Honestly, the 2024 gaming season felt like a fever dream. We went from the high-octane frenzy of Black Myth: Wukong to the quiet, existential dread of Indika, and then Geoff Keighley capped it all off with a 10th-anniversary show that basically broke the internet. If you missed the live stream, you missed 154 million people collectively losing their minds over a little blue robot and a poker-themed roguelike.
The game awards 2024 nominees list wasn't just a list of titles; it was a snapshot of a year where the "old guard" of AAA development got some serious competition from the weird, the indie, and the unexpected.
The Heavy Hitters and the Big Winners
Astro Bot took home the crown. Not just any crown, but the big one: Game of the Year. Developed by Team Asobi, it felt like a love letter to three decades of PlayStation history. It didn't just win GOTY; it scooped up Best Game Direction and Best Action/Adventure Game too. People love to argue that platformers are "kinda dead," but Astro Bot basically told that narrative to sit down.
Then there was Balatro. If you haven't played this poker roguelike, you've probably at least heard someone complaining about how it ruined their sleep schedule. It was the indie darling of the night, winning Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game, and—interestingly—Best Mobile Game. It’s rare to see a title dominate across that many different "weights," but LocalThunk's creation is just that addictive.
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A Breakdown of the Major Categories
- Game of the Year: Astro Bot (Winner), Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Metaphor: ReFantazio.
- Best RPG: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Winner). This was a huge win for Studio Zero and Atlus, proving they can strike gold outside of the Persona franchise.
- Best Action Game: Black Myth: Wukong (Winner). Game Science basically put the global stage on notice with this one.
- Best Ongoing Game: Helldivers 2 (Winner). Despite all the drama with PSN accounts and balancing patches, the community stayed loyal.
- Best Narrative: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Winner).
The Controversy: DLCs and Snubs
We have to talk about the elephant in the room: Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
Before the show, there was a massive debate because the rules were clarified to allow DLCs and expansions into the GOTY category. Some fans felt this was "basically giving FromSoftware a second chance" at a trophy they already won in 2022. While Shadow of the Erdtree didn't take the top prize, its presence on the game awards 2024 nominees list definitely pushed out some heavy hitters.
Games like Silent Hill 2 or Tekken 8 might have had a shot at the top six if not for the Lands Between casting such a long shadow. And don't even get me started on Persona 3 Reload. Not a single nomination for Best Music? That feels like a personal attack on anyone with ears.
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Why the 2024 List Felt Different
The variety was wild. You had Neva winning Games for Impact, which is a heart-wrencher about a woman and her wolf cub. Then you had Batman: Arkham Shadow taking Best VR/AR Game, showing that there’s still life in the VR space if you have a killer IP.
Even the esports side felt massive this year. League of Legends won Best Esports Game (again), and Faker—the unkillable demon king himself—took Best Esports Athlete. It’s a bit of a "business as usual" vibe in that sector, but the numbers don't lie. The T1 hype is very, very real.
Navigating the Post-Award Landscape
So, what do you actually do with all this info? If you're looking to catch up on what you missed, here’s a quick strategy:
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- Prioritize the "Triple Crowns": Start with Astro Bot and Balatro. They won multiple categories for a reason—they are the most polished experiences of the year.
- Check the Hidden Gems: Don't ignore the Games for Impact or Best Indie nominees. Animal Well and Neva offer experiences that AAA studios just can't replicate.
- Watch the Trailers: Half the fun of the 2024 show was the "World Premieres." If you haven't seen the Borderlands 4 or Death Stranding 2 updates, go find them on YouTube.
The 2024 awards proved that gaming is in a weird, transitional, but ultimately exciting place. We’re moving away from "just more graphics" and toward "actually fun mechanics." Whether you're a casual player or a trophy hunter, the game awards 2024 nominees list is essentially your required reading list for the next six months.
If you want to see the full list of winners for every single niche category—from Best Audio Design to Best Sim/Strategy—you can check the official archives at The Game Awards website or major gaming outlets like IGN and GameSpot. The 10th anniversary was a milestone, but the games themselves were the real story.
Go play Balatro. Just... maybe set an alarm so you don't stay up until 4:00 AM.