The Game Awards 2024 Nominations: A Comprehensive Overview
The Game Awards, often dubbed the “Oscars of gaming,” has announced its shortlist for this year’s ceremony, with Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth leading the pack with seven nominations each, including the prestigious Game of the Year award.
The event, scheduled for December 12th, attracts massive global attention, with an estimated 118 million livestream viewers last year. A panel of 130 games media outlets and content creators will vote on the winners, with fan input also considered.
Game of the Year Contenders:
1. Astro Bot
A celebration of PlayStation’s 30-year history, this 3D platformer has been praised for its inventive gameplay and technical showcase on the PlayStation 5. It’s a delightful reminder of gaming’s joy, with impressive physics effects and an upbeat, old-school vibe. The game is also nominated in multiple categories, including best game direction and best art direction.
2. Balatro
Created by a solo developer known as LocalThunk, this innovative card game could make history as the first indie title to win Game of the Year without major publisher backing. Players create poker hands using 150 unique joker cards that modify rules and multiply scores in creative ways.
3. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
The second part of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy, Rebirth expanded on the original with extensive side content and mini-games. Despite some criticism of its graphical performance and story modifications, it remains a strong contender, especially after being voted “most anticipated” game last year.
4. Metaphor: ReFantazio
From the creators of Persona 5, this Medieval fantasy RPG has been praised for its storytelling and handling of complex themes like racism and politics. It was a commercial success, with publisher Atlus reporting 1 million sales on launch day.
5. Black Myth: Wukong
Based on the Chinese mythological novel Journey to the West, this action-adventure game was a massive hit in China and gained popularity internationally. While its critical reception was mixed, it’s praised for stunning visuals and combat mechanics.
6. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
This downloadable content for the 2022 Game of the Year winner has sparked debate about expansion eligibility. Currently the best-reviewed title of 2024, it offers dozens of hours of challenging gameplay typical of developer From Software.
Additional Notable Mentions:
– Animal Well, despite not receiving a Game of the Year nomination, is up for best indie debut and best independent game.
– Hellblade 2: Senua’s Saga received nominations for audio design, narrative, and performance.
The Game Awards continues to be a significant event in the gaming industry, celebrating creativity, innovation, and excellence in video game development.
