Among Us

The 25th Annual Webby Awards is happy to honor Among Us and InnerSloth Games as the 2021 Webby Breakout of the Year for serving as the Internet’s “it” game that has kept players around the world connected, while at a distance. 

At a time when the online game industry is marked by oversaturation, it’s harder than ever to stand out with a new game that becomes part of pop culture. But Among Us has done exactly that, with nearly 500 million monthly players as of November 2020. The game is a cultural phenomenon that quickly became the main social platform for young people to meet and hang out with friends, in the absence of in-person hangouts due to the global pandemic. By making Among Us free on mobile and only $5 on PC, InnerSloth has created an accessible game that serves as a digital space for twelve players at a time to continue socializing, read others’ personalities, and make new friends. Even more, the game has garnered the attention from political figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to reach young people and encourage civic engagement. 

Among Us embraces and demonstrates what’s most exciting about the promise of the Internet: that people will continue to innovate and create digital experiences for people to communicate, enjoy themselves, and stay connected. For being a cultural phenomenon that has sparked joy for millions of players in the midst of a difficult year, it is our pleasure to honor Among Us as the 2021 Webby Breakout of the Year.