It’s (already) almost the end of the year 2024, and in terms of video games, for several years now, it has coincided with the Game Awards ceremony. The ceremony proposed by the now omnipresent Geoff Keighley is in fact responsible for distributing the good points before Christmas. In 2024, the event celebrates its tenth anniversary, and for this edition, controversies are already underway even before the still much-maligned officialization of the game of the year, the famous GOTY.
And the nominees for the 2024 Game Awards are…
Indeed, if the Video Game Awards constitute a well-run show, it should be remembered that the ceremony remains entertainment to be taken as such. Obviously, players are invited to vote for their favorite games within various categories, but the whole thing has no real official value, other than that which we are willing to grant it.
And if every year, the revelation of the game of the year (or GOTY) is debated, for this 2024 edition, Geoff Keighley managed to create controversy even before the ceremony. Indeed, as for the games nominated in the Game of the Year category, the Game Awards chose to include a DLC, namely that of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Remember that the game was already crowned last year, and for many players, the fact of considering being able to crown its additional content the following year is problematic to say the least.
The nominees for GAME OF THE YEAR at #TheGameAwards on December 12.
Vote Now: pic.twitter.com/75AZeqo6KS
— The Game Awards (@thegameawards) November 18, 2024
As for the game of the year 2024, in addition to the Elden Ring DLC, we find Metaphor ReFantazio, Black Myth: Wukong, without forgetting Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, as well as the excellent Astro Bot, but also… Balatro. If the success of Balatro is undeniable, for some players, it is however difficult to see it eclipsing games like Stellar Blade or Space Marine 2, which both managed to create a (good) surprise this year.
For a few hours now, it has been possible to vote for your favorite titles, directly through the official Game Awards website. Remember that player votes are collected in three waves, each new date allowing you to vote for new categories. Also, it should be noted that public votes only count for 10% of the final result in each category, the remaining 90% being in the hands of the “experts” designated by the organizers.
The main categories of the Game Awards 2024
Game of the Year
Astrobot
Balatro
Black Myth: Wukong
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Metaphor ReFantazio
Best action game
Black Myth: Wukong
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Helldiverse 2
Stellar Blade
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Best action/adventure game
Astrobot
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Silent Hill 2
Star Wars Outlaws
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Most anticipated game
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yotei
Grand Theft Auto 6
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Monster Hunter Wilds
Best adaptation
Arcana: League of Legends
Fallout
Knuckles
Like a Dragon: Yakuza
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft
Best Art Direction
Astrobot
Black Myth: Wukong
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Metaphor ReFantazio
Neva
Best audio design
Astrobot
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Silent Hill 2
Best community support
Baldur’s Gate 3
Final Fantasy 14
Fortnite
Helldiverse 2
No Man’s Sky
Best family game
Astrobot
Prince Peach: Showtime!
Super Mario Party Jamboree
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
The Plucky Squire
Best fighting game
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
Multiverse
Tekken 8
Best achievement
Astrobot
Balatro
Black Myth: Wukong
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Metaphor ReFantazio
Best multiplayer game
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Helldiverse 2
Super Mario Party Jamboree
Tekken 8
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Best Storytelling
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Metaphor ReFantazio
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Silent Hill 2
Best RPG
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Metaphor ReFantazio
Best music
Astrobot
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Metaphor ReFantazio
Silent Hill 2
Stellar Blade
Best sports game
F1 24
EA Sports FC 25
NBA 2K25
TopSpin 2K25
WWE 2K24
Among the nominees, in addition to the very questionable decision to include the Elden Ring DLC, we find a certain Pokémon TCG Pocket in the category Best Mobile Game. And for those who are wondering about the absence of the game Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle on Xbox, the latter not arriving on our machines until December 9, it is not eligible for this 2024 edition of the Game Awards.
Still, the Game Awards 2024 ceremony will be held on December 12, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, and will be an opportunity to celebrate ten years of history. Like every year, in addition to the trophy presentations, the ceremony should allow certain publishers/manufacturers to unveil certain games (and consoles?) coming the following year. And this is perhaps the only real interest of these Game Awards in reality…
