It was the year of the bear. Or, more accurately, the year of a Druid turning into a bear in a scene that basically broke the internet months before the actual ceremony even started.
Larian Studios didn't just walk into the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles to pick up a few trophies. They walked in to claim a crown that many thought was reserved for the titans like Nintendo or Marvel. Honestly, if you watched the Game Awards 2023 winners list roll out in real-time, it felt less like a typical awards show and more like a coronation.
The industry changed that night.
The Absolute Domination of Baldur’s Gate 3
Let’s be real: Baldur's Gate 3 was a juggernaut. It didn't just win; it devoured. Swen Vincke, the CEO of Larian, actually showed up in a full suit of armor. You've gotta love that level of commitment. The game took home six awards, including the big one: Game of the Year.
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It also grabbed:
- Best RPG (shocker, right?)
- Best Multiplayer
- Best Community Support
- Player’s Voice (voted by the fans)
- Best Performance for Neil Newbon
Neil Newbon’s win for his role as Astarion was a massive moment. If you've played the game, you know. His portrayal of the flamboyant yet deeply traumatized vampire spawn was masterclass. It’s rare for a performance in a CRPG—a genre known for being "niche"—to transcend and hit that mainstream level of recognition.
Why Alan Wake 2 Still Matters
If Larian was the king of the night, Remedy Entertainment was the wizard. Alan Wake 2 secured three huge wins: Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction.
Most people focus on the GOTY win, but "Best Game Direction" is arguably the "director's director" award. Sam Lake and his team took massive risks. They blended live-action footage with psychological horror and a dual-protagonist system that actually worked.
The highlight of the entire show? The musical.
Old Gods of Asgard (the real-life band Poets of the Fall) performed "Herald of Darkness" live on stage. Seeing Sam Lake do the choreography from the game’s "We Sing" chapter was surreal. It wasn't just fluff. It was a reminder that big-budget games can still be weird, experimental, and incredibly personal.
The KEYWORD Nobody Talks About: The Snubs and Surprises
While we look back at the Game Awards 2023 winners, we have to talk about who went home empty-handed. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 had seven nominations. It won zero.
That’s brutal.
It’s not that the game was bad—far from it. It’s just that 2023 was arguably the most crowded year in gaming history. When you’re up against Tears of the Kingdom and a generational RPG like Baldur's Gate 3, someone is going to get squeezed out.
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Nintendo didn't walk away empty-handed, though. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom won Best Action/Adventure, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder took Best Family Game. It felt like a polite "thank you" for two of the best-reviewed games of the decade.
The Redemption of Cyberpunk 2077
One of the most poetic moments was Cyberpunk 2077 winning Best Ongoing Game. Think about where that game was in 2020. It was a disaster. It was being pulled from digital storefronts.
Three years later, Gabe Amatangelo and Paweł Sasko stood on stage accepting a trophy. It was a testament to the "Update 2.0" overhaul and the Phantom Liberty expansion. They fixed it. They actually fixed it.
A Breakdown of Notable Winners
It wasn't all just the "Big Three." Some smaller titles made huge waves.
- Sea of Stars: Won Best Independent Game. It’s a love letter to Chrono Trigger-era RPGs and it absolutely deserved the win over some very stiff competition.
- Cocoon: Took Best Debut Indie. If you haven't played this world-within-a-world puzzler, you're missing out on some of the smartest level design in years.
- Hi-Fi Rush: Snagged Best Audio Design. A rhythm-action game winning for audio? Makes sense. But it was a nice win for Tango Gameworks (rest in peace).
- Final Fantasy XVI: Masayoshi Soken walked away with Best Score and Music. The "Find the Flame" track alone probably secured that victory.
- Street Fighter 6: Best Fighting Game. Capcom really hit their stride again with this one.
The Kojima Factor and Future Teases
We can't talk about the 2023 awards without mentioning the announcements. Hideo Kojima brought out Jordan Peele to talk about OD. We still don't really know what it is, but the "screaming faces" trailer was classic Kojima.
Then you had the reveal of Marvel's Blade by Arkane Lyon. A developer known for Dishonored making a vampire-hunting game? Yes, please.
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Actionable Insights for Gamers
Looking back at the Game Awards 2023 winners isn't just a trip down memory lane. It’s a roadmap for what you should be playing right now if you missed them.
- Play Baldur's Gate 3 for the Choice: If you think your choices in games don't matter, this will change your mind. It's the gold standard for reactivity.
- Experience Alan Wake 2 for the Vibe: Even if you aren't a horror fan, the art direction and the way it tells a story through "Case Boards" is worth the price of admission.
- Check out the "Small" Winners: Games like Cocoon or Tchia (which won Games for Impact) offer experiences you simply won't get in the AAA space.
The 2023 awards were a celebration of "prestige" gaming. It was the year the "Triple-A" machine and the "Triple-I" indie darlings finally felt like they were on equal footing in terms of cultural impact. If you haven't cleared your 2023 backlog yet, start with the winners above. You won't regret it.
Next Steps for Your Library
- Prioritize the Narrative Winners: Start with Alan Wake 2 if you want a 15-20 hour cinematic journey.
- Commit to the Long Haul: Only start Baldur's Gate 3 if you have 100 hours to spare. It's an investment, but a rewarding one.
- Revist Night City: If you haven't played Cyberpunk 2077 since its messy launch, the 2023 "Best Ongoing" win is your sign to go back.