The Game Awards 2024 Nominees: A Stellar Line-Up with a Controversial Pick
This year’s Game Awards nominees showcase a mix of industry heavyweights and innovative newcomers. Leading the nominations are Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, each securing seven nods. Titles like Metaphor: ReFantazio, Black Myth: Wukong, and Balatro also stand out with multiple nominations.
The Game of the Year (GOTY) category has sparked the most discussion, featuring:
- Astro Bot (Team Asobi)
- Balatro (LocalThunk/Playstack)
- Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (FromSoftware)
- Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth (Square Enix)
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero)
While most nominees received praise, the inclusion of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, a DLC expansion, as a contender for GOTY has divided fans and critics alike.
The DLC Debate: Should Expansions Be Eligible for GOTY?
The controversy centers on Shadow of the Erdtree, a DLC for Elden Ring, which won GOTY in 2022. Critics argue that DLCs, remakes, and expansions shouldn’t compete with fully-fledged games in the industry’s most prestigious category. The Game Awards updated their FAQ this year to clarify that such content is eligible, stating their intent to recognize “creative and technical work, irrespective of the format of release.”
However, fans took to platforms like Reddit and Twitter/X to express frustration. Many believe this inclusion undermines the spirit of the category, which traditionally celebrates standalone releases. A viral tweet encapsulated the sentiment: “It’s called GAME of the year, not DLC of the year.”
Game Awards Voting Process: The Public vs. The Jury
Adding to the debate is criticism of the Game Awards voting system. The current process allocates 90% of the decision-making power to a jury composed of over 130 media outlets, with just 10% left to public votes. While this approach ensures industry expertise, many fans feel sidelined, arguing that the audience—gamers themselves—should have a more significant say in deciding winners.
Public perception is further complicated by the jury’s composition, which includes non-gaming-centric outlets like The Atlantic and The Guardian. Critics claim this dilutes the authenticity of the awards, as gaming enthusiasts and industry professionals often hold differing perspectives on what defines excellence in the medium.
Notable Categories and Nominees
Beyond GOTY, The Game Awards 2024 highlight a variety of categories celebrating different facets of gaming:
Best Game Direction
- Astro Bot
- Balatro
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
Best Narrative
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Silent Hill 2
Best Art Direction
- Astro Bot
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Neva
Best Score and Music
- Astro Bot
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Silent Hill 2
- Stellar Blade
Best Audio Design
- Astro Bot
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Silent Hill 2
Best Performance
- Briana White as Aerith Gainsborough – Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Hannah Telle as Max Caulfield – Life Is Strange: Double Exposure
- Humberly González as Kay Vess – Star Wars Outlaws
- Luke Roberts as James Sunderland – Silent Hill 2
- Melina Juergens as Senua – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Games for Impact
- Closer the Distance
- Indika
- Neva
- Life Is Strange: Double Exposure
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Tales of Kenzera: Zau
Best Independent Game
- Animal Well
- Balatro
- Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
- Neva
- UFO 50
Best Debut Indie Game
- Animal Well
- Balatro
- Manor Lords
- Pacific Drive
- The Plucky Squire
Best Ongoing Game
- Destiny 2: The Final Shape
- Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred
- Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail
- Fortnite
- Helldivers II
Best Community Support
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail
- Fortnite
- Helldivers II
- No Man’s Sky
Best Mobile Game
- AFK Journey
- Balatro
- Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket
- Wuthering Waves
- Zenless Zone Zero
Best VR/AR Game
- Arizona Sunshine Remake
- Asgard’s Wrath 2
- Batman: Arkham Shadow
- Metal: Hellsinger VR
- Metro Awakening
Best Action Game
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Helldivers II
- Stellar Blade
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Best Action/Adventure Game
- Astro Bot
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
- Silent Hill 2
- Star Wars Outlaws
Best Role Playing Game
- Dragon’s Dogma 2
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
Best Fighting Game
- Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
- Granblue Fantasy Versus
- Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
- MultiVersus
- Tekken 8
Best Family Game
- Astro Bot
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
- The Plucky Squire
- Princess Peach: Showtime!
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
Best Sim / Strategy Game
- Age of Mythology: Retold
- Frostpunk 2
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
- Manor Lords
- Unicorn Overlord
Best Sports / Racing Game
- F1 24
- EA Sports FC 25
- NBA 2K25
- TopSpin 2K25
- WWE 2K24
Best Multiplayer
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Helldivers II
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
- Tekken 8
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Innovation in Accessibility
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
- Star Wars Outlaws
Best Adaptation
- Arcane (animated series)
- Fallout (television series)
- Knuckles (television series)
- Like a Dragon: Yakuza (television series)
- Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (animated series)
Most Anticipated Game
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Grand Theft Auto VI
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
- Monster Hunter Wilds
Best Esports Game
- Counter-Strike 2
- Dota 2
- League of Legends
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- Valorant
Best Esports Athlete
- Neta “33” Shapira
- Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen
- Jung “Chovy” Ji-hoon
- Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok
- Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
- Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang
Best Esports Team
- Bilibili Gaming (League of Legends)
- Gen.G (League of Legends)
- Natus Vincere (Counter-Strike 2)
- T1 (League of Legends)
- Team Liquid (Dota 2)
Content Creator of the Year
- CaseOh
- IlloJuan
- Techno Gamerz
- Typical Gamer
- Usada Pekora
Sony Interactive Entertainment dominates this year with 16 nominations, followed by Square Enix and Xbox, each earning 12. The focus on video game adaptations in categories like “Best Adaptation” also reflects the medium’s growing influence on film and television.
What’s Else To Expect From The Game Awards 2024 ?
The 10th-anniversary ceremony promises more than just awards. Fans can expect world premieres, exclusive trailers, and updates on highly anticipated titles like Grand Theft Auto VI and Death Stranding 2. As excitement builds, gamers worldwide are engaging in heated debates and casting their votes to influence the outcome, however limited their role may be.
A Love Letter to Gaming Surround By Controversies
While the controversies surrounding The Game Awards 2024 have ignited passionate discussions, they also underscore the community’s deep investment in the industry. Whether you’re rooting for Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, critiquing the nomination of Shadow of the Erdtree, or simply watching for the reveals, this year’s show is shaping up to be an unforgettable celebration of gaming’s artistry and impact.
Who do you think deserves the title of Game of the Year? Cast your vote and join the conversation!
