The Independent Games Festival often alerts gamers to some truly interesting and innovative titles. That will likely be the case again now that the finalists for the 2012 festival have been revealed.

Dear Esther, FEZ, Frozen Synapse, Johann Sebastian Joust, and Spelunky are the five nominees for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize. Previous winners of the award include indie hits such as Minecraft, Darwinia, and Gish.

Receiving the most nominations was Dear Esther with four. Spelunky followed closely behind with three, and Botanicula, FEZ, Frozen Synapse, Johann Sebastian Joust, and Waking Mars all received two nominations.

The awards ceremony will take place on March 7 at the Game Developers Conference.

The full list of nominees can be viewed below.

Seumas McNally Grand Prize:

Dear Esther

FEZ

Frozen Synapse

Johann Sebastian Joust

Spelunky

Excellence in Visual Art:

Botanicula

Dear Esther

Lume

Mirage

Wonderputt

Technical Excellence:

Antichamber

FEZ

Prom Week

Realm of the Mad God

Spelunky

Excellence In Design:

Atom Zombie Smasher

English Country Tune

Frozen Synapse

Gunpoint

Spelunky

Excellence in Audio:

Botanicula

Dear Esther

Pugs Luv Beats

To the Moon

Waking Mars

Best Mobile Game:

ASYNC Corp.

Beat Sneak Bandit

Faraway

Ridiculous Fishing

Waking Mars

Nuovo Award Finalists:

At a Distance

Dear Esther

Fingle

GIRP

Johann Sebastian Joust

Proteus

Storyteller

WAY

[Independent Games Festival]