At Gamescom Latam 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, "What the Car?" by Triband ApS took home the coveted "Best Mobile Game" award. This inaugural event, a collaboration with the BIG Festival, showcased Latin America's burgeoning gaming scene and celebrated global industry achievements.
The awards ceremony featured thirteen categories, with finalists selected by a panel of forty-nine judges. All nominees were playable on the show floor, a notable inclusion of mobile titles alongside PC games, highlighting the growing importance of the mobile gaming market. This integrated approach avoided the segregation often seen between mobile and PC games at similar events.
"What the Car?", previously featured in an article highlighting lesser-known gems, proved a deserving winner. Its success necessitates an update to that list, given its increased visibility. The article also highlights other noteworthy nominees, showcasing a variety of high-quality mobile gaming experiences: Junkworld (Ironhide Game Studio), Bella Pelo Mundo (Plot Kids), An Elmwood Trail (Techyonic), Sibel's Journey (Food for Thought Media), Residuum Tales of Coral (Iron Games), and SPHEX (VitalN).
Beyond "What the Car?", other award recipients included:
- Game of the Year: Chants of Sennar (Rundisc)
- Best Game from Latin America: Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure (Furniture & Mattress)
- Best Brazilian Game: Momodora: Moonlit Farewell (Bombservice)
- Best Casual Game: Station to Station (Galaxy Groove Studios)
- Best Audio: Dordogne (UMANIMATION and UN JE NE SAIS QUOI)
- Best Art: Harold Halibut (Slow Bros. UG.)
- Best Multiplayer: Extremely Powerful Capybaras (Studio Bravarda and PM Studios)
- Best Narrative: Once Upon A Jester (Bonte Avond)
- Best XR/VR: Sky Climb (VRMonkey)
- Best Gameplay: Pacific Drive (Ironwood Studios)
- Best Pitch from Regional Game Development Associations: Dark Crown (Hyper Dive Game Studio)
"What the Car?" is currently available on Apple Arcade, a subscription service costing $6.99 (or regional equivalent) per month.
