The Game Awards 2024 Nominations: Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Receive Most Nods

The nominations for this year’s Game Awards have been revealed, with Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth securing the highest number of nods. This event, described by some as “the Oscars of gaming” and dismissed by others as “an advertising marathon,” stands as the most-viewed celebration within the industry. Geoff Keighley, the host, further disclosed that the 3D platformer and the role-playing game each garnered seven nominations, among them Game of the Year. The other contenders for the ultimate award are the card game Balatro, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Black Myth: Wukong. Scheduled for 12 December this year, the awards ceremony has evolved into a significant occasion, with organisers estimating 118 million global livestream viewers last year. Winners are determined by votes from a panel comprising 130 games media outlets and content creators, with a concurrent fan vote also contributing to the final scores. While RPG Baldur’s Gate 3 was widely anticipated to win Game of the Year last year, 2024 has not seen a comparable volume of top-tier releases. This makes the outcome potentially more challenging to forecast, but a summary of the primary contenders follows. Astro Bot, which commemorates PlayStation’s 30-year legacy and highlights the enjoyment gaming offers, might be the leading contender this year. Sony’s mascot character garnered praise from both fans and critics upon its September release, appearing on a Dual Sense controller. Its innovative 3D platforming also served as a discreet technical demonstration for the PlayStation 5, merging notable physics effects with its cheerful, classic atmosphere. Additional nominations for Astro Bot include: Best game direction, best art direction, best score and music, best audio design, best action/adventure game, and best family game. The card game Balatro, developed by a solo creator identified only as LocalThunk and named after the Latin word for jester or buffoon, represents one of the year’s most significant successes. Players form poker hands to earn points, with its distinctive appeal stemming from 150 joker cards that alter rules and multiply scores in various ways. Should Balatro secure the top award, it would mark the first independent title in the Game Awards’ decade-long history to do so without major publisher support. LocalThunk seldom grants interviews and maintains a private identity, raising questions about potential attendance at the ceremony. Balatro also received nominations for: Best game direction, best independent game, and best debut indie game. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the second installment in a trilogy reimagining the original PlayStation game Final Fantasy VII, expanded extensively with abundant side content and mini-games for players. While its graphical performance on the PS5 faced some criticism and its story modifications did not universally please, these factors did not prevent its recognition as a Game of the Year contender upon its February launch. Having been voted “most anticipated” game at the previous year’s Game Awards, it may be well-positioned for a win this year, particularly given its prequel’s loss to The Last of Us: Part II in 2020. Briana White, the actress who portrayed Aerith in the English-language version of the game, has also been nominated for best performance. Its additional nominations include: Best game direction, best narrative, best score and music, best RPG, and best audio design. Metaphor: ReFantazio, the highly anticipated new title from the developers of Persona 5—a game widely regarded as one of Japan’s premier role-playing games—shifts from the Persona series’ anime-inspired high school environment to a Medieval fantasy realm. It received acclaim for its narrative and its exploration of significant themes like racism and politics. The game also achieved commercial success for its publisher, Atlus, which announced 1 million sales on its release day, setting a record for the Japanese company. It is also nominated for: Best game direction, best narrative, best art direction, best score and music, and best RPG. Black Myth: Wukong, an action-adventure game inspired by Journey to the West—a classic novel from Chinese Mythology—achieved considerable success upon its launch. It recorded substantial sales in China and also gained popularity among Western audiences. Its presence on the Game of the Year shortlist may be unexpected for some, given that its critical reception was notably less favorable compared to its fellow nominees. Nevertheless, its combat received significant commendation, and it stands out as one of the year’s most visually impressive game releases. Black Myth: Wukong’s other nominations include: Best action game, best game direction, best art direction, and best score and music. The quality of Shadow of the Erdtree, a continuation of the action RPG and 2022 Game of the Year recipient Elden Ring, is undisputed. This 2024 release currently holds the distinction of being the year’s highest-reviewed title, delivering additional exploration and challenging combat encounters characteristic of developer From Software. However, its qualification as a genuine “Game of the Year” is subject to debate. This is due to Shadow of the Erdtree being downloadable content (DLC) that extends the original game with dozens of hours of content, rather than a standalone title. While The Game Awards permits such expansions to be nominated in any category, some critics contend they should not be eligible. It also received nominations for: Best game direction, best art direction, and best RPG. Animal Well, an independent game and the inaugural release from YouTuber videogamedunkey’s publishing label, did not secure a Game of the Year nomination despite being among the year’s most critically acclaimed titles. Nevertheless, it is nominated for best indie debut and best independent game. The Xbox exclusive Hellblade 2: Senua’s Saga, developed by British studio Ninja Theory, also garnered multiple nominations across various categories. It is a contender for best audio design, best narrative, and best performance for its lead actress, Melina Juergens. A comprehensive list of all nominations is accessible on The Game Awards website.