ALBAWABA - Geoff Keighley's The Game Awards are nearly within reach, as the official website is currently showcasing all the nominees for the long-anticipated Game of the Year (aka. GOTY), Best Ongoing, Best Narrative, and more.
The Game Awards will air live from the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles on December 7 and will be hosted by the one and only Geoff Keighley, since he's both the host and creator of this yearly show.
Expect it to premiere on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and the official website of The Game Awards.
Our top picks for The Game Awards 2023
1) The Game of the Year (aka. GOTY) - The Legend of Zelda TOTK
Nintendo / The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom
2023 has been one hell of a year for gaming with releases like Baldur's Gate lll, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Spider-Man 2, Alan Wake 2, Hogwarts Legacy, Hi-Fi Rush, Final Fantasy 16, our pick for GOTY The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom and more.
We believe that Resident Evil 4 shouldn't be on this list as it's a remake of its 2005 predecessor.
If it's up to us, we would replace it with Final Fantasy 16 since we truly believe that Square-Enix did a spectacular job with the game for its compelling story, engaging action combat, and beautiful soundtrack.
Our pick for the Game of the Year is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom which was more than a sequel in our eyes!
Despite it being based in the same universe and setting as Breath of the Wild, Nintendo doubled the size of the map, added new, fun, and creative gameplay mechanics, and gave the story a beautiful and satisfying conclusion.
Although Zelda is our top choice, we believe that Baldur's Gate lll deserves to win this year.
The nominees for the Game of the Year are as follows:
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom
- Alan Wake 2
- Baldur's Gate lll
- Spider-Man 2
- Resident Evil 4 Remake
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Vote for your game of the year here.
2) Best game direction - Alan Wake 2
Remedy Entertainment / Alan Wake 2
The best game direction award has to go to Remedy's Alan Wake ll just for its unique setting and the way Remedy portrayed the story to the players.
It's horrifying, tense, and beautiful at the same time. No game has ever foretold a story by mixing 3D graphics and live-action moments such as Alan Wake 2 because of its flawless transitions and beautiful yet uneasy color palette.
The nominees for the best game direction are as follows:
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom
- Alan Wake 2
- Baldur's Gate lll
