“Middara” Wins “Hardcore of the Year” at the Annual Geek Media Awards

The board game Middara: Unintentional Malum. Act 1, published by Hobby World, won the 2026 Geek Media Awards in the Hardcore Game of the Year category. This is the publisher’s second consecutive win in this category: in 2025, the award went to Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood. Both games offer players epic adventures in which the development of the story is closely tied to the decisions made at the gaming table.

Middara: Unintentional Malum. Act 1 is a cooperative board game inspired by Japanese role-playing video games. Players take on the roles of wandering heroes whose fates become intertwined with that of Princess Nightingale as they set out to explore the mysterious dimension of Middara. They will meet allies, battle monsters and face difficult moral choices that will determine the future of the kingdom of Elenia and its inhabitants.

The adventure combines a branching storyline, character development and tactical battles. Heroes master abilities, find equipment and acquire loot that unlocks new possibilities for the entire party. Opponents act according to predetermined algorithms, so players must coordinate their actions, plan their movements and use their characters’ strengths at the right moment. The turn order changes each round, forcing the team to adapt to the situation.

Other winners included:

Decrypto: Anniversary Edition – Best Party Game;

Revival – Family Game of the Year

APEX Legends – Advanced Players’ Game of the Year

Captain Flip – Beginner Players’ Game of the Year

The Legacy of Eastbrook Hills – Best Domestic Design (by the way, Committee was also nominated in this category)