The 10th edition of the Game Awards concluded on the night of December 12-13 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, and the successor to Baldur’s Gate III has now been revealed. Astro Bot takes the crown with the prestigious title of Game of the Year 2024, marking an exceptional year for Team Asobi and Sony Interactive Entertainment. Here’s a recap of the awards given during this anniversary ceremony, hosted by the irreplaceable Geoff Keighley.
Game of the Year (GOTY)
Winner: Astro Bot
The PlayStation exclusive developed by Team Asobi claims the title of Game of the Year 2024, solidifying its status as a favorite with an impressive Metacritic score of 94. The game won over both the jury and the audience with its exceptional artistic direction and innovative gameplay that redefines the platforming genre.
Player's Voice
Winner: Black Myth: Wukong
The first Chinese game nominated for GOTY, Black Myth: Wukong, wins the public vote. This is a great recognition for Game Science studio, which impressed players with its ambitious action-RPG inspired by Chinese mythology.
Best Direction
Winner: Astro Bot
A second major award for Team Asobi, whose game direction was recognized for its artistic and technical coherence—key elements of its success.
Best Narrative
Winner: Metaphor: ReFantazio
Atlus once again demonstrates its mastery of storytelling. Following in the footsteps of Persona 5, the studio delivers a compelling narrative that modernizes the conventions of the JRPG genre.
Best Art Direction
Winner: Metaphor: ReFantazio
A double win for Metaphor, which also stands out in the artistic category, recognizing its unique visual universe and distinctive style.
Best Score and Music
Winner: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Square Enix maintains its reputation for musical excellence. The soundtrack of FF7 Rebirth stands out as the best score of the year, blending reorchestrated classic themes with new compositions.
Best Audio Design
Winner: Senua's Saga: Hellblade II
The highly anticipated sequel to Hellblade impresses with its sound design, which plays a crucial role in the game’s psychological immersion.
Best Performance
Winner: Melina Juergens (Senua's Saga: Hellblade II)
Hellblade achieves a double win: a well-deserved award for actress Melina Juergens, who reprises her role as Senua, bringing even more depth and emotion to this complex character.
Innovation in Accessibility
Winner: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Ubisoft is recognized for its efforts in accessibility, enabling a wider audience to enjoy this new Prince of Persia adventure.
Games for Impact
Winner: Neva
The independent title from the creators of the acclaimed GRIS stands out for its powerful message and its ability to tackle important societal themes through the medium of video games.
Best Ongoing Game
Winner: Helldivers 2
The cooperative shooter stands out for its exemplary support and regular updates that continuously enrich the experience.
Best Community Support
Winner: Baldur's Gate 3
Even a year after its release (and its 2023 GOTY title), Larian’s RPG continues to impress with its close relationship with its community.
Best Independent Game
Winner: Balatro
The roguelike card game by LocalThunk emerges as the indie revelation of the year, proving that innovation and simplicity can work wonders.
Best Mobile Game
Winner: Balatro
... And even a historic triple win for Balatro, demonstrating its versatility by also succeeding on mobile.
Best VR/AR Game
Winner: Batman Arkham Shadow
The Dark Knight returns in virtual reality with an experience that pushes the boundaries of the medium.
Best Action Game
Winner: Black Myth: Wukong
A second award of the evening for Game Science’s title, recognized for its spectacular and technical combat.
Best Action/Adventure Game
Winner: Astro Bot
A third major award for Astro Bot, cementing its dominance in the 2024 edition.
Best RPG
Winner: Metaphor: ReFantazio
A third award for Atlus’s JRPG, establishing it as the genre’s benchmark this year.
Best Fighting Game
Winner: Tekken 8
Bandai Namco’s historic franchise proves it remains the benchmark in versus fighting.
Best Family Game
Winner: Astro Bot
A fourth award for Team Asobi’s title, demonstrating its ability to appeal to all audiences and generations while celebrating 30 years of PlayStation history.
Best Sim/Strategy
Winner: Frostpunk 2
The sequel to the survival and management game by 11 bit studios impresses with its strategic depth.
Best Sports/Racing Game
Winner: EA Sports FC 25
The “post-FIFA” era is off to a strong start for EA Sports, maintaining its status as the go-to for virtual football.
Best Multiplayer
Winner: Helldivers 2
A second award for the cooperative shooter, recognized as the multiplayer experience of the year.
Best Adaptation
Winner: Fallout
The Amazon Prime Video series successfully brings Bethesda’s post-apocalyptic universe to life.
Most Anticipated Game
Winner: GTA VI
Unsurprisingly, Rockstar Games’ next opus is the most anticipated title following the release of its first trailer.
The 2024 edition of the Game Awards was marked by Astro Bot’s dominance (4 awards including GOTY), as well as strong performances by Metaphor: ReFantazio (3 awards) and Balatro (3 awards), once again proving the diversity and richness of the video game medium. Add to that numerous game announcements throughout the evening, and you get a historic ceremony that will be talked about for weeks to come!
