Image: The Game Awards
Zoë Hannah is the games editor at Polygon, where she covers mobile games, Zelda, and indie games. She has about a decade of experience in journalism.
The Game Awards announced its nominees for Game of the Year 2024 in a livestream Monday. This year’s race for GOTY hasn’t had an obvious frontrunner thus far, making the announcement one of the bigger surprises in the show’s 10-year history.
As of today’s announcement, the six nominees for Game of the Year are locked in. There were big surprises, like a resurgence for Black Myth Wukong and a near shutout for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. On the sweet side, there was a strong showing for indies, including Balatro.
Now, the next round of voting begins. The jury will also select from nominees for categories like Best Mobile Game, Best Debut Indie Game, and more. Fans can cast their own vote through Dec. 11.
The Game Awards are on Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. EST.
Game of the Year
Game of the Year is described as, “Recognizing a game that delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields.”
- Astro Bot
- Balatro
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
Related:
- Game of the Year predictions: Which nominee will win?
- Balatro developer on Game Awards nomination: ‘Completely surreal’
Best Game Direction
- Astro Bot
- Balatro
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Metapahor: ReFantazio
Best Ongoing Game
- Destiny 2
- Diablo 4
- Final Fantasy 14
- Fortnite
- Helldivers 2
Related:
- In a tough year for video games, the Game Awards nominations give some cause for hope
Best Art Direction
- Astro Bot
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Neva
Best Mobile Game
- AFK Journey
- Balatro
- Wuthering Waves
- Zenless Zone Zero
- Pokémon TCG Pocket
Best Narrative
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Like a Dragon: Infinte Wealth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
- Silent Hill 2
Best Performance
- Briana White, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Hannah Telle, Life is Strange: Double Exposure
- Humberly Gonzalez, Star Wars Outlaws
- Luke Roberts, Silent Hill 2
- Melina Juergens, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Related:
- Star Wars Outlaws’ Humberly González shaped Kay from her Venezuelan heritage
Best Score & Music
- Astro Bot
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Silent Hill 2
- Stellar Blade
Best Audio
- Astro Bot
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
- Silent Hill 2
Best Adaptation
- Arcane
- Fallout
- Knuckles
- Like a Dragon: Yakuza
- Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft
Best Multiplayer
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Helldivers 2
- Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
- Tekken 8
Best Independent Game
- Animal Well
- Balatro
- Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
- Neva
- UFO 50
Related:
- A closer look at the indies competing for GOTY
Debut Indie Game
- Animal Well
- Balatro
- Manor Lords
- Pacific Drive
- The Plucky Squire
Most Anticipated Game
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yotei
- Grand Theft Auto 6
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
- Monster Hunter Wilds
Best Role-Playing Game
- Dragon’s Dogma 2
- Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
Games for Impact
- Closer the Distance
- Indika
- Neva
- Life Is Strange: Double Exposure
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
- Tales of Kenzera: Zau
Content Creator
- CaseOh
- Illojuan
- Techno Gamers
- TypicalGamer
- Usada Pekora
Best Action/Adventure
- Astro Bot
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
- Silent Hill 2
- Star Wars Outlaws
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Related:
- The Silent Hill 2 remake adds yet another layer of interpretation
Best Action
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Helldivers 2
- Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2
- Stellar Blade
Best Fighting
- Dragon Ball Sparking Zero
- Granblue Fantasy: Versus Rising
- Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection
- Multiversus
- Tekken 8
Innovation in Accessibility
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Diablo 4
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
- Star Wars Outlaws
Best Community Support
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Final Fantasy 14
- Fortnite
- Helldivers 2
- No Man’s Sky
Best Family Game
- Astro Bot
- Princess Peach Showtime
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
- The Plucky Squire
Best Sim/Strategy Game
- Age of Mythology Retold
- Frostpunk 2
- Kunitsu-Gami Path of the Goddess
- Manor Lords
- Unicorn Overlord
Best Sports/Racing
- F1 24
- EA Sports FC25
- NBA 2K25
- Topspin 2K25
- WWE 2K24
Best VR/AR Game
- ARizona Sunshine Remake
- Asgard’s Wrath 2
- Batman: Arkham Shadow
- Metal: Hellsinger VR
- Metro Awakening
Best Esports Game
- Counter Strike
- Dota 2
- League of Legends
- Mobile Legends Bang Bang
- Valorant
Best Esports Athlete
- 33
- AleksiB
- Chovy
- Faker
- Zywoo
- Zmjjkk
Best Esports Team
- Bilibili Gaming, League of Legends
- Gen.G, League of Legends
- Navi, Counterstrike
- T1, League of Legends
- Team Liquid, Dota 2
See More:
- Gaming
- GOTY Watch
- News
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