XYZZY Awards (Best Use of Innovation)

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

The Best Use of Innovation award honors the year's most innovative work of interactive fiction.

Note: The Best Implementation and Best Use of Innovation awards replace the Best Use of Medium award, beginning with XYZZY Awards 2010.

Best Use of Innovation Winners

• 2010 Best Use of Innovation: Aotearoa (Matt Wigdahl; Glulx).
• 2011 Best Use of Innovation: Kerkerkruip (Victor Gijsbers).
• 2012 Best Use of Innovation: First Draft of the Revolution (Emily Short, Liza Daly and Inkle).
• 2013 Best Use of Innovation: 18 Cadence (Aaron A. Reed; iPad and Web browser).
• 2014 Best Use of Innovation: Hadean Lands (Andrew Plotkin; Glulx, iOS)
• 2015 Best Use of Innovation: Laid Off from the Synesthesia Factory (Katherine Morayati; 01-Oct-2015; Glulx).

Best Use of Innovation Winners and Finalists

• 2010 Best Use of Innovation: Aotearoa (Matt Wigdahl; Glulx).
  • Finalist: > by @ (Aaron A. Reed; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Rogue of the Multiverse (C.E.J. Pacian; TADS 3).
• 2011 Best Use of Innovation: Kerkerkruip (Victor Gijsbers).
  • Finalist: maybe make some change (Aaron A. Reed).
  • Finalist: Zombie Exodus (Jim Dattilo).
• 2012 Best Use of Innovation: First Draft of the Revolution (Emily Short, Liza Daly and Inkle).
  • Finalist: Counterfeit Monkey (Emily Short, Glulx).
  • Finalist: Guilded Youth (Jim Munroe, Z-code).
  • Finalist: howling dogs (Porpentine, Twine).
• 2013 Best Use of Innovation: 18 Cadence (Aaron A. Reed; iPad and Web browser).
  • Finalist: Castle of the Red Prince (C.E.J. Pacian; Z-code).
  • Finalist: Ex Nihilo (Juhana Leinonen; Web browser).
  • Finalist: Final Girl (Hanon Ondricek; Web browser).
  • Finalist: Sorcery! (Steve Jackson and inkle; smartphone).
  • Finalist: Trapped in Time (Simon Christiansen; PDF).
• 2014 Best Use of Innovation: Hadean Lands (Andrew Plotkin; Glulx, iOS)
  • Finalist: AlethiCorp (Simon Christiansen; Web browser)
  • Finalist: An Earth Turning Slowly (Mæja Stefánsson; Web browser)
  • Finalist: With Those We Love Alive (Porpentine, Brenda Neotenomie; Web browser)
• 2015 Best Use of Innovation: Laid Off from the Synesthesia Factory (Katherine Morayati; 01-Oct-2015; Glulx).
  • Finalist: Aspel (Emily Short)
  • Finalist: Midnight. Swordfight. (Chandler Groover)
  • Finalist: SPY INTRIGUE (furkle)
  • Finalist: Sunless Sea (Failbetter Games)