Sam Eng

After deliberation, the third Hodler Prize was awarded jointly to three narrative works: the podcast “Otherworld” by Jack Wagner, the video game “Skate Story” by Sam Eng, and the novel “Jaw Filler” by Charlie Markbreiter and Maz Murray. A special Witness Award is given to the documentary “2000 Meters to Andriivka” directed by Mstyslav Chernov.

« In Sam Eng’s darkly scintillating skater game, you play as a demon built from glass and pain who is hellbent on eating the moon. Set in a glittering dystopian world that riffs on the artist’s nuanced relationship with New York City, the game hard forks from the skating typology, offering up an evocative lore that’s equal turns satirical and tender. Set against a moody original score by Blood Cultures, the holographic, hallucinatory landscapes hand-built by the solo artist-developer leave a lasting impression, as does the game’s script and its cast of rogue characters, making this one of the best indie games in recent memory. » Alice Bucknell, Hodler Prize 003 Jury