The Game Awards 2024: AAAs, Indies, and The Honorable Mentions

The Game of the Year (GOTY) award is one of the most coveted titles in the gaming industry, recognizing innovation, storytelling, and unforgettable player experiences. We even covered how the award influences gaming, media, and consumer behavior here. This year marks the 10th anniversary of The Game Awards by Geoff Keighley. The competition is fiercer than ever, and Astrobot beat the heavyweight roster to take the throne!

2024’s titles have set new benchmarks in gameplay, creativity, and narrative depth. Here’s a breakdown of the contenders—and a nod to a few honorable mentions that still deserve your attention.

Astro Bot: A PS5 Triumph

Astro Bot leapt into 2024 clinching Game of the Year, Best Family Game, Best Game Direction, and Best Action/Adventure Game at The Game Awards. Developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment and Team Asobi, this PlayStation 5 exclusive has cemented its place as a modern classic.

This iteration of Astro Bot takes everything we loved about the character and his previous adventures and refines it into a stunning, non-VR platforming experience. By shifting from VR to traditional gameplay, Team Asobi opened Astro’s world to a much wider audience, proving that charm and innovation can thrive outside of VR.

• A Platforming Marvel: Every level feels alive, showcasing creativity and precision in equal measure. Astro Bot is a heartwarming celebration of platforming, with mechanics that rival the best in the genre.
• Stunning Visuals: Built for the PS5, the game is a graphical powerhouse, utilizing the hardware’s capabilities for buttery-smooth performance and jaw-dropping detail.
• The Hero We All Love: Astro himself is as endearing as ever, embodying PlayStation’s playful, adventurous spirit.

For anyone who hasn’t yet played it: do yourself a favor and join the adventure.

Balatro: The Indie Sleeper Hit

Balatro is the brainchild of a solo dev! A nomination deeply deserved, taking home Best Independent Game, Best Mobile Game, and Best Debut Indie Game at The Game Awards. It reimagines roguelike deck-building with a vibrant art style and deceptively deep mechanics. It’s equal parts chaotic and strategic, keeping players coming back for “just one more run.” Here, big-brain combos meet sheer randomness, making every session a hilarious, addictive challenge. Consider yourself warned.

• Card Mechanics, But Make It Fresh: A creative twist on the genre.
• Indie Game Charmer: Feels like an underdog but executes like a champion.
• Replayability for Days: No two runs are the same. You’ll be hooked.

Black Myth: Wukong—A Cultural Milestone

Few games immerse players in mythology as beautifully as Black Myth: Wukong, China’s debut entry into AAA territory. At The Game Awards, Game Science’s action RPG won the Player’s Voice Award and Best Action Game, proving its widespread appeal. 

Drawing on the rich literature of “Journey to the West,” this action RPG combines Unreal Engine 5 visuals with punishing, rewarding combat that feels like a spiritual successor to Dark Souls. Each boss fight is an artful test of skill, and the game’s highlight of Chinese folklore elevates it beyond your average RPG.

• Faithful to Folklore: Reinventing mythology for a modern audience.
• Drop-Dead Gorgeous Visuals: Unreal Engine 5 flexing on all of us.
• Art Direction: There’s a reason it’s been nominated for—and won—numerous art direction awards. Phenomenal motifs, designs, and environments.
• Dark Souls DNA: A test of reflexes and willpower.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree—Expanding Greatness

FromSoftware does it again with Shadow of the Erdtree, an expansion that deepens the lore of Elden Ring while introducing haunting new areas and foes. Most DLCs feel like accessories to the main game, but FromSoftware went above and beyond with Shadow of the Erdtree.

It’s everything fans loved about the original game—cryptic NPCs, punishing bosses, and incredible world-building—all taken to the next level.

• Expanding the World: New lore, characters, and areas—same cryptic vibes.
• Combat Mastery: Fresh grueling enemies, weapons, and challenges.
• FromSoft Magic: Narratives that are bigger and better, yet never bloated.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth—Nostalgia Reimagined

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth picked up where Remake left off 4 years ago, expanding on the beloved classic with daring rewrites and jaw-dropping visuals. The world is massive, the characters are more lifelike than ever, and the soundtrack? Absolute perfection. It comes as no surprise that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth clinched Best Score and Music at The Game Awards.

