Game Awards 2024: Complete Guide to Event Details and Top Nominees

The gaming community is abuzz with anticipation because the most prestigious event of the year, Game Awards 2024, is just around the corner! With its lineup of innovative games and industry-defining moments, this year’s awards are set to be the most thrilling yet. Explore our comprehensive guide to make sure you don’t miss a moment of excitement and stay ahead in the world of gaming excellence!

The Game Awards 2024 is going to be a night to remember, filled with the best that the gaming industry has to offer.

The contenders for Game of the Year include Astro Bot, Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and Metaphor: ReFantazio.

This year, Game of the Year will involve expansions, DLCs, remakes, and remasters, which have started a bit of controversy among fans.

The event will also recognize achievements in various categories, including Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, and Best Performance.

There will also be special recognition for esports, content creators, and games for impact.

Game Awards 2024 Dates and Details

The Game Awards 2024 will take place on December 12, 2024, in Los Angeles at the Peacock Theater.

The event, led by Geoff Keighley, will be live-streamed through YouTube, Twitch, Facebook Live, X, and Steam. The live stream begins at 7:30 PM EST on December 12th and at 12:30 AM GMT on December 13.

The event will feature categories like Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Narrative, Best Score and Music, and Best Performance.

Special awards will also be provided for esports, content creators, and games for impact.

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How the Game Awards Impact the Industry

The Game Awards have significant effects on the gaming industry, affecting both sales and public perception of nominated titles. Here are some key ways the awards shape the industry:

• Sales Increase: Games nominated often see a very significant boost in sales. For example, this year, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth saw a 268% increase in sales after being nominated. This “GOTY effect” highlights how the awards drive consumer interest and boost revenue for developers.
• Publicity and Visibility: The Game Awards showcase provides a worldwide platform for those games that may get lost in the shuffle. It simply translates to increased visibility, better player engagement, and more audience.
• Industry Recognition: A winning or nominated status in Game Awards can make all the difference for a game’s industry status, and this is particularly helpful in creating more developer opportunities such as partnerships, funding, and collaborations.
• Setting Trends: It showcases emerging trends and innovations in game design that could influence others to try out new ideas and technologies.
• Community Engagement: The event fosters a sense of community among gamers, developers, and industry professionals, creating a shared experience that celebrates the art and craft of game development.

Nominees for Game Awards 2024

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

• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Metaphor: ReFantanzio
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
• Silent Hill 2

Best Art Direction

• Astro Bot
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Neva

Best Score and Music

• Astro Bot
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Silent Hill 2
• Stellar Blade

Best Audio Design

• Astro Bot
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
• Silent Hill 2

Best Performance

• Hannah Telle, Life is Strange: Double Exposure
• Briana White, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Humberly González, Star Wars Outlaws
• Luke Roberts, Silent Hill 2
• Melina Juergens, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Innovation in Accessibility

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Diablo IV
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
• Star Wars Outlaws

Games for Impact

• Closer the Distance
• Indika
• Neva
• Life is Strange: Double Exposure
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
• Tales of Kenzera: Zau

Best Ongoing Game

• Destiny 2
• Diablo IV
• Final Fantasy XIV
• Fortnite
• Helldivers 2

Best Community Support

• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Final Fantasy XIV
• Fortnite
• Helldivers 2
• No Man’s Sky

Best Independent Game

• Animal Well
• Balatro
• Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
• Neva
• UFO 50

Best Debut Indie Game

• Balatro
• Animal Well
• Manor Lords
• Pacific Drive
• The Plucky Squire

Best Mobile Game

• AFK Journey
• Balatro
• Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket
• Wuthering Waves
• Zenless Zone Zero

Best VR/AR Game

• Arizona Sunshine Remake
• Asgard’s Wrath 2
• Batman: Arkham Shadow
• Metal: Hellsinger VR
• Metro Awakening

Best Action Game

• Black Myth: Wukong
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Helldivers 2
• Stellar Blade
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Best Action/Adventure Game

• ASTRO BOT
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
• Silent Hill 2
• Star Wars Outlaws
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Best RPG

• Dragon’s Dogma 2
• Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio

Best Fighting Game

• Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising (Arc System Works/Cygames)
• Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO (Spike Chunsoft/Bandai Namco)
• Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Capcom)
• MultiVersus (Player First Games/WB Games)
• Tekken 8 (Bandai Namco)

Best Family Game

• Princess Peach: Showtime!
• Astro Bot
• Super Mario Party Jamboree
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• The Plucky Squire

Best Sim/Strategy Game

• Frostpunk 2 (11 Bit Studios)
• Age of Mythology: Retold (World’s Edge/Forgotten Empires/Xbox Game Studios)
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Capcom)
• Manor Lords (Slavic Magic/Hooded Horse)
• Unicorn Overlord (Vanillaware/Sega/Atlus)

Best Sports/Racing Game

• F1 24
• EA Sports FC 25
• NBA 2K25
• Top Spin 2K25
• WWE 2K24

Best Multiplayer Game

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Helldivers 2
• Super Mario Party Jamboree
• Tekken 8
• Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2

Best Adaptation

• Arcane
• Fallout
• Knuckles
• Like a Dragon: Yakuza
• Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft

Most Anticipated Game

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Ghost of Yotei
• Grand Theft Auto VI
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
• Monster Hunter Wilds

Content Creator of the Year

• CaseOh
• IlloJuan
• Techno Gamerz
• TypicalGamer
• Usada Pekora

Best Esports Game

• DOTA 2
• Counter-Strike 2
• League of Legends
• Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
• Valorant

Best Esports Athlete

• 33 – Neta Shapira
• Aleksib – Aleksi Virolainen
• Chovy – Jeong Ji-hoon
• Faker – Lee Sang-hyeok
• ZyWoO – Mathieu Herbaut
• ZmjjKk – Zheng Yongkang

Best Esports Team

• Bilibili Gaming (League of Legends)
• Gen.G (League of Legends)
• NAVI (Counter-Strike)
• T1 (League of Legends)
• Team Liquid (DOTA 2)

How to Vote for Your Favorite Games

• Head to The Game Awards’ official website.
• Create an account or sign in if you already have one.
• Account registration allows The Game Awards to track votes and ensures that each fan’s choices are counted.
• For added convenience, you can sign in using social media accounts, which speeds up the process and links your voting to your preferred platform.
• Once logged in, go to the voting section, where you’ll see all available categories.

Conclusion

Game Awards 2024 is going to be something very special, celebrating both creative and innovative heights within the gaming industry.

With such a wide variety of nominees across categories, it points out the cream of the year’s performances while setting up the future course.

It is an event whose impact on sales and visibility, let alone industry recognition, cannot be talked about with reserve and therefore forms an important touchstone for developers and gamers alike.

Whether you’re voting or just tuning in, the Game Awards 2024 is something you won’t want to miss in celebration of the very best in gaming.

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FAQs

When is The Game Awards?

The Game Awards streams live on Thursday, December 12, 2024, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

How are nominees selected?

Nominees for most categories of The Game Awards are chosen by:

• An international jury of over 100 global media and influencer outlets, was selected for their history of critical video game evaluation.
• Specialized juries also convene for other categories including esports, accessibility, and best adaptation.
• Each voting outlet completes a confidential, unranked ballot based on the collective and diverse opinion of its entire editorial staff, listing out its top five choices in each category.
• Ballots are tabulated, and the five games that appear on the most ballots are put forth as nominees. In the event of a tie, six (or more) nominees will be announced in a category.
• Game Awards producer Geoff Keighley is not a member of the jury and does not vote on the nominees or winners. Similarly, The Game Awards Advisory Board has no involvement in the awards process and learns of the results at the same time as the general public.

What can I expect at the show?

The Game Awards will celebrate video games with awards, world premieres, musical performances, and more!

Can I attend The Game Awards in person?

Yes! A limited number of public tickets will be available, starting in November. Visit the Peacock Theater box office for more details.