About The Playlin Awards

The Playlin Awards honor excellence in daily games and the evolving art of daily play. Originating from the traditions of print puzzles and evolving through the rise of the web and mobile gaming, daily games have become a defining feature of modern life as short, repeatable experiences that connect millions through challenge and play. Each award is called a Linny.

Our Mission

Our mission is to recognize the independent creators and creative studios defining the future of daily games and interactive culture. We aim to celebrate their craft, amplify their impact, and champion the growing community that makes daily play a meaningful part of modern life.

How It Works

The Playlin Awards are drawn from the Playlin library. If your game meets the criteria below, it’s already in the running for a nomination. There’s nothing to enter, submit, or pay for.

• Eligibility. A game is eligible if it’s web-based, free to play with no account required, ran as a daily game at some point in 2026 and is still playable, and was live on Playlin by October 5, 2026. Games meeting the eligibility criteria that go live after that date are eligible for 2027.
• Exclusions. Games made or maintained by a judge, or by the Playlin team or its founder, aren’t eligible. How we define a direct tie →
• Nominations. The Playlin editorial team reviews every eligible game in the library and selects the nominees in each category. We look for a clear idea, made with care, that still holds up on day 30. Popularity isn’t a factor in nominations (that’s what the Playlin 40 is for).
• Jury categories are decided by our judging panel, who name a winner and a runner-up in each:
  • Best Word Game
  • Best Math Game
  • Best Geography Game
  • Best Logic Puzzle
  • Best Visual Design
  • Outstanding Original Game. For a game built on an idea of its own: a mechanic or format you can’t fairly describe as a version of something else, executed well enough to hold up as a daily.
  • Game of the Year
  No judge has a direct tie to any nominated game. Meet the judges →
• Player categories are decided by public vote, with one winner in each:
  • Best Game to Pick Up and Play
  • The Speedrun Award
  • The TIL Award
  • Best Game to Test Your Patience
• The Players’ Choice Award is decided by public vote from across every nominee in the jury categories, with one winner.
• Winners will be announced in December 2026 and archived permanently on Playlin, alongside past years.