Everyone thought they knew how the 10th anniversary of Geoff Keighley's big night would go. We all expected a corporate victory lap. Instead, the nominees Game Awards 2024 list gave us a year that felt both incredibly predictable and weirdly chaotic. You had a tiny, vibrating blue robot going head-to-head with a massive, high-budget remake of a 1997 classic. It was a strange vibe, honestly.
Looking back, the 2024 lineup was basically a fight for the soul of the industry. On one side, you had the technical behemoths like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. On the other? A literal card game about poker that someone made in their spare time.
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The GOTY Heavyweights
Let’s be real: the Game of the Year category was stacked, but it also felt lopsided. Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth entered the night with seven nominations each. They were the clear favorites. But then you have the outliers. Balatro? A roguelike deck-builder being nominated for the top prize was a massive "I told you so" for indie fans. It wasn’t just filler; it actually belonged there.
The full list of nominees for Game of the Year included:
- Astro Bot (Winner)
- Balatro
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
Wait. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree? Yeah, that caused a stir. It was the first time a piece of DLC—basically an expansion—was allowed to compete for the main trophy. People were livid. Some felt it was unfair to "new" games, while others argued that if a piece of content is better than 99% of full releases, it deserves the nod. It’s a messy debate. It didn't win the big one, but it definitely paved the way for future DLC to gatecrash the party.
Why Astro Bot’s Win Actually Matters
When Astro Bot took home the Game of the Year award, the internet had a mini-meltdown. "It's just a tech demo," some shouted. "It's for kids," others complained. But they're kinda missing the point. In a year where every big game felt like it needed to be a 100-hour grimdark epic, Astro Bot was just... fun. It was a 15-hour blast of pure dopamine.
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Team Asobi managed to capture that "Nintendo magic" that Sony has been chasing for decades. It didn't just win because of nostalgia. It won because it was mechanically perfect. It utilized the DualSense controller in ways other developers haven't even tried.
Honestly, the split in the community was fascinating. You had the "prestige" crowd who wanted the narrative weight of Final Fantasy or the punishing difficulty of Wukong. Then you had the group that just wanted to jump around and rescue little bots. The "safe choice" argument is a bit of a cop-out. Making a platformer this polished is actually incredibly hard.
The Indie Takeover: Balatro and Neva
If you haven't played Balatro, you've probably at least heard someone screaming about "Mults" and "Jokers." This game was a phenomenon. LocalThunk, the solo dev behind it, watched his game get nominated for five awards. It didn't just show up; it dominated the indie categories, winning Best Independent Game and Best Debut Indie.
It’s rare to see an indie game cross over into the Best Mobile Game category and win there too, but Balatro did it. It’s addictive. It’s simple. It’s basically digital crack.
Then there was Neva. It won Games for Impact, which is always the most emotional category. Developed by Nomada Studio (the folks who did Gris), it’s a beautiful, haunting story about a woman and her wolf. It’s the kind of game that reminds you that this medium isn't just about shooting things in the head.
The Snubs and the Surprises
Let's talk about the Best Performance category. Melina Juergens won for her role as Senua in Senua's Saga: Hellblade II. No one is saying she didn't deserve it—she’s terrifyingly good—but the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth fans were grieving for Briana White (Aerith).
And what about Black Myth: Wukong? It was the "People's Choice," literally winning the Player’s Voice award. It was the first Chinese-developed AAA game to reach this level of global recognition. While it took home Best Action Game, some felt it was snubbed for the top prize due to its slightly mixed critical reception compared to the 94 Metacritic score of Astro Bot.
A Quick Look at the Other Big Winners
- Best Narrative: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Atlus really knows how to write a JRPG).
- Best RPG: Metaphor: ReFantazio (A clean sweep for Studio Zero).
- Best Score and Music: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Naoki Hamaguchi’s team absolutely earned this one).
- Best Adaptation: Fallout (Amazon actually did it; they beat Arcane Season 2, which was a huge shocker).
- Best Ongoing Game: Helldivers 2 (Managed to beat Fortnite and FFXIV, which is wild).
The Show Was More Than Just Awards
Geoff Keighley knows how to put on a show. 154 million people watched it live. That’s a 31% jump from the previous year. To put that in perspective, more people watched the nominees Game Awards 2024 announcements and the ceremony than watch the Super Bowl most years.
The reveals were the real meat for many viewers. We got the first real look at The Witcher 4 (Polaris). Then FromSoftware dropped a bomb with Elden Ring: Nightreign, a co-op spinoff that looks like a roguelike. Even Hideo Kojima showed up, because of course he did.
Harrison Ford made an appearance. Twenty One Pilots played. It felt less like a niche hobbyist meeting and more like a global cultural event.
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What’s Next for You?
If you're looking at this list of winners and nominees and realizing you've only played Call of Duty, it’s time to expand. The 2024 lineup was remarkably diverse. You don't need a $2,000 PC to enjoy the best of the year.
Practical Steps to Catch Up:
- Play Astro Bot. If you own a PS5, it’s non-negotiable. It is the gold standard for platformers right now.
- Try Balatro on your phone. It’s the perfect "five-minute break" game that turns into a three-hour session.
- Watch the Fallout series. Even if you aren't a gamer, it’s one of the best sci-fi shows in years.
- Keep an eye on Metaphor: ReFantazio. If you liked Persona, this is arguably better in some ways.
The industry is in a weird spot with layoffs and studio closures, but the games themselves? They've never been better. The nominees Game Awards 2024 proved that whether you're a massive studio or a solo dev in a basement, if the gameplay loop is tight enough, people will notice.
Check out the digital storefronts like Steam or the PlayStation Store; many of these winners usually go on sale right after the show. It's the best time to pick up Black Myth: Wukong or Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (which won Innovation in Accessibility, by the way) for a discount. Grab a controller and see for yourself why these titles were the ones everyone was talking about.