GOTY 2024 already has candidatesand with them comes the biggest annual event for video game lovers: The Game Awards 2024. Considered to be the most important in the industry, this event has revealed its full list of nominees, highlighting both the great commercial successes and the independent gems that have reached the mark this year. And so, and as it couldn’t be otherwise, betting has already begun on which titles they will win in the end.

With six Game of the Year contenders, incl Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Black Myth: Wukong, and the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, the main category reflects a balance between consolidated blockbusters and innovative designs that have managed to captivate critics and audiences alike. The list is complete Astro Bot, Balatro and Metafora: ReFantaziotitles that stand out for their creative approach and ability to offer unique experiences.

In addition to the GOTY 2024 nominees, The Best Direction category brings together some of the same titleswhich reaffirms the quality of its development and the creative vision of its teams. Games like Astro Bot, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Black Myth: Wukong strives to shine not only in the technical parts, but also in his ability to lead complex and innovative stories. On the other hand, the Best Story category includes deeply immersive stories like Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II and Silent Hill 2, which mark the return of two iconic sagas.

Art and sound design is once again one of the focal points of the nominations, with categories such as Best Art Direction, where titles such as Neva and Metaphor: ReFantazioand Best Soundtrack where Silent Hill 2 and Stellar Blade They attracted attention with compositions that elevate the gaming experience. These categories reflect how video games have transcended the boundaries of art, combining visual, narrative and musical elements in an interactive medium.

Indie games also have their place at The Game Awards 2024with titles such as Balatro, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes and Animal Well standing out in the Best Indie Game category. Far from big budgets, these works have shown that creativity and innovation can compete with any blockbuster. Standing out in the Best Indie Game Debut category are The Plucky Squire and Pacific Drive, two bets that have made a big impact since their announcement.

Another category that highlights the progress of the industry is Innovation in accessibilitywhere games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Star Wars Outlaws have integrated options designed to make their experiences more inclusive. This reflects the developers’ commitment to creating worlds open to an increasingly diverse audience. Similarly, the Games for Impact category brings together titles like Closer the Distance and Life is Strange: Double Exposure, which address relevant themes and strive to create a significant emotional connection.

The Game Awards 2024 will be held on December 13 and, as in previous years, it will be broadcast live to the whole world. Organized by Geoff Keighley, this event stands out not only for its prizes, but also for its ability to showcase what will be trending in the industry. Anticipation is at its peak: which game will win the title of GOTY 2024? What’s your bet? I hope to read it in the comments!

Complete list of candidates

Game of the Year (GOTY 2024):

• AstroBot
• Balatro
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Golden Tree
• Final Fantasy VII Reborn
• Metaphor: ReFantazio

Best Address:

• AstroBot
• Balatro
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Golden Tree
• Final Fantasy VII Reborn
• Metaphor: ReFantazio

Best story:

• Final Fantasy VII Reborn
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
• Silent Hill 2

Best Art Direction:

• AstroBot
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Golden Tree
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Snowfall

Best Soundtrack and Music:

• AstroBot
• Final Fantasy VII Reborn
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Silent Hill 2
• Star Blade

Best Audio Design:

• AstroBot
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Final Fantasy VII Reborn
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
• Silent Hill 2

Best interpretation:

• Hannah Telle, Life is Strange: Double Exposure
• Brianna White Final Fantasy VII Reborn
• Humberly González, Star Wars Outlaws
• Luke Roberts Silent Hill 2
• Melina Juergensová, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

Innovations in Accessibility:

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Diablo IV
• Dragon Age: Veil Guard
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
• Star Wars Outlaws

Games with social impact:

• Zoom in on the distance
• India
• Snowfall
• Life is Strange: Double Exposure
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
• Tales of Kenzera: Zau

Best game in continuous development:

• Fate 2
• Diablo IV
• Final Fantasy XIV
• Fortnite
• Helldivers 2

Better community support:

• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Final Fantasy XIV
• Fortnite
• Helldivers 2
• No Man’s Sky

Best Indie Game:

• Animal well
• Balatro
• Lorelei and laser eyes
• Snowfall
• UFO 50

Best Debut Indie Game:

• Balatro
• Animal well
• Manor Lords
• Pacific Drive
• Plucky Squire

Best Mobile Game:

• The AFK way
• Balatro
• Pokemon Pocket Card Game
• Stormy waves
• Zenless Zone Zero

Best Virtual/Augmented Reality Game:

• Arizona Sunshine Remake
• Asgard’s Wrath 2
• Batman: Arkham Shadow
• Metal: Hellsinger VR
• Awakening the subway

Best Action Game:

• Black Myth: Wukong
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Helldivers 2
• Star Blade
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marines 2

Best Action/Adventure Game:

• AstroBot
• 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 Golden Tree
• Final Fantasy VII Reborn
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio

Best Fighting Game:

• Granblue Fantasy versus: Rising
• Dragon Ball: Sparkle! ZERO
• Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
• MultiVersus
• Tekken 8

Best Family Game:

• Princess Peach: Showtime!
• AstroBot
• Super Mario Party Jamboree
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• Plucky Squire

Best Strategy/Simulation Game:

• Frostpunk 2
• Age of Mythology: Retold
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
• Manor Lords
• Unicorn Overlord

Best Sports/Racing Game:

• F1 24
• EA Sports FC 25
• NBA 2K25
• Top Spin 2K25
• WWE 2K24

Best Multiplayer Game:

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Helldivers 2
• Super Mario Party Jamboree
• Tekken 8
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marines 2

Best Adaptation:

• Arcana
• fallout
• Joints
• Like a Dragon: Yakuza
• Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft

The most anticipated game:

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Ghost of Yotei
• Grand Theft Auto VI
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
• Monster Hunter Wilds

Content Creator of the Year:

• CaseOh
• IlloJuan
• Techno Gamerz
• Typical player
• Used Pekora

Best Esports Game:

• DOTA 2
• Counter Strike 2
• League of Legends
• Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
• Valiant

Best Athlete in Esports:

• 33 – Net Shapiro
• Aleksib – Aleksi Virolainen
• Breeds – Jeong Ji-hoon
• Fake – Lee Sang-hyeok
• ZyWoO – Mathieu Herbaut
• ZmjjKk – Zheng Yongkang

Best esports team:

• Bilibili Gaming (League of Legends)
• Gen.G (League of Legends)
• NAVI (Counter-Strike)
• T1 (League of Legends)
• Team Liquid (DOTA 2)