Berlin Studios Win Big at German Games Awards 2026
The Darkest Files is a narrative investigation game. Players actively take on the role of the prosecutor and make decisions that influence the outcome of the trial. © Paintbucket Games
Berlin had a standout night at the 18th Deutscher Computerspielpreis on April 29 in Munich. According to Games Wirtschaft, two Berlin-based studios walked away with four trophies and a combined €220,000 in prize money.
Paintbucket Games pulled off a notable upset, winning "Best German Game" for the detective title The Darkest Files, beating pre-event favorite Anno 117: Pax Romana. The studio also claimed "Best Serious Game," bringing their total to €140,000.
Fellow Berlin studio Blue Backpack scored a double win with The Berlin Apartment, taking "Best Story" and "Best Graphic Design" for €80,000.
Across 15 categories, a total of €800,000 was distributed at the ceremony held at the Herkulessaal in Munich's Residenz. All prize money must be reinvested into new projects.
Berlin's Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey celebrated the results and confirmed that Berlin will host the event in 2027, with the award rotating between Munich and the capital going forward. She described the long-term hosting agreement as a strong signal for Germany's games industry and Berlin's growing reputation as "GamesCapitalBerlin."
The Deutscher Computerspielpreis, co-organized by the German federal government and the industry association Game, has been running since 2009.
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