We now know the list of nominees for the next Game Awards ceremony, on December 12 in Los Angeles. Astro Bot et Final Fantasy VII Rebirth hold the rope with 7 nominations ahead Metaphor: ReFantasia (6).
It’s been 10 years since Geoff Keighley, the man behind the Summer Game Fest and Gamescom ceremonies, became essential by initiating the Game Awards, the ceremony rewarding the best video games of the year. An event awaited by the entire industry to find out who will be crowned game of the year.
On Monday, the master of ceremonies revealed the nominees for the multiple categories who will impatiently wait until December 12 to find out if they will be able to take the stage of the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Astro resists the wave from Asia
At a time of action, role-playing or adventure games considered more mature, it is ultimately the very family Astro Bot who leads the nominations dance, in the company of Final Fantasy VII Rebirthsecond part of the remake version of Square Enix’s hit game (7 nominations). They anticipate the surprising Metaphor: ReFantasia (6).
The three games also compete for the supreme coronation, that of Game of the Year, a category in which we find in particular the astonishing card game Balatro, excellent surprise at the start of the year, but also Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreethe expansion of Bandai Namco’s hit game. An unsurprising presence as the organizers of the ceremony had taken the lead by announcing a few days ago the possibility that a DLC (an extension), a remaster, a remake and even season passes or additional content could compete.
Elden Ring: Shadow of The Erdtree is also displayed in four categories (Game of the Year, Game Direction, Artistic Direction, Role Playing Game) and the remake of Silent Hill 2 in five (Narrative, Music, Audio Design, Action-Adventure and Acting Performance). The extension Vessel of Hatred of Diablo IV (Accessibility, Game service) also finds a place in the list of nominees.
But the ceremony will also highlight the creative force of games from Asia. Alongside the usual Japanese tenors from Bandai Namco or Square Enix, we now see Chinese and Korean games in force in the different categories. Considered one of the most beautiful games of the year, Black Myth: Wukong is logically one of the competitors for the supreme title, alongside Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Elden Ring and above all the surprising Metaphor: ReFantasia. Games considered not very mainstream unlike Balatro et Astro Botbut which demonstrate boundless creativity and a particular style from Asia.
Ubisoft is doing well
In the midst of a social, creative and other crisis, Ubisoft can nevertheless count on two sure values: its talent in accessibility and in adventure games. The excellent and pleasant surprise, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crowncan even hope to glean the title in the Action-Adventure game category if Astro Bot leaves crumbs to the competition. He will come across Star Wars Outlawsalthough criticized, but which is one of the five games in the running, as well as in the Accessibility category.
Despite a somewhat cold reception, but strong visual recognition, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will not come away with the title of most beautiful game of the year. But the Xbox exclusive still has 4 nominations, including that for Melina Juergens for her impressive interpretation of Senua.
Note that Avatar: Frontiers of Pandorareleased in December 2023 after last year’s ceremony and garnered numerous nominations in industry awards around the world, is not even among the nominees in the audio and music categories. Two games expected in 2024 will also (and logically) not have a say due to their late release (Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle et S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl). They are not even among the games expected in 2025 where GTA 6 should, without much surprise, delight all the votes.
The list of categories and nominees
Game of the Year
- Astro Bot
- Balatro
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Elden Ring : Shadow of the Erdtree
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Metaphor: ReFantasia
Best Direction
- Astro Bot
- Balatro
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Elden Ring : Shadow of the Erdtree
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Metaphor: ReFantasia
Best Storytelling
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
- Metaphor: ReFantasia
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
- Silent Hill 2
Best Art Direction
- Astro Bot
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Elden Ring : Shadow of the Erdtree
- Metaphor: ReFantasia
- Neva
Best Music
- Astro Bot
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Metaphor: ReFantasia
- Silent Hill 2
- Stellar Blade
Best Audio Design
- Astro Bot
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
- Silent Hill 2
Best Interpretation
- Brianna White (Aerith dans Final Fantasy VII Rebirth)
- Hannah Telle (Max Caulfield in Life is Strange Double Exposure)
- Humberly Gonzales (Kay Vess dans Star Wars Outlaws)
- Luke Roberts (James Sunderland in Silent Hill 2)
- Melina Juergens (Senua dans Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2)
Best “Game for Impact”
Best Game Service
- Destiny 2: Final Form
- Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Fortnite
- Helldivers 2
Best community support
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Fortnite
- Helldivers 2
- No Man’s Sky
Best Indie Game
Best First Independent Game
- Animal Well
- Balatro
- Manor Lords
- Pacific Drive
- The Valiant Little Page
Innovation in Accessibility
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Diablo 4: Vessel of the hatred
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
- Star Wars Outlaws
Best Mobile Game
- AFK Journey
- Balatro
- Pokémon TCG Pocket
- Wuthering Waves
- Zenless Zone Zero
Best VR/AR Game
- Arizona Sunshine Remake
- Asgard’s Wrath 2
- Batman Arkham Shadows
- Metal Hellsinger VR
- Metro Awakening
Best Action Game
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Helldivers 2
- Stellar Blade
- Warhammer 40000: Space Marine 2
Best Action-Adventure Game
- Astro Bot
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
- Silent Hill 2
- Star Wars Outlaws
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Best RPG
- Dragon’s Dogma 2
- Elden Ring : Shadow of the Erdtree
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
- Metaphor: ReFantasia
Best Fighting Game
Best Family Game
- Astro Bot
- Prince Peach Showtime!
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
- The Valiant Little Page
Best Simulation-Strategy Game
Best Sports-Racing Game
Best Multiplayer Game
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Helldivers 2
- Super Mario Party Jamboree
- Tekken 8
- Warhammer 40000 Space Marine 2
Best Adaptation
Most Anticipated Game of 2025
Content Creator of the Year
- Caseoh
- Illojuan
- Techno Gamerz
- Typical Gamer
- Used Pekora
Best eSports Game
Best eSports Player
- 33
- Aleksib
- Breeding
- Faker
- ZywOo
- Zmjjkk
Best eSports Team
- Bilibili Gaming (League of Legends)
- Gen.G (League of Legends)
- NAVI (Counter Strike)
- T1 (League of Legends)
- Team Liquid (DOTA 2)
