A remarkable success for Cologne Game Lab alumni: Tiny Bookshop by the Cologne-based studio neoludic games was named Best German Game 2025 at this year’s German Developer Award (Deutscher Entwicklerpreis). The studio swept all three categories in which it was nominated — Best German Game, Best Indie Game, and Best Art Direction — making Tiny Bookshop the standout winner of the evening.

The awards ceremony took place on December 2, 2025, in Cologne’s historic Gürzenich, where around 500 guests from the games industry, politics, and culture gathered to celebrate outstanding achievements in game development. The event was hosted by Daniel Budiman and Lynne Glaner.

With its atmospheric hand-drawn art style, poetic storytelling, and unique blend of digital gameplay and real-world reading culture, Tiny Bookshop captivated both the jury and the audience. The triple win underscores the creative excellence and strong artistic vision that define the studio’s work — and highlights once again the impact of CGL alumni within the international games landscape.