The Game Awards 2024 marked its 10th anniversary on December 7, bringing together gamers and developers for a night filled with significant announcements, memorable performances, and award recognitions. The ceremony, hosted by Geoff Keighley, aimed to celebrate not only the best games of the year but also those positively impacting the gaming community.
Leading the night was Team ASOBI’s critically acclaimed Astro Bot, which took home the prestigious Game of the Year award. This unique platformer saw off fierce competition from titles like Black Myth: Wukong, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Balatro, and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Notably, the 2024 awards offered refreshing changes compared to its predecessor, with winners being allowed more time for acceptance speeches, reflecting the feedback from last year’s event.
With Astro Bot’s triumph, the awards ceremony highlighted several other noteworthy winners across various categories. Melina Juergens made history by becoming the first individual to clinch the Best Performance award twice, adding to her previous win for Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Baldur’s Gate 3 continued its strong showing from the previous year by dominating multiple categories, including Best Community Support and Best Ongoing Game. You couldn’t escape the feeling of nostalgia as the boundaries between indie games and blockbusters blurred during the awards.
The complete list of awards showcased the diverse gaming world, with highlights including:
- Best Fighting Game: Tekken 8
- Best VR/AR Game: Batman: Arkham Shadow
- Best Esports Game: League of Legends
- Best Family Game: Astro Bot
- Most Anticipated Game: Grand Theft Auto VI
- Games for Impact: Neva
- Best Narrative: Metaphor: ReFantazio
- Players’ Voice: Black Myth: Wukong
Other major announcements occurred throughout the night, starting with the pre-show, where attendees were treated to the much-anticipated reveal of Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, the first new title since 2014. This retro-inspired action game promises to be true to its roots. Another exciting reveal was Slay the Spire 2, which will introduce new characters and gameplay elements.
The main event showcased more thrilling premieres, including the reveal of The Witcher 4. Fans were delighted to learn Ciri would be the lead character, adding dynamism and excitement to the beloved franchise. Meanwhile, Elden Ring: Nightreign promised cooperative gameplay set within the Elden Ring universe, stirring even more anticipation for the upcoming titles.
During the ceremony, audiences also got peeks at:
- Borderlands 4: A vibrant glimpse of new gameplay set against various environments.
- Okami Sequel: A much-loved franchise returning with fresh content.
- Split Fiction: From Hazelight’s Josef Fares, this co-op platformer entails two authors trapped within their books.
- Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet: A new sci-fi IP from Naughty Dog setting tantalizing expectations.
The announcement spree didn’t end there, as various other titles garnered significant attention. The thrilling competitive multiplayer game REMATCH, developed by Sloclap, delved boldly beyond the realms of its previous success with Sifu. And from the creator of Virtua Fighter, Steel Hunters teased exciting gameplay for mobile users.
A new award was introduced this year—the Game Changer Award—which was awarded to Amir Satvat. His platform, Amir Satvat’s Games Community, successfully helped nearly 3,000 laid-off developers find new opportunities within the gaming industry. This award highlights the importance of supporting those affected during challenging times.
Musical performances also played a pivotal role, keeping the audience engaged. A spectacular showing of songs from Arcane Season 2 featured performances from artists like Royal & the Serpent, d4vd, and Twenty One Pilots, adding glamour to the ceremony.
Despite the excitement, the show wasn’t without its flaws. Celebrity presenters, including Harrison Ford, fell short, leading to some cringe-worthy moments during the live broadcasts. Audience humor from the Muppets provided levity, reminding viewers about past missteps, such as the previous year’s problematic time constraints on acceptance speeches.
Looking back at the expansive three-and-a-half-hour showcase, there was so much to celebrate and critique alike. Laura Bailey, during her time on stage, pointed out the often fraught relationship between Hollywood celebrity appearances at gaming events and the gaming community they aim to represent.
This year, The Game Awards provided validation to gamers and developers alike, emphasizing the voices and contributions of those deeply embedded within gaming culture. The ever-evolving nature of The Game Awards signals its adaptability and responsiveness to changes within the industry.
Attendees and viewers alike walked away from the event with heightened excitement for 2025. Between the continued expansions of beloved franchises and the debut of entirely new intellectual properties, one thing is clear: the gaming world has plenty of surprises left to unravel.
There’s no doubt The Game Awards 2024 represented what the gaming world can aspire to be: a place where community is celebrated, voices are heard, and the art of gaming is honored with genuine love and respect. With the future promising to bring even more groundbreaking developments, audiences are reminded to stay engaged and supportive as they navigate this dynamic industry together.
