Highlights:
- The Game Awards 2023 nominees have been announced, featuring Alan Wake 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3 with eight nominations each
- Alan Wake 2 is nominated in categories such as Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, and more
- Other notable nominees include games like Horizon Forbidden West, Metroid Dread, and Resident Evil Village
- The Game Awards is a prestigious event that celebrates the best and most influential games of the year
- Voting is now open for fans to choose their favorites in each category
Introduction: The Game Awards 2023 Nominees
The Game Awards 2023 nominees have been officially announced, and leading the pack with eight nominations each are Alan Wake 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3.
Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Story, Best Art Direction, Best Sound Design, Best Score and Music, Best Performance (from Melanie Liburd), and Best Action/Adventure Game are among the categories for which Alan Wake 2 is nominated.
Similar nominations were received by Baldur’s Gate 3, which included Best RPG, Best RPG, Best Story, Best Score and Music, Best Performance (Neil Newbon), Best Community Support, Best RPG, and Best Multiplayer.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 garnered seven nominations, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom garnered five, and Starfield garnered one.
The following is the complete list of categories and nominees for The Game Awards 2022.
Game of the Year
Identifying a game that offers the best possible experience in all creative and technical domains.
- Alan Wake 2
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Resident Evil 4 Remake
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Best Game Direction
Given in recognition of exceptional creative vision and inventiveness in game design and direction.
- Alan Wake 2
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Best Narrative
For outstanding storytelling and narrative development in a game.
- Alan Wake 2
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Final Fantasy 16
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Best Art Direction
For outstanding creative and/or technical achievement in artistic design and animation.
- Alan Wake 2
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Lies of P
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Best Score/Music
For outstanding music, inclusive of score, original song and/or licensed soundtrack.
- Alan Wake 2
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Final Fantasy 16
- Hi-Fi Rush
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Best Audio Design
Recognizing the best in-game audio and sound design.
- Alan Wake 2
- Dead Space Remake
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Resident Evil 4 Remake
Best Performance
Given to a person for performance capture, motion, or voice-over acting.
- Ben Starr – Final Fantasy 16
- Cameron Monaghan – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- Idris Elba – Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Melanie Liburd – Alan Wake 2
- Neil Newbon – Baldur’s Gate 3
- Yuri Lowenthal – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Games for Impact
For a thought-provoking game with a pro-social meaning or message.
- A Space for the Unbound
- Chants of Sennaar
- Goodbye Volcano High
- Tchia
- Terra Nil
- Venba
Best Ongoing Game
Awarded to a game for outstanding development of ongoing content that evolves the player experience over time.
- Apex Legends
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Final Fantasy 14
- Fortnite
- Genshin Impact
Best Indie Game
For outstanding creative and technical achievement in a game made outside the traditional publisher system.
- Cocoon
- Dave the Diver
- Dredge
- Sea of Stars
- Viewfinder
Best Debut Indie Game
For the best debut game created by a new independent studio.
- Cocoon
- Dredge
- Pizza Tower
- Venba
- Viewfinder
Best Mobile Game
For the best game playable on a mobile device.
- Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis
- Honkai: Star Rail
- Hello Kitty Island Adventure
- Monster Hunter Now
- Terra Nil
Best Community Support
Recognizing a game for outstanding community support, transparency and responsiveness, inclusive of social media activity and game updates/patches.
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Destiny 2
- Final Fantasy 16
- No Man’s Sky
Best VR/AR Game
For the best game experience playable in virtual or augmented reality, irrespective of platform.
- Gran Turismo 7
- Humanity
- Horizon: Call of the Mountain
- Resident Evil Village
- Synapse
Innovation in Accessibility
Recognizing software and/or hardware that is pushing the medium forward by adding features, technology and content to help games be played and enjoyed by an even wider audience.
- Diablo 4
- Forza Motorsport
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Street Fighter 6
Best Action Game
For the best game in the action genre focused primarily on combat.
- Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon
- Dead Island 2
- Ghostrunner 2
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Remnant 2
Best Action/Adventure Game
For the best action/adventure game, combining combat with traversal and puzzle solving.
- Alan Wake 2
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Resident Evil 4
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Best RPG
For the best game designed with rich player character customization and progression, including massively multiplayer experiences.
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Final Fantasy 16
- Lies of P
- Sea of Stars
- Starfield
Best Fighting Game
For the best game designed primarily around head-to-head combat.
- God of Rock
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
- Pocket Bravery
- Street Fighter 6
Best Family Game
For the best game appropriate for family play, irrespective of genre or platform.
- Disney Illusion Island
- Party Animals
- Pikmin 4
- Sonic Superstars
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Best Sports/Racing Game
For the best traditional and non-traditional sports and racing game.
- EA Sports FC 24
- F1 23
- Forza Motorsport
- Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged
- The Crew Motofest
Best SIM/Strategy Game
Best game focused on real time or turn-based simulation or strategy gameplay, irrespective of platform.
- Advanced Wars 1+” Re-Boot Camp
- Cities: Skylines 2
- Company of Heroes 3
- Fire Emblem Engage
- Pikmin 4
Best Multiplayer Game
For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences, irrespective of game genre or platform.
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Diablo 4
- Party Animals
- Street Fighter 6
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Content Creator of the Year
For a streamer or content creator who has made an important and positive impact on the community in 2021.
- IronMouse
- PeopleMakeGames
- Quackity
- Spreen
- SypherPK
Best Esports Athlete
The esports athlete judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021, irrespective of game.
- Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok
- Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
- Max “Demon1” Mazanov
- Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez
- Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk
- Phillip ”ImperialHal” Dosen
Best Esports Coach
The Esports coach judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021.
- Christine “potter” Chi
- Danny “zonic” Sorensen
- Jordan “Gunba” Graham
- Remy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam
- Yoon “Homme” Sung-young
Best Esports Event
Recognizing an event (across single or multiple days) that delivered a best-of-class experience for participants and the broadcast audience.
- 2023 League of Legends World Championship
- Blast.tv Paris Major 2023
- EVO 2023
- The International Dota 2 Championships 2023
- VALORANT Champions 2023
Best Esports Game
For the game that has delivered the best overall esports experience to players (inclusive of tournaments, community support and content updates), irrespective of genre or platform.
- Counter-Strike 2
- Dota 2
- Leage of Legends
- PUBG Mobile
- Valorant
Best Esports Team
Recognizing a specific esports team (not the full organization) judged the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021.
- Evil Geniuses
- Fnatic
- Gaimin
- JD Gaming
- Team Vitality
Most Anticipated Game
Recognizing an announced game that has demonstrably illustrated potential to push the gaming medium forward.
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Hades 2
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
- Star Wars Outlaws
- Tekken 8
Best Adaptation
Celebrating game-inspired projects across entertainment including TV, movies, comics, and more.
- Castlevania: Nocturne
- Gran Turismo
- The Last of Us
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie
- Twisted Metal
On The Game Awards website, the public can now cast their votes for the nominees they believe are most deserving of each individual award. The awards ceremony is scheduled for December 7.
Game of the Year went to Elden Ring in the previous year’s show; Best Narrative went to God of War: Ragnarok; Best Ongoing Game went to Final Fantasy 14 Online; Best Indie Game went to Stray; Best Mobile Game went to Marvel Snap; and more.
Trailers and announcements for new games abound at the Game Awards as well. For instance, the 2022 show announced the release date for Final Fantasy 16. It also featured announcements about Death Stranding 2 and Armored Core 6, the casting of Idris Elba in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, and more.
