024 AAGAD Hall of Fame Inductees, and GAMA Industry Awards Announced
GAMA is proud to announce the winners of the 48th Annual Origin Awards, honoring excellence in tabletop game design and publishing for 2024. Held during the Origins Game Fair, the awards ceremony also featured the induction of three influential contributors into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design (AAGAD) Hall of Fame, along with two game titles and a presentation of special industry awards.
Special Honors
Rick Loomis Service Award
Michael Pondsmith received this year’s Rick Loomis Service Award in recognition of his outstanding dedication and lifelong contributions to the tabletop gaming community.
Sustainability Award
Endeavor: Deep Sea. Published by Burnt Island Games and Grand Gamers Guild, and designed by Carl de Visser & Jarratt Gray, the game earned the Sustainability Award for its environmentally conscious themes and production.
AAGAD Hall of Fame Inductees – Class of 2025
The AAGAD Hall of Fame celebrates individuals and products that have left a lasting impact on the world of tabletop games. This year's honorees include:
·Susan McKinley-Ross – Designer of Qwirkle and the first solo woman to receive the prestigious Spiel des Jahres award.
Stefan Feld – Renowned for his contributions to the Eurogame genre, including The Castles of Burgundy and over 60 other games.
·Ryo Mizuno – Visionary creator of Record of Lodoss War, a pioneering RPG replay series that laid the groundwork for today’s streaming and actual-play culture.
Codenames– A worldwide phenomenon from Czech Games Edition, Codenames broadened the appeal of gaming with its clever wordplay and accessibility.
Time’s Up! – This iconic charades-style party game from R&R Games has become a social staple through its fast-paced fun and countless editions.
48th Origin Award Winners by Category
With more than 120 finalists across a dozen categories, the jury members of the Academy narrowed their selection down to the winning titles.
Co-Op / Solo Game
Marvel United: Multiverse – CMON (Asmodee)
Designers: Andrea Chiarvesio & Eric M. Lang
Gateway Game
Seaside – Hachette Boardgames USA
Designer: Bryan Burgoyne
Party Game
Flip 7 – The Op
Designer: Eric Olsen
Heavy Strategy Game
Endeavor: Deep Sea – Burnt Island Games / KTBG
Designers: Carl de Visser & Jarratt Gray
Light Strategy Game
Fromage – R2i
Designers: Matthew O'Malley & Ben Rosset
Fixed Constructable Game
Compile: Main 1 – Greater Than Games
Designer: Michael Yang
Randomized Constructable Game
Magic: The Gathering – Bloomburrow Collector Booster Box – Wizards of the Coast
Miniatures Core Product
Star Trek: Into the Unknown – Federation vs. Dominion Core Set – WizKids
Designers: Max Brooke & Michael Gernes
Miniatures
Fool’s Gold Miniature – Tarrasque (Gray)– Hit Point Press
Miniature Paints / Hobby Accessory
AK Interactive Real Colours Markers Set – AK Interactive
RPG Core Product
Yazeba’s Bed & Breakfast – Possum Creek Games
Designers: Mercedes Acosta, Jay Dragon, Lillie J. Harris & M Veselak
RPG Supplement
Call of Cthulhu: No Time to Scream – Chaosium Inc.
Designers: B.W. Holland, Bridgett Jeffries & C.L. Werner
This year’s honorees reflect the remarkable creativity, community spirit, and innovative evolution of the tabletop gaming world. Whether reimagining strategy or enhancing cooperative storytelling, these designers and publishers continue to elevate the industry.
