The Game Awards 2024 has unveiled its nominees, with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and ASTRO BOT leading the charge, each earning seven nominations across multiple categories. The event, set to celebrate the year’s best in gaming, highlights the diversity of titles released in 2024, from blockbuster triple-A games to standout indie projects.
The spotlight is firmly on the coveted Game of the Year (GOTY) category, which features six nominees showcasing a wide range of genres and gameplay styles:
- ASTRO BOT (Team Asobi/SIE) – A surprise hit redefining platformers with charm and creativity.
- Balatro (LocalThunk/Playstack) – A unique indie poker-themed deck-builder.
- Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science) – The first Chinese-developed triple-A title, blending mythology and action.
- Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco) – An acclaimed expansion to the 2022 GOTY winner.
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix) – A critically praised RPG continuing the remake saga.
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus/Sega) – A new RPG from the creators of Persona 5, captivating fans of the genre.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and ASTRO BOT Shine Across Categories
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s strong showing is no surprise, given its February 2024 release and immense fan anticipation. It secured nominations for Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, and Best Score and Music, among others.
ASTRO BOT, the acclaimed PS5 platformer, emerged as a standout title, earning nominations in Best Game Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Audio Design, Best Action/Adventure, and Best Family Game, alongside its GOTY nod.
Balatro and Black Myth: Wukong Make Waves
Balatro represents indie developers’ creativity, securing spots in GOTY, Best Independent Game, and Best Debut Indie Game categories. Meanwhile, Black Myth: Wukong showcases Chinese game development’s potential, earning nominations for Best Action Game and Best Art Direction, despite its controversial 81 Metacritic score.
Elden Ring DLC Sparks GOTY Debate
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is the first expansion pack to earn a GOTY nomination, stirring discussions about whether DLCs belong in the same category as full games. It also received nods for Best Game Direction, Best RPG, and Best Art Direction.
Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Bold Entrance
Metaphor: ReFantazio cements itself as a spiritual successor to Persona 5, earning six nominations, including Best RPG and Best Narrative.
Detailed Nominations
Here’s a closer look at the major nominations across categories:
Best Game Direction
- ASTRO BOT (Team Asobi/SIE)
- Balatro (LocalThunk/Playstack)
- Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)
- Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco)
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)
Best Narrative
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega)
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus/Sega)
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (Ninja Theory/Xbox Game Studios)
- Silent Hill 2 (Bloober Team/Konami)
Best Art Direction
- ASTRO BOT (Team Asobi/SIE)
- Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)
- Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco)
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus/Sega)
- Neva (Nomada Studio/Devolver)
Best Score and Music
- ASTRO BOT (Team Asobi/SIE)
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus/Sega)
- Silent Hill 2 (Bloober Team/Konami)
- Stellar Blade (Shift Up/SIE)
Best Audio Design
- ASTRO BOT (Team Asobi/SIE)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Treyarch/Raven/Activision/Xbox)
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (Ninja Theory/Xbox Game Studios)
- Silent Hill 2 (Bloober Team/Konami)
Innovation in Accessibility
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Treyarch/Raven/Activision/Xbox)
- Diablo IV (Blizzard/Xbox)
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard (BioWare/EA)
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Ubisoft Montpellier/Ubisoft)
- Star Wars Outlaws (Massive Entertainment/Ubisoft)
Fans can participate in voting until December 11 on The Game Awards’ website. The event will be broadcast live on December 12, 2024, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, featuring world premieres, musical performances, and more.
