BEST AUDIO DESIGN

RUNNER-UP CHICORY: A COLORFUL TALE

Developer Greg Lobanov, Alexis Dean-Jones, Lena Raine, Madeline Berger, A Shell In The Pit Publisher Finji

Format PC, PS4, PS5 The Artful Escape’s equal and opposite reaction, perhaps: a game about visual art that blesses the ears as much as the eyes. Lena Raine’s soundtrack is the star here, but there’s a loving attention to sound throughout including playable in-world instruments.

RUNNER-UP SABLE

Developer Shedworks Publisher Raw Fury Format PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series Sable’s art may be its most striking feature, but Martin Kvale’s exquisite sound design and the score from Michelle Zauner (aka Japanese Breakfast) kept us captivated by its world whenever bugs threatened to break its spell. Heartstring-tugger Better The Mask proved a pitch-perfect way to bring the title character’s journey to a moving, hopeful end.

WINNER JETT: THE FAR SHORE

Developer/publisher Superbrothers, Pine Scented Software Format PC, PS4, PS5 If Jim Guthrie’s sole, spine-tingling contribution sends Superbrothers’ divisive adventure soaring into space, Andrew ‘Scntfc’ Rohrmann’s remarkable score keeps it there. Rohrmann and Priscilla ‘Ghoulnoise’ Snow create a soundscape that leaves you in no doubt as to why these explorers found the planet’s ‘hymnwave’ signal so irresistible.