iPhone puzzlers Cut the Rope and Helsing’s Fire take home awards at GDC and IGF

GDC features a pair of award ceremonies alongside its many hands-on games and star-studded developer panels.

ZeptoLab’s innovative smartphone puzzle game Cut the Rope won the award for best handheld game at the show’s all-inclusive Game Developers Choice awards. It beat out PSP hits God of War: Ghost of Sparta and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, DS role player Dragon Quest IX and mobile sim Game Dev Story.

World-building indie favourite Minecraft, which is coming to iOS and Android later this year, won Best Downloadable Game, Best Debut Game, and the mighty Innovation Award.

As for indie flare, the best mobile game award at the Independent Games Festival went to iPhone head scratcher Helsing’s Fire. It got the nod ahead of indie darlings like Colorbind, Halcyon, Shot Shot Shoot, and Solipskier.

Flick Kick Football, Shibuya, Spirits, Tentacles, and Trainyard were honorable mentions. The ever popular Minecraft also took home another two awards: the Audience Award and the Grand Prize, netting the Swedish developer a cool $22,500.