Two BIGEM-backed indies nominated for 2026 Korea Game Awards

Two indie games supported by Pearl Abyss's BIGEM program have been named in the indie game category of the 2026 Korea Game Awards, according to inews24.com. The titles are Stardust: The Witch and the Stars and Stepper Retro: Psychic Detective Quest.

The awards, organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency, will be held in Busan on November 18. A total of 13 categories will be handed out, including the grand prize, top excellence, excellence, technology and creation, popular game and indie game awards, with total prize money of 30 million won.

Stardust: The Witch and the Stars, a PC turn-based single-player SRPG from Knives Studio, was released in May 2026. As of September 2026 it had sold more than 30,000 copies, held an 80% positive rating across 743 Steam user reviews and passed 160,000 Steam wishlist registrations.

Stepper Retro: Psychic Detective Quest, a PC adventure game from Team Tetraport, launched in July 2026. It holds a "Very Positive" Steam user rating and entered the Gold Hall of Fame of Famitsu's cross review section, and its developer signed a global publishing contract with Gamepia.

Three years of BIGEM winners

Pearl Abyss has jointly run BIGEM with the Game Culture Foundation, the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency and the Busan Indie Connect Festival organizing committee since 2022. Over four years, 44 indie developers took part, with 12 companies added in the fifth cohort this year.

A BIGEM-selected title has won the indie game prize for three consecutive years: Devil Within: Satgat in 2023, Terminus: Zombie Survivors in 2024 and Shape of Dreams in 2025. Pearl Abyss's own Crimson Desert, built on its BlackSpace engine, is cited as a strong candidate for the grand prize; it surpassed 6 million cumulative sales 83 days after its March 2026 release.