So, the Game Awards 2024 just happened, and it was pretty much a wild ride from start to finish. As a matter of fact, it wasn’t just about celebrating this year’s big wins – there were some sneak peeks into games that, let’s be honest, could have everyone buzzing for the next twelve months. In some respects, the night was as much about what’s coming as what already hit the shelves.
For example, they gave us a new game from Hazelight Studio, the folks who made 2021’s top pick, and this one’s called Split Fiction. Oh, and don’t forget the fresh trailer for Borderlands 4, which, frankly, is already shaping up to be chaos in the best way. But the real mic drop? A teaser for the next Elden Ring chapter, which, if you ask me, might already be eyeing a win next year.
Now, before we all fast-forward into 2025, it’s worth taking a moment to see which games managed to grab those shiny trophies this year.
The Games That Took Center Stage
This time around, it was “Astro Bot” that stole the spotlight, taking home the Game of the Year award along with a handful of others, like Best Game Direction and Best Action/Adventure Game. It’s almost like this tiny robot just couldn’t lose. And then there was “Balatro”, a bit of an underdog, which scored big too, picking up awards in categories like Best Independent Game and Best Mobile Game.
But, actually, it wasn’t just about flashy graphics and cool gameplay mechanics. People got to celebrate some emotional storytelling, with Metaphor: ReFantazio walking away with wins in Best Narrative and Best Art Direction. It’s pretty clear that this year had something for everyone.
A Full Rundown of the Winners and Those Who Came Close
Here’s everything you need to know about who won what, and, of course, the games that were right there in the mix:
Game of the Year
- WINNER: Astro Bot (Team Asobi/SIE)
- Balatro (LocalThunk/Playstack)
- Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco)
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus/Sega)
Best Game Direction
- WINNER: Astro Bot (Team Asobi/SIE)
- Balatro (LocalThunk/Playstack)
- Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco)
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus/Sega)
Best Narrative
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega)
- WINNER: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus/Sega)
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (Ninja Theory/Xbox Game Studios)
- Silent Hill 2 (Bloober Team/Konami)
Best Art Direction
- Astro Bot (Team Asobi/SIE)
- Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco)
- WINNER: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus/Sega)
- Neva (Nomada Studio/Devolver)
Most Anticipated Game
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/SIE)
- Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/SIE)
- WINNER: Grand Theft Auto VI (Rockstar Games)
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Retro Studios/Nintendo)
- Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom)
Honoring People and Progress
Meanwhile, the night wasn’t just about the games themselves. For instance, they gave a special Gamechanger Award to Amir Satvat for helping developers find new work after a tough year of layoffs. And honestly, when he said, “You can’t make great games without great people,” you could just feel how much that hit home.
And, well, let’s not forget the Players’ Voice Award, where the audience got to pick their favorite. This time, it was Black Myth: Wukong that came out on top, which just shows how much people are already rooting for it.
Wrapping Up the Year
In short, the Game Awards 2024 brought a lot to the table – memories, excitement, and even a little hype for what’s next. And honestly, if games like Elden Ring: Nightreign or Grand Theft Auto VI are anything like what we’ve seen this year, we’re all in for something amazing when the next awards roll around.
By the way, if you’re still diving into the streets of Los Santos and want to gear up before GTA VI drops, check out our GTA V accounts – loaded and ready to keep the fun going.
Anyway, until then, let’s just keep playing.