Culture & Entertainment
Talmyn Pick: Mina the Hollower for Talmyn Game of the Year
An editorial spotlight on Mina the Hollower, a small-team pixel-art game that critics rated among the best releases of the…
Talmyn Game of the Year
An annual pick for the game that made the strongest overall case this year — design, mechanics, and what it's actually like to play, indie or major studio alike.
What this offers
A design-literate feature
We write about what the mechanics actually do, not just tone and vibes.
Indie games welcome
A strong indie title gets the same consideration as a major studio release.
No cost to nominate
Free to submit a nomination.
Discovery value
A permanent feature that helps a smaller title actually get found.
Who this is for
Anyone with a specific case for a game released or majorly updated this year — players, developers, and critics alike.
How it works
- Nominate a game. Title, platform, and the specific case for it.
- An editor plays or researches it. Reviews, gameplay footage, and available coverage.
- Strong nominees are featured. Added to the current year's list.
- The year's pick is announced. A full feature on why it won.
Rules & eligibility
- This is free to enter, and always will be — we never charge a submission fee.
- No age, location, industry, or follower-count requirement. Selection is about the work itself, not who you are.
- Submitting doesn't guarantee publication or a reply beyond the automatic confirmation — we get more submissions than we can feature, and we'd rather say that upfront than overpromise.
- One nomination per person or company at a time. If yours isn't selected this round, you're welcome to be nominated again later.
- Selection is editorial, not a public vote — we're not obligated to name a winner every single cycle if nothing meets the bar.
How do I actually apply?
I explain what specific mechanic or design decision makes this game stand out — not just that it's fun, but what it does differently from similar games in its genre.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost anything to submit?
No. It's free to submit to Talmyn Game of the Year, and free to be featured if selected. We don't charge for consideration, and we never will.
How long does it take to hear back?
If your nomination is selected, you'll hear from an editor directly. If it isn't, we don't send a rejection notice — the volume we receive makes that impractical.
Can I submit on behalf of someone else?
Only with their knowledge and involvement — we want the real details, and that usually means hearing from the person or team directly.
What happens if I'm not selected?
Nothing gets published without being selected first. Unselected submissions simply aren't used, and you're welcome to submit again later.
Does this run every year?
Yes — Talmyn Game of the Year is evergreen. It runs all year, every year, with no deadline to catch.
Selection is editorial and unpaid on both sides — no one is charged to submit, and no one is paid for work we publish. Talmyn's editorial standards apply the same way here as everywhere else on the site.
Submit
Current nominees