Alt text: A promotional image for Astro Bot, showcasing its vibrant graphics and playful characters.
The Game Awards 2024 nominees were revealed on Monday, highlighting a diverse year in gaming. From action-packed RPGs like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and the return of FromSoftware’s Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree to indie gems like Balatro and the family-friendly Astro Bot, the nominations offer a broad spectrum of gaming experiences.
Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth dominate the nominations with seven each, followed closely by Metaphor: ReFantazio with six. Sony Interactive Entertainment leads the publisher race with 16 nominations, trailed by Square Enix and Xbox with 12 each, and Sega with 11.
Game of the Year: A Diverse Field
The Game of the Year category, mirroring the Best Game Direction nominees, presents an intriguing mix. Alongside the leading contenders Astro Bot, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio, we see the indie hit Balatro, the Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree, and the action title Black Myth: Wukong. Balatro garnered five nominations overall, while Shadow of the Erdtree and Black Myth: Wukong received four each.
Surprises and Snubs
While many nominations were anticipated, some unexpected inclusions sparked discussion. Silent Hill 2‘s nomination for Best Narrative, despite its story originating over two decades ago, raised eyebrows. Similarly, Dragon Age: The Veilguard‘s single nomination and Star Wars Outlaws‘ three nominations, considering its lukewarm reception, were unexpected.
The Awards Ceremony and Full Nominee List
The Game Awards ceremony, scheduled for December 12th, will not only reveal the winners but also showcase new game announcements and trailers. Below is the complete list of nominees:
Game of the Year
- Astro Bot
- Balatro
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
Best Game Direction
- Astro Bot
- Balatro
- Black Myth Wukong
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
Best Narrative
Alt text: A screenshot from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, highlighting its detailed character models and dramatic storytelling.
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
- Silent Hill 2
Best Art Direction
- Astro Bot
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Neva
…(Continued with the rest of the categories and nominees as in the original article, ensuring each image has a unique and descriptive alt text, placed correctly according to the guidelines).
