It happened. The lights went down at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Geoff Keighley did his thing, and the debate that had been simmering in Discord servers for months finally hit a boiling point. If you’ve been living under a rock—or maybe just playing through your massive backlog—you might still be asking who got game of the year 2024.
The answer? Astro Bot.
Yeah, the little blue robot. Team Asobi’s platformer took home the big trophy at The Game Awards 2024, beating out massive RPGs and even a controversial expansion that had everyone’s blood pressure up. It wasn't just a win for Sony; it was a vibe shift for the entire industry.
The Night Astro Bot Cleaned Up
Honestly, seeing Astro Bot win felt like a return to form for gaming. We’ve spent years chasing ultra-serious, 100-hour cinematic epics. Then comes this joyful, creative, "celebration of PlayStation" that just wants you to have fun. It didn't just win GOTY, either. It nabbed Best Game Direction and Best Action/Adventure Game, basically proving that tight mechanics and pure charm still move the needle.
People were skeptical. Could a 12-hour platformer really take down the giants? Apparently, the answer is a resounding yes.
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The Controversy: Elden Ring in the Mix
We have to talk about the elephant in the room: Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Before the show, the big drama was whether a DLC should even be allowed in the main category. The Game Awards updated their FAQ specifically to say "expansions are eligible," which felt like a massive hint that FromSoftware might pull a repeat.
It didn't happen.
While Shadow of the Erdtree won Best Game Expansion at the Golden Joysticks, it went home empty-handed in the major categories at the December gala. Some fans are still screaming "robbed" into the void, but the general consensus is that giving the top prize to a piece of DLC—even one as massive as Erdtree—would have set a weird precedent.
Who Else Was in the Running?
The competition was actually kind of stacked, even if it felt like a "quiet" year compared to the absolute madness of 2023. You had:
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- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: This was the heavy hitter for many. It’s a massive, sprawling reimagining that did almost everything right. It did win Best Score and Music, which... let’s be real, it earned that within the first five minutes.
- Metaphor: ReFantazio: Atlus proved they aren't just the "Persona studio." This fantasy RPG was a critical darling and took home Best RPG and Best Narrative. If you like political intrigue mixed with turn-based combat, you've probably already lost 80 hours to this.
- Balatro: The indie darling of the year. A poker-themed roguelike shouldn't be this addictive, but here we are. It won Best Independent Game and Best Mobile Game, proving you don't need a $200 million budget to dominate the conversation.
- Black Myth: Wukong: This was the wild card. It broke records on Steam and showed the sheer power of the Chinese development scene. It took the Player’s Voice award, showing that while the critics loved the robot, the fans were all about the Monkey King.
Why Astro Bot Actually Won
It’s easy to look at the list and think the jury just wanted something "light." But that’s doing a disservice to what Team Asobi actually built. Astro Bot is a masterclass in haptic feedback. It uses the DualSense controller in ways no other game has bothered to try since the console launched.
Every surface feels different. Every gadget feels tactile. It’s a reminder that games are meant to be played, not just watched as a series of cutscenes.
Breaking Down the Major 2024 Winners
If you missed the stream, here’s the quick rundown of where the other trophies landed:
- Best Action Game: Black Myth: Wukong
- Best Ongoing Game: Helldivers 2 (The Galactic War continues!)
- Best Performance: Melina Juergens as Senua in Senua's Saga: Hellblade II
- Best Adaptation: Fallout (Amazon really nailed that one)
- Best Community Support: Baldur's Gate 3 (Yes, they are still winning awards a year later)
The Fallout and What’s Next
The 2024 awards proved that the "rules" are changing. We saw a DLC get a GOTY nomination. We saw an indie card game Balatro almost take the whole thing. We saw a platformer beat out the biggest RPGs in the world.
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What does this mean for 2025? It means the doors are wide open. With Grand Theft Auto VI looming on the horizon, 2025 is going to be a bloodbath, but for now, the little robot is king.
If you haven't played Astro Bot yet because you thought it was "just a kids' game," you're missing out on the best-engineered experience of the year. Go grab a controller. See why it actually deserved the hype.
Actionable Insights for Gamers:
- Diversify your library: If you only play AAA shooters, 2024 is the year to try Balatro or Astro Bot. The "small" games are where the innovation is happening right now.
- Watch the DLC space: Now that Shadow of the Erdtree broke the seal on nominations, expect more high-quality expansions to vie for top spots in future years.
- Check out Metaphor: ReFantazio: If you were looking for a "traditional" GOTY winner and felt let down, this is the deep, complex RPG experience you’re likely craving.