SXSW Gaming Awards finalists: 'The Witcher 3,' 'Bloodborne,' 'Metal Gear Solid V,' 'Undertale,' 'Ori'Mumbai, Jan 28(AZINS) Some of the biggest and smallest games of 2015 are placed on equal footing, as nominations are announced for the SXSW Gaming Awards on March 19.

Ninety-six games have been named as finalists, with 40 of them booked to show at the annual gaming expo in Austin, Texas and eligible for one of two public vote awards as a result.

In the running for SXSW's top Game of the Year award are titles whose budgets ranged from $51,000 ("Undertale") to an estimated $80 million ("Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.")

Going into the ceremony with the most nominations will be "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt," a May 2015 release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PCs whose post-release content has achieved the rare feat of being as good as, if not better than, the original highly praised action-adventure.

As well as a nomination for the Game of the Year award, it also received nods in Gameplay, Art, Technical Achievement, Visual Achievement, Narrative, Musical Score, and Most Enduring Character.

Also among the top achievers on SXSW's list are the PlayStation 4's slice of meticulously crafted Victoriana, "Bloodborne," the $80m+ action-stealth epic "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain," and the quirky $51k "Undertale," one of 2015's bigger surprises which turned the role-playing genre on its head with an emphasis on conflict resolution not through fighting but through conversation.

Joining the quartet in the GOTY category is the sprawling post-apocalyptic journey of discovery, "Fallout 4."

"Bloodborne" collected six nominations overall; "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, "Undertale" and "Ori and the Blind Forest" are on five; and "Her Story" and "Rise of the Tomb Raider" stand on four apiece.

Those with nominations in Gameplay, Art, Technical Achievement, Design, Musical Score or New IP (i.e., not part of an existing franchise) appeared more likely to become Game of the Year candidates.

Other categories included Mobile Game of the Year, whose nominees are spelunking challenge "Downwell," post-apoc bunker manager "Fallout Shelter," archive investigation "Her Story," turn-by-turn archaeological adventure "Lara Croft GO" and outer space hijacking challenge "SteamWorld Heist."

Recognized in the field of Cultural Innovation are retro online chat experience "Emily is Away," the abandoned village exploration of "Everybody's Gone to the Rapture," "Her Story," time-traveling teen friendship story "Life is Strange," plus the previously mentioned "Her Story" and "Undertale."

A full list of nominees can be found at sxsw.com/interactive/awards/gaming#finalists