The Game Awards 2023 Nominees Revealed: A Year in Review

The wait is over, and the excitement has begun! The Game Awards, one of the most prestigious events in the gaming industry, has officially announced its nominees for the year. This year's lineup boasts an impressive selection of titles that showcase the diversity, innovation, and creativity of the gaming world.

In this article, we'll take a closer look at the nominees across various categories, highlighting some of the standout titles and games that have made it to the shortlist.

Game of the Year

The Game Awards' most coveted prize is the Game of the Year award. This year's nominees are:

• Elden Ring: FromSoftware's ambitious open-world RPG has been a surprise hit, offering a rich narrative, engaging gameplay, and stunning visuals.
• God of War Ragnarök: Santa Monica Studio's latest installment in the God of War series is an action-adventure masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of storytelling and character development.
• Horizon Forbidden West: Guerrilla Games' sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn has taken the world by storm with its captivating narrative, engaging combat, and breathtaking scenery.
• Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Game Freak's latest Pokémon titles offer a fresh take on the classic RPG formula, with a focus on exploration, battling, and customization.
• Resident Evil 4 Remake: Capcom's remake of the classic survival horror game has been praised for its faithfulness to the original while also introducing new gameplay mechanics and graphics.

Best Narrative

The Best Narrative award recognizes games that tell compelling stories through their narrative design. This year's nominees are:

• Elden Ring: The game's intricate storyline, coupled with its vast open world, has been praised for its depth and complexity.
• God of War Ragnarök: The game's narrative is a masterclass in character development, exploring themes of family, loss, and redemption.
• Horizon Forbidden West: The game's story delves into the consequences of technological advancements, environmental degradation, and the consequences of playing with nature.
• Life is Strange: True Colors: Deck Nine Games' latest installment in the Life is Strange series offers a poignant narrative that explores themes of identity, trauma, and healing.

Best Multiplayer

The Best Multiplayer award recognizes games that excel in their multiplayer offerings. This year's nominees are:

• Among Us: InnerSloth's popular social deduction game has become a staple in online gaming communities.
• Destiny 2: Bungie's MMO shooter offers an extensive range of activities, including PvE and PvP modes, as well as a rich endgame experience.
• Fortnite: Epic Games' battle royale favorite continues to innovate with new gameplay mechanics and limited-time events.
• Overwatch 2: Blizzard Entertainment's team-based FPS has taken the world by storm with its diverse cast of heroes, engaging gameplay, and regular updates.

Best Ongoing Game

The Best Ongoing Game award recognizes games that continue to evolve and improve over time. This year's nominees are:

• Apex Legends: Respawn Entertainment's battle royale favorite continues to receive new content, balance changes, and game modes.
• League of Legends: Riot Games' MOBA has been a staple in esports for years, with regular updates, new champions, and game modes.
• Minecraft: Mojang Studios' sandbox classic continues to attract new players and inspire creativity through its endless possibilities.

Best Independent Game

The Best Independent Game award recognizes games developed by smaller studios. This year's nominees are:

• Cuphead: Studio MDHR's side-scrolling action game is a loving tribute to 1930s cartoons, with challenging gameplay and stunning visuals.
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits: Ember Lab's action-adventure game offers a beautiful narrative, engaging combat, and a unique visual style.
• Returnal: Housemarque's roguelike shooter has been praised for its innovative gameplay mechanics, atmospheric soundtrack, and stunning visuals.

Best Performance

The Best Performance award recognizes outstanding voice acting performances. This year's nominees are:

• Ben Schwartz (Assassin's Creed Valhalla): The actor's energetic performance as Eivor is a highlight of the game.
• Chris Evans (God of War Ragnarök): The actor's portrayal of Kratos is a standout in the game, bringing depth and nuance to the character.
• Melissa Fannin (Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart): The actress's performance as Ratchet's sister Talwyn is both humorous and heartfelt.

Best Music

The Best Music award recognizes outstanding soundtracks. This year's nominees are:

• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: Marcin Przybyłowicz and Mikolai Stroinski's epic score is a masterpiece of video game music.
• Horizon Forbidden West: Joris de Vijlder's soundtrack perfectly captures the game's themes of exploration, discovery, and environmentalism.
• God of War Ragnarök: Bear McCreary's score is a powerful exploration of Kratos' emotional journey.

Best Art Direction

The Best Art Direction award recognizes outstanding visual design. This year's nominees are:

• Elden Ring: The game's world, from its intricate details to its sweeping vistas, is a masterpiece of visual design.
• God of War Ragnarök: The game's visuals are breathtaking, with detailed character models and environments that bring the Norse mythology to life.
• Horizon Forbidden West: Guerrilla Games' use of post-apocalyptic landscapes and technological advancements creates a visually stunning world.

Best Technology

The Best Technology award recognizes innovative use of technology in games. This year's nominees are:

• Elden Ring: The game's advanced graphics, physics, and gameplay mechanics set a new standard for the industry.
• God of War Ragnarök: Santa Monica Studio's use of ray tracing, global illumination, and other cutting-edge technologies brings a new level of immersion to the game.
• Resident Evil 4 Remake: Capcom's remake of the classic survival horror game takes advantage of modern technology to create a more realistic and terrifying experience.

Best Debut

The Best Debut award recognizes outstanding debut games from developers. This year's nominees are:

• Cuphead: Studio MDHR's side-scrolling action game is both a loving tribute to 1930s cartoons and a bold new take on the genre.
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits: Ember Lab's action-adventure game offers a unique visual style, engaging combat, and a beautiful narrative.
• Returnal: Housemarque's roguelike shooter takes the player on an unforgettable journey through space and time.

Best Mobile Game

The Best Mobile Game award recognizes outstanding mobile gaming experiences. This year's nominees are:

• Among Us: InnerSloth's social deduction game has become a staple in online gaming communities.
• PUBG Mobile: Tencent Games' battle royale favorite continues to innovate with new gameplay mechanics and limited-time events.
• Among Heroes: Bandai Namco's MOBA is a visually stunning take on the genre, with fast-paced action and engaging gameplay.

Game of the Year: The Final Choice

The Game Awards' most prestigious prize is the Game of the Year award. While it's impossible to predict which game will win, one thing is certain – this year's nominees are some of the best and most innovative games of the year.

Which game do you think deserves the top spot? Let us know in the comments!