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GUIDELINES
General Eligibility
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Eligible games, updates, collaborations, and creative works must have been publicly released or updated between January 2020 and August 2026.
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Early access, beta, limited regional releases, remasters, remakes, and substantial updates may qualify if content was publicly accessible during the eligibility period.
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Entries must demonstrate a meaningful contribution to fashion, visual identity, or self-expression within gaming culture.
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Submissions containing hateful or excessively violent content will not be considered.
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All entries are subject to review and may be declined if they do not meet category standards or community guidelines.
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Respect, inclusivity, and professional integrity are core values of the awards. Individuals with a documented history of hate speech or discriminatory behavior are ineligible.
Award Categories
Designer of the Year
Recognizes an individual Character Designer or Digital Designer whose body of work has significantly shaped fashion expression in games.
Eligibility
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Open to individual designers only; studio teams and collectives are not eligible.
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At least one qualifying work must have been released during the eligibility period.
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Judging considers the nominee’s broader body of work, not a single title.
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Designers working exclusively in pre-production are not eligible.
Judging Criteria
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Portfolio impact and influence
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Originality and creative identity
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Industry and community recognition
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Cultural relevance
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Versatility across projects
Example Nomination: Tetsuya Nomura — Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (2024)
Best-Dressed Hero
Honors a protagonist whose costume design elevates character storytelling through fashion-forward visual identity.
Eligibility
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Open to Character Designers, individuals, and small credited teams.
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Heroes or heroines must appear in a qualifying release or update during the eligibility period.
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Redesigns and updated appearances are eligible.
Judging Criteria
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Originality and boldness
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Fashion and narrative cohesion
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Innovation in silhouette, color, and texture
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Memorability and iconic presence
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Technical execution
Example Nomination: Link — The Legend of Zelda
Best-Dressed Villain
Celebrates an antagonist whose design transforms villainy into an iconic fashion statement.
Eligibility
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Open to Character Designers, individuals, and small credited teams.
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Villains must appear in a qualifying release or update during the eligibility period.
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Redesigns and updated appearances are eligible.
Judging Criteria
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Originality and visual impact
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Fashion alignment with character identity
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Innovative use of silhouette, texture, and color
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Cultural memorability
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Technical execution
Example Nomination: Delilah Copperspoon — Dishonored
Outstanding Character Design by a Woman
Recognizes women and gender-diverse designers whose work demonstrates exceptional artistry, storytelling, and creative vision.
Eligibility
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Open to individuals who identify as women, as well as non-binary and gender-nonconforming designers who feel the category reflects their identity.
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Studio teams are not eligible.
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Work must be publicly accessible and verifiable within the eligibility period.
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At least one qualifying title must fall within the eligibility window.
Judging Criteria
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Artistic vision and narrative depth
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Originality and ambition
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Cultural or social impact
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Technical excellence
Example Nomination: Natalie Pellmann — Seekers of Skyveil (2025)
Best Accessory Design
Honors a single in-game accessory that functions as both a design object and a defining fashion statement.
Eligibility
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Open to Prop Designers, Item Designers, individuals, and small credited teams.
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Accessories must be available to players during the eligibility period.
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Cosmetic and gameplay-function items are eligible.
Judging Criteria
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Creative originality
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Fashion-forward appeal
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Detail and craftsmanship
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Cultural relevance
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Contribution to overall character styling
Example Nomination: Iris Back Bling — Fortnite
Best Character Customization
Celebrates a character creation or wardrobe system that expands player creativity and self-expression.
Eligibility
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Open to Character Systems Designers, Gameplay Systems Designers, and Character Designers.
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Systems must appear in a qualifying release or substantial update during the eligibility period.
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Significant expansions to existing systems are eligible.
Judging Criteria
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Depth and flexibility of customization
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Ease of creative expression
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Fashion quality and variety
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Integration of user-generated tools or content
Example Nomination: Dragon Age: The Veilguard Character Creator — BioWare
Best Cultural Representation
Honors design work that authentically represents culture, identity, and community through thoughtful visual storytelling.
Eligibility
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Open to Character Designers, 3D Artists, Prop Designers, and small credited teams.
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Work must be publicly accessible during the eligibility period.
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Nominators are encouraged to include cultural context and evidence of community consultation.
Judging Criteria
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Authenticity and research depth
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Respectful and accurate representation
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Creative interpretation
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Community reception
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Contribution to inclusive design
Example Nomination: Ebonix — The Sims 4
Best Fashion Collaboration
Recognizes outstanding partnerships between game developers and fashion brands that create meaningful in-game experiences.
Eligibility
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Open to development teams, studios, and fashion brands.
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Collaborations must have launched publicly during the eligibility period.
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In-game content must be playable and accessible on at least one commercial platform.
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Marketing campaigns alone are not eligible.
Judging Criteria
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Quality of brand integration
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Creative ambition
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Cultural relevance
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Community engagement
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Commercial and creative success
Example Nomination: Fortnite x Balenciaga — Epic Games
Best Fashion-Gaming Influencer
Celebrates creators shaping the intersection of fashion and gaming through original content and community engagement.
Eligibility
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Must actively publish content during the eligibility period.
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Content must consistently focus on fashion and gaming culture.
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No minimum follower count required.
Judging Criteria
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Content quality and originality
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Audience engagement
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Distinct creative identity
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Cultural and industry influence
Example Nomination: @clovergirle — YouTube
Emote of the Year
Honors an in-game emote that became a defining cultural or fashion moment beyond gameplay.
Eligibility
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Open to Animators, Motion Designers, Motion Capture Artists, and small credited teams.
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Emotes must have been publicly accessible during the eligibility period.
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Seasonal and collaboration emotes are eligible.
Judging Criteria
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Originality and creativity
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Community and cultural impact
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Animation quality
Example Nomination: “Scenario” Emote — Fortnite
Best Indie Fashion Game
Celebrates independent studios creating fashion-driven experiences with strong artistic vision and originality.
Eligibility
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Open to independent studios and small developer teams.
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Games must have launched during the eligibility period on at least one commercial platform.
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Early access titles qualify if substantial fashion content was available.
Judging Criteria
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Fashion integration within gameplay or narrative
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Creative ambition
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Visual direction
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Narrative use of fashion
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Player and community reception
Example Nomination: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — Sandfall Interactive
Most Stylish Game
Recognizes a game whose overall visual direction demonstrates exceptional cohesion, originality, and fashion-driven worldbuilding.
Eligibility
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Open to game development teams and studios.
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Titles must have released or received a significant update during the eligibility period.
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Re-releases, remasters, and remakes qualify if they introduce substantial visual enhancements.
Judging Criteria
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Cohesion of visual direction
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Refinement of artistic identity
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Originality and innovation
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Cultural and aesthetic impact
Example Nomination: Cyberpunk 2077 — CD Projekt Red
Have a Question?
Visit our FAQ page for frequently asked questions, or contact our Director of Strategy and Content with any further questions on nominations, eligibility, criteria, timelines, and more.