The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design (AAGAD) is a peer based network of gaming industry professionals whose mission is to promote innovation and excellence in design and production of games and game related materials.
The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design (AAGAD) is a peer based network of gaming industry professionals whose mission is to promote innovation and excellence in design and production of games and game related materials.
The Origins Awards were presented for the first time at the very first Origins Game Fair in Baltimore in 1975. The purpose of the awards is to recognize excellence in game design, and increase awareness and sales for the nominees, winners, the Origins convention, and hobby games in general.
Any publisher or designer can submit their products for consideration during the eligibility period. Submissions in each category are evaluated by a jury of industry professionals who choose their top products. These become the nominees, which are sent to the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design. The Academy places their votes by email and the winners are announced during the Awards ceremony.
During the show, attendees also have the opportunity to examine and even play the nominated titles in the Nominee Showcase Area, sponsored by Game Toppers. They are encouraged to vote for their Fan Favorite in each category, the winners of which are also announced during the Awards ceremony.
Honoring Innovation and Impact: Winners of the 48th Annual Origin Awards 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.
With more than 120 finalists across a dozen categories, the jury members of the Academy narrowed their selection down to the winning titles. 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.
Category | Game | Company | Designers |
Co-Op / Solo Game | Marvel: United Multiverse | CMON (Asmodee) | Andrea Chiarvesio & Eric M. Lang |
Best Gateway Game | Seaside | Hachette Boardgames USA | Bryan Burgoyne |
Best Light Strategy Game | Leaf | Weird City Games | |
Party Game | Flip 7 | The Op | Eric Olsen |
Heavy Strategy Game | Endeavor: Deep Sea | Burnt Island Games / KTBG | Carl de Visser & Jarrett Gray |
Light Strategy Game | Fromage | R2i | Matthew O'Malley & Ben Rosset |
Fixed Constructible Game | Compile: Main 1 | Greater Than Games | Micheal Yang |
Randomized Constructable Game | Magic: The Gathering - Bloomburrow Collector Booster Box | Wizards of the Coast | Wizards of the Coast |
Miniatures Core Product | Star Trek: Into the Unknown - Federation vs. Dominion Core Set | WizKids | Max Brooke & Michael Gernes |
Miniatures | Fool's Gold Monster - Tarrasque (Gray) | Hit Point Press | Hit Point Press |
Miniature Paints / Hobby Accessory | AK Interactive Real Colours Markers Set | AK Interactive | AK Interactive |
RPG Core Product | Yazeba's Bed & Breakfast | Possum Creek Games | Mercedes Acosta, Jay Dragon, Lillie J. Harris, and M Veselak |
RPG Supplement | Call of Cthulu: No Time to Scream | Chaosium Inc. | B.W. Holland, Bridget Jeffries, and C.L. Werner |
To see the full list of finalists by category for 2024, please click here.
Download the .pdf below to view the winners from past years!