The Game Awards have become an unmissable annual signpost for anyone with an interest in gaming.
It’s not just the trophies that are handed out that capture the attention – there are also the major announcements and exclusives, which in 2023 included the first reveal of Monster Hunter Wilds and the incredible news that Hideo Kojima and horror screenwriter and director Jordan Peele were working on a project together (now confirmed as Xbox’s OD).
We can also expect plenty more big announcements in 2024, but as for who will take home the silverware – well, we’ll just have to wait and see.
However, even just a cursory glance at the list of nominees confirms that 2024 has been a remarkable year for gaming.
Astro Nomical
Pundits and hardcore gamers alike will have their own opinions as to who should strike it big at the awards, though Astro Bot has now emerged as the leading contender for Game of the Year.
Curiously, you can bet on the winner of Game of the Year, with a handful of bookmakers offering odds on the destination of the trophy. Casino gaming has enjoyed its own breakout year in 2024, with new titles featuring immersive gameworlds, augmented reality and even virtual reality. Many sites have no-deposit casino bonuses available to help showcase the latest additions to their back catalogue.
Astro Bot leads the way with the bookies, with the game being a fine representation of what happens when an independent studio – in this case, Team ASOBI – is given additional resources but remains true to its roots.
The split from Japan Studio, after accepting a partnership deal with Sony Interactive Entertainment, could have proved disastrous for the Astro Bot franchise. Instead, Team ASOBI has taken the adventures of the eponymous robot to all new levels, with the ingenious use of the haptic feedback capabilities of the DualSense controller worth the price alone.
With a Metacritic score of 94 (at the time of writing) and on the Bafta Games Awards longlist, Astro Bot looks to be a leading contender for awards season hardware.
Magnificent Seven
There should, hopefully, be plenty of silverware for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, a stunning reimagination of the PlayStation classic of 1997.
Square Enix’s release has been nominated for, fittingly, seven gongs at the Game of the Year Awards, including Game of the Year, Best Game Direction and Best Narrative. It’s true that the ending of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is, shall we say (and spoiler alert), controversial to say the least, but the sheer scale and ambition of the game are a reminder of the scope of the PlayStation 5 and what is achievable now and into the future.
With a stack of mini games to work through, and that compelling single-player campaign mode, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a Game of the Year nominee that keeps on giving.
Another fan favourite that will be well supported during awards season is Black Myth: Wukong. While something of a divisive choice, Game Science’s sprawling epic certainly brought a unique new energy to the RPG space. It also became one of the fastest-selling titles of all time when it was released in August.
The Game Awards have also long rewarded independent game-making, so there’s a chance that the truly mind-blowing Balatro may scoop a trophy or two for developer LocalThunk.
It’s a game that is almost beyond description, and certainly the first time that a poker-inspired title has been nominated for mainstream awards. Few games released in 2024 can boast the replay factor of Balatro, and the fact that it crossed over so easily from console to mobile is also a feather in the cap of LocalThunk.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree and Metaphor: ReFantazio round out the Game of the Year nominees, with a case to be made for either by players and critics alike.
Although Japanese-led RPGs will likely dominate the awards season once more, the list of nominees at the Game Awards confirms that 2024 has been another year of captivating releases across the various genres, with smash hits and surprise cult favourites sharing screen time – all of which leaves us salivating at the prospect of what 2025 has in store for gamers…
