XYZZY Awards (Best Individual NPC)

Browse the XYZZY Awards either by year:

• 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or by category:

• Best Game | Best Writing | Best Story | Best Setting | Best Puzzles | Best NPCs | Best Individual Puzzle | Best Individual NPC | Best Individual PC | Best Use of Medium (1997–2009) | Best Implementation (2010–) | Best Use of Innovation (2010–) | Best Technological Development (2010–) | Best Supplemental Materials (2010–2013) | Best Use of Multimedia (2014–) | Other awards

See also:

• Statistics

Best Individual NPC Winners

• 1996 Best Individual NPC Three-way tie:
  • The burin, in Frobozz Magic Support (Nate Cull; TADS 2).
  • Evan, in Kissing the Buddha's Feet (Leon Lin; TADS 2).
  • The Devil in Small World (Andrew Pontious; TADS 2).
• 1997 Best Individual NPC: Bob, in She's Got a Thing for a Spring (Brent VanFossen; Z-code).
• 1998 Best Individual NPC: The interrogator, in Spider and Web (Andrew Plotkin; Z-code).
• 1999 Best Individual NPC: Miss Sierra, in Varicella (Adam Cadre; Z-code).
• 2000 Best Individual NPC: Galatea, in Galatea (Emily Short; Z-code).
• 2001 Best Individual NPC: Yehoweh Porn, in Fallacy of Dawn (Robb Sherwin; Hugo).
• 2002 Best Individual NPC: Boldo in Lock & Key (Adam Cadre; Glulx).
• 2003 Best Individual NPC: Triage in Slouching Towards Bedlam (Daniel Ravipinto and Star Foster; Z-code).
• 2004 Best Individual NPC: Audrey in Necrotic Drift (Robb Sherwin; Hugo).
• 2005 Best Individual NPC: The storyteller in Whom the Telling Changed (Aaron A. Reed; Z-code).
• 2006 Best Individual NPC: Leela in The Elysium Enigma (Eric Eve; TADS 3).
• 2007 Best Individual NPC: The gnome in Lost Pig (Admiral Jota as "Grunk"; Z-code).
• 2008 Best Individual NPC: Violet in Violet (Jeremy Freese; Z-code).
• 2009 Best Individual NPC: Snow White in Alabaster (John Cater, Rob Dubbin, Eric Eve, Elizabeth Heller, Jayzee, Kazuki Mishima, Sarah Morayati, Mark Musante, Emily Short, Adam Thornton, and Ziv Wities; Glulx).
• 2010 Best Individual NPC: Dr Sliss in Rogue of the Multiverse (C.E.J. Pacian; TADS 3).
• 2011 Best Individual NPC: Grimloft in Cryptozookeeper (Robb Sherwin; Hugo).
• 2012 Best Individual NPC: New Rat City in rat chaos (J Chastain, Twine).
• 2013 Best Individual NPC: Captain Verdeterre in Captain Verdeterre's Plunder (Ryan Veeder; Glulx).
• 2014 Best Individual NPC: The Empress in With Those We Love Alive (Porpentine, Brenda Neotenomie; Web browser)
• 2015 Best Individual NPC: Bell Park in Birdland (Brendan Patrick Hennessy; 01-Oct-2015; Web browser).
• 2016 Best Individual NPC: The robot in The Mary Jane of Tomorrow (Emily Short; 05-Jun-2016; Glulx).
• 2017 Best Individual NPC: Squire Tuck in The Wizard Sniffer (Buster Hudson; 01-Oct-2017; Glulx).
• 2018 Best Individual NPC: The Bogeyman in Bogeyman (Elizabeth Smyth; 01-Oct-2018; Web browser).
• 2019 Best Individual NPC: Turandot in Turandot (Victor Gijsbers) (01-Oct-2019; Choicescript).
• 2020 Best Individual NPC: the parrot in The Magpie Takes the Train (MathBrush) (01-Oct-2020; Glulx), and Kingfisher in Vain Empires (Thomas Mack, Xavid) (01-Oct-2020; Glulx).

