The Game Awards 2024 Shake-Up: Major Titles Rise and Fall in Gaming’s Biggest Night
In an unexpected turn of events at this year’s The Game Awards nominations, the gaming industry witnessed both remarkable achievements and surprising omissions that have left the community buzzing with discussions.
Despite its apparent potential for awards success, BioWare’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard was noticeably absent from major categories. This RPG powerhouse, which took nearly a decade to develop, secured just a single nomination in the Innovation in Accessibility category. For a franchise whose previous entry, Dragon Age: Inquisition, claimed the Game of the Year title in 2014, this represents a significant shift in fortune.
The leading contenders this year paint a picture of gaming’s evolving landscape. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Astro Bot emerged as frontrunners, each securing an impressive seven nominations.
Close behind, Metaphor: The talented Persona 5 team crafted ReFantazio, which earned six nominations, while the indie sensation Balatro and the highly anticipated Silent Hill 2 remake each garnered five nominations.
This year’s Game of the Year category showcases an intriguing mix of titles:
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Astro Bot
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
- Silent Hill 2
A particularly noteworthy development is the inclusion of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, marking an unprecedented moment as DLC content competes for the top prize. This expansion to the 2022 Game of the Year winner has sparked debates about the evolving nature of gaming content and award eligibility.
On the publisher front, PlayStation leads the pack with 16 nominations, followed by Square Enix and Xbox, tied at 12 each. Sega secured 11 nominations, while Bandai Namco and Nintendo rounded out the major publishers with seven and six nominations, respectively.
The indie game scene continues to flourish, with several standout titles receiving recognition. Beyond Balatro’s impressive showing, games like Neva, Indika, Animal Well, and The Plucky Squire earned well-deserved nominations, showcasing the creative diversity within the independent gaming space.
Speaking of surprises, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 made an unexpected comeback with four nominations, despite its relatively quiet presence since its May release. The success of Black Myth: Wukong in securing a Game of the Year nomination, despite mixed critical reception, adds another layer of intrigue to this year’s awards.
Some notable absences raised eyebrows among gaming enthusiasts. EA Sports College Football 25, despite its passionate following, missed out on the Sports/Racing category. The Sim/Strategy category overlooked fan favorites like Satisfactory and Tactical Breach Wizards, while The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s musical score went unrecognized.
The Game Awards 2024 ceremony, scheduled for December 12, promises to be an exciting event. Beyond the awards themselves, viewers can expect the usual array of world premieres and game announcements that have become a hallmark of the show.
As gaming continues to evolve, these nominations reflect an industry in transition, where traditional powerhouses can falter and newcomers can rise to prominence. The recognition of DLC content alongside full releases and the strong showing from indie developers suggest a broadening definition of what constitutes award-worthy gaming excellence.
For now, the gaming community eagerly awaits the ceremony, where these nominations will transform into victories, and new announcements will set the stage for gaming’s future. The Game Awards website allows the public to participate in the voting process, revealing the Players’ Voice nominees on December 2.