The dreamy platformer snagged trophies for Best Art Direction, Best Music/Sound Design, and People’s Voice Best Art Direction at the awards honoring the "Best of the Internet."
Hoa, a game produced by Vietnam's PM Studios and Skrollcat Studio, has been captivating gamers around the world since its release in August 2021 and was recently honored with three prestigious Webby Awards.
The game's ethereal, hand-painted scenery and soothing live-recorded score have inspired comparisons to Studio Ghibli films and earned praise from players in search of a peaceful gaming experience. The subtle storytelling and light exploration-based puzzles are just the icing on top.
Webby's criteria for Best Art Direction are simply: "A game whose visual style and language is distinctly unique and elevates the overall game experience." Voters agreed with the views of the judges and made Hoa the winner of the People's Voice category as well. The description of Best Music/Sound Design is similarly broad, taking into account "outstanding audio, including score, original song, soundtrack, and sound design."
The Hoa score by its composer Johannes aka Akmigone via his YouTube channel.
After the award winners were announced, the team behind Hoa posted a straightforward, heartfelt message on their Facebook Page: "Sending our love to everyone who voted and shared, press and friends who helped spread the word. We wouldn't be here without you."
From apps to websites to podcasts, since 1997, the Webby Awards have been honoring all things internet including video games. The award is given by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences through a judging body made up of over 2,000 industry experts and innovators.
Read Saigoneer's review of Hoa here.
Hoa is available on PC, MacOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Visit the game's Steam page for more details.