Best Individual NPC Winners and Finalists

• 1996 Best Individual NPC: The burin, in Frobozz Magic Support (Nate Cull; TADS 2);
  also Evan, in Kissing the Buddha's Feet (Leon Lin; TADS 2);
  and The Devil in Small World (Andrew Pontious; TADS 2). (It was a three-way tie.)
  • Finalist: Leo the Lemming, in Phlegm (Jason Dyer; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Christopher Robin, in Ralph (Miron Schmidt; Z-code).
• 1997 Best Individual NPC: Bob, in She's Got a Thing for a Spring (Brent VanFossen; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The Stranger, in The Edifice (Lucian P. Smith; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The Taco Junta girl, in I-0 (Adam Cadre; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The cow, in The Lost Spellmaker (Neil James Brown; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The devil, in Sins Against Mimesis (Adam Thornton; Z-code).
• 1998 Best Individual NPC: The interrogator, in Spider and Web (Andrew Plotkin; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Michael, in Anchorhead (Michael Gentry; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The troll, in Enlightenment (Taro Ogawa; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The wolf, in Mother Loose (Irene Callaci; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Alley, in Photopia (Adam Cadre; Z-code).
• 1999 Best Individual NPC: Miss Sierra, in Varicella (Adam Cadre; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Anatoly Domokov, in Exhibition (Ian Finley; TADS 2).
  • Finalist: The wumpus, in Hunter, in Darkness (Andrew Plotkin; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Princess Charlotte, in Varicella (Adam Cadre; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Lyric/Echo, in Worlds Apart (Suzanne Britton; TADS 2).
• 2000 Best Individual NPC: Galatea, in Galatea (Emily Short; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The King, in Augmented Fourth (Brian Uri; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Melvin, in Being Andrew Plotkin (J. Robinson Wheeler; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The alien, in Fail-Safe (Jon Ingold; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Angel, in My Angel (Jon Ingold; Z-code).
• 2001 Best Individual NPC: Yehoweh Porn, in Fallacy of Dawn (Robb Sherwin; Hugo).
  • Finalist: Grant Stern, in Best of Three (Emily Short; Glulx).
  • Finalist: The droke, in The Gostak (Carl Muckenhoupt; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Space Moose, in Stiffy Makane: The Undiscovered Country (Adam Thornton; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Cheryl, in The Weapon (Sean Barrett; Z-code).
• 2002 Best Individual NPC: Boldo in Lock & Key (Adam Cadre; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Emily in Earth and Sky 2: Another Earth, Another Sky (Paul O'Brian; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Musculo in Lock & Key (Adam Cadre; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Charles in The Temple (Johan Berntsson; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Nebusan Sedonkawa in When Help Collides (J. D. Berry; Z-code).
• 2003 Best Individual NPC: Triage in Slouching Towards Bedlam (Daniel Ravipinto and Star Foster; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The bookseller in City of Secrets (Emily Short; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Corvallis Oregon in Narcolepsy (Adam Cadre; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Iona in Scavenger (Quintin Stone; TADS 2).
  • Finalist: Galen in Shadows on the Mirror (Chrysoula Tzavelas; TADS 3).
• 2004 Best Individual NPC: Audrey in Necrotic Drift (Robb Sherwin; Hugo).
  • Finalist: Bob Finger in Future Boy! (Kent Tessman; Hugo).
  • Finalist: Jacek in Gamlet (Tomasz Pudlo; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Dr. Todd in The Great Xavio (Reese Warner; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Xojo in Return to Ditch Day (Michael J. Roberts; TADS 3).
• 2005 Best Individual NPC: The storyteller in Whom the Telling Changed (Aaron A. Reed; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Agrath in All Hope Abandon (Eric Eve; TADS 3).
  • Finalist: Ralph in Flat Feet (Joel Ray Holveck; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Val in Gilded (John Evans as "A Hazard"; TADS 2).
  • Finalist: Cecilia in Vespers (Jason Devlin; Z-code).
• 2006 Best Individual NPC: Leela in The Elysium Enigma (Eric Eve; TADS 3).
  • Finalist: The butler in Aunts and Butlers (Robin Johnson; Versificator).
  • Finalist: John in Legion (Jason Devlin as "Ian Anderson"; Z-code).
  • Finalist: God in The Bible Retold (Justin Morgan and "Celestianpower"; Z-code).
  • Finalist: The gargoyle in The Baron a.k.a. De Baron (Victor Gijsbers; Z-code; English and Dutch).
• 2007 Best Individual NPC: The gnome in Lost Pig (Admiral Jota as "Grunk"; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Zoe in Child's Play (Stephen Granade; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Gunwar in Treasures of a Slaver's Kingdom (S. John Ross; publisher: Cumberland Games; Z-code).

(Note that there were only three nominations for Best Individual NPC in 2007.)