Longtime fans and newcomers alike had been calling for its nomination all of this quarter, and cheered when the nominees were announced on November 18th.

• Nostalgia Bomb: Faithful to the original while daring to surprise.
• Massive World: Open areas that demand exploration.
• Daring Rewrites: Balancing reverence with innovation.

Metaphor: ReFantazio—Atlus Unleashed

Atlus stepped out of Persona’s veteran shadow with Metaphor: ReFantazio, a fresh take on the JRPG formula. It took Best Role Playing Game, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction at The Game Awards—with good reason. Its dreamlike art style, layered storytelling, and complex yet intuitive gameplay prove why the studio remains a titan in the genre. If you thought they couldn’t top Persona, think again.

• Stunning Art Style: Like stepping into a surreal dream.
• Complex Yet Intuitive Gameplay: Persona’s DNA, but with a twist.
• Fantasy Done Right: A feast of style and substance.

Honorable Mentions: The ‘Almost’ GOTYs That Still Slap

Only six games could earn the coveted GOTY nominations this year, but 2024 was packed with titles that could’ve easily been contenders. Whether they pushed the boundaries of gameplay, nailed their unique vision, or just hit players right in the feels, these games deserve a serious shoutout.

They may not have made the final six, but they still belong on every gamer’s wishlist.

Stellar Blade

Stellar Blade is a post-apocalyptic action game that doesn’t waste time proving its worth. Its combat is fast, fluid, and feels like something ripped straight out of an action movie. Every swing of the blade and cinematic combo screams polish, backed by AAA production values that deliver on spectacle. This is gameplay that speaks for itself. 

And if you’re looking to show off your PS5, Stellar Blade is your go-to.

• Fast, Fluid Combat: A spectacle to behold and master.
• PS5 Showpiece: Gorgeous visuals that push hardware limits.

Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 is chaotic co-op perfection and of course we had to add it here. It took Best Multiplayer Game and Best Ongoing Game at the Game Awards! Whether you’re mowing down alien swarms or laughing at your team’s missteps, every moment is packed with frantic fun. Procedurally generated missions ensure no two drops ever feel the same.

• Chaotic Co-Op Perfection: Grab some friends and buckle up.
• Replayability King: Fresh missions keep things exciting.

Persona 3 Reload

A masterful remake of Atlus’s iconic JRPG, Persona 3 Reload modernized the original while retaining its emotional storytelling and tension-filled combat. It’s a love letter to fans and a perfect entry point for newcomers to this beautiful franchise!

• Faithful Yet Modern: Respecting the past while upgrading for today.
• Soundtrack Perfection: Nostalgia meets fresh beats.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2

For the Emperor! Warhammer’s grimdark universe found new life in Space Marine 2, a game that lets you wield the bolter and chainsword with brutal efficiency. Fans of the franchise get to experience their beloved universe in this addictive masterpiece. A thrill ride for not just 40K fans, but anyone who loves epic battles!

• Pure Power Fantasy: Chainswords, bolters, and Tyranids, oh my.
• Cooperative Campaign: Play with friends in glorious carnage.

What Sets 2024 Apart?

With so many phenomenal titles in the ring, every category at The Game Awards felt like a heavyweight bout. Whether it was the indies punching above their weight or the AAAs pulling out all the stops, this year proved there’s no room for mediocrity in gaming. Want to know how GOTY influences media, gaming, and consumer culture? Check out this article here!

Your Turn

2024’s GOTY race was tighter than ever, and nominees clawed their spots in a sea of deserving titles, with Astrobot narrowly taking the throne! 

Looking ahead to 2025, the stakes are only getting higher. With Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, Elden Ring Nightreign, and Split Fiction (from the minds of It Takes Two) looming on the horizon, next year’s competition is already shaping up to be just as ruthless. If 2024 taught us anything, it’s that gaming is in its golden age—and every studio, big or small, is fighting to shine the brightest.

So buckle up, gamers. 2025 is coming, and it’s ready to go for the jugular.

– Ameera Rahaman | Content Manager