• 2008 Best Individual NPC: Violet in Violet (Jeremy Freese; Z-code).
  • Finalist: H.R. in Escapade! (Juhana Leinonen; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Solemn Gertrude in Gun Mute (C.E.J. Pacian; TADS 3).
  • Finalist: Your Pet in Snack Time! ("Hardy the Bulldog" and Renee Choba; Z-code).
• 2009 Best Individual NPC: Snow White in Alabaster (John Cater, Rob Dubbin, Eric Eve, Elizabeth Heller, Jayzee, Kazuki Mishima, Sarah Morayati, Mark Musante, Emily Short, Adam Thornton, and Ziv Wities; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Lottie's mom in Broken Legs (Sarah Morayati; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Progue in Blue Lacuna (Aaron A. Reed; Glulx).
• 2010 Best Individual NPC: Dr Sliss in Rogue of the Multiverse (C.E.J. Pacian; TADS 3).
  • Finalist: Gaspar in The Bible Retold: Following a Star (Justin Morgan; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Mariel in Mariel (Michael Baltes; Z-code; German).
  • Finalist: The monkey-thing in Aotearoa (Matt Wigdahl; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Muddy in Hoosegow (Ben Collins-Sussman and Jack Welch; Z-code).
• 2011 Best Individual NPC: Grimloft in Cryptozookeeper (Robb Sherwin).
  • Finalist: Heather in Zombie Exodus (Jim Dattilo).
  • Finalist: The puppy in Beet the Devil (Carolyn VanEseltine).
  • Finalist: Zuleika in Taco Fiction (Ryan Veeder).
• 2012 Best Individual NPC: New Rat City from rat chaos (J Chastain, Twine).
  • Finalist: Kadro from Andromeda Dreaming (Joey Jones, Glulx).
  • Finalist: W.D. from Speculative Fiction (Diane Christoforo and Thomas Mack, Z-code).
• 2013 Best Individual NPC: Captain Verdeterre in Captain Verdeterre's Plunder (Ryan Veeder; Glulx).
  • Finalist: -bitmap-zer0- in Bell Park, Youth Detective (Brendan Patrick Hennessy; Web browser).
  • Finalist: Mercy in Coloratura (Lynnea Glasser; Glulx).
  • Finalist: the ghost in Faithful Companion (Matt Weiner; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Your horse in Horse Master (Tom McHenry; Web browser).
• 2014 Best Individual NPC: The Empress in With Those We Love Alive (Porpentine, Brenda Neotenomie; Web browser)
  • Finalist: Macy in Venus Meets Venus (kaleidofish; Web browser)
  • Finalist: The monkey in Monkey and Bear (Carolyn VanEseltine; Glulx, Z-code)
  • Finalist: Your robot in Choice of Robots (Kevin Gold; ChoiceScript)
• 2015 Best Individual NPC: Bell Park in Birdland (Brendan Patrick Hennessy; 01-Oct-2015; Web browser).
  • Finalist: Dmitri in Midnight. Swordfight. (Chandler Groover)
  • Finalist: Hana in Hana Feels (Gavin Inglis)
  • Finalist: Winter Storm Draco in Winter Storm Draco (Ryan Veeder)
• 2016 Best Individual NPC: The robot (variously-named) in The Mary Jane of Tomorrow (Emily Short)
  • Finalist: Dr. Sourpuss in Dr. Sourpuss Is Not A Choice-Based Game (P.B. Parjeter)
  • Finalist: Holly in Foo Foo (Buster Hudson)
  • Finalist: The mirror in Mirror and Queen (Chandler Groover)
• 2017 Best Individual NPC: Squire Tuck in The Wizard Sniffer (Buster Hudson)
  • Finalist: Anja Kaczmarek in Known Unknowns (Brendan Patrick Hennessy)
  • Finalist: Kaz Kaczmarek in Known Unknowns (Brendan Patrick Hennessy)
  • Finalist: The narrator in Eat Me (Chandler Groover)
  • Finalist: Olivia Kwon in Known Unknowns (Brendan Patrick Hennessy)
• 2018 Best Individual NPC: The Bogeyman in Bogeyman (Elizabeth Smyth)
  • Finalist: Arthur the cat in Charming (Kaylah Facey)
  • Finalist: Colin Ritman in Bandersnatch ([[Charlie Brooker, David Slade)
  • Finalist: Crystal in Illuminismo Iniziato (Michael J. Coyne)
  • Finalist: Lemmy in Terminal Interface for Models RCM301-303 (Victor Gijsbers as "VigiMech Corporation")
  • Finalist: Ruslan in I.A.G. Alpha (Serhii Mozhaiskyi)
• 2019 Best Individual NPC: Turandot in Turandot (Victor Gijsbers)
  • Finalist: Kim Kitsuragi in Disco Elysium (ZA/UM)
  • Finalist: The mother in Night Guard / Morning Star (Astrid Dalmady)
  • Finalist: Pontiff Apocrita in Heretic’s Hope (G.C. Baccaris)
• 2020 Best Individual NPC: The parrot in The Magpie Takes the Train (MathBrush) and Kingfisher in Vain Empires (Thomas Mack, Xavid)
  • Finalist: Sassy Britches in Stuff of Legend (Lance Campbell)
  • Finalist: Sister in Lore Distance Relationship (Naomi “Bez” Norbez)

Links

• XYZZY Award for Best Individual NPC at Wikipedia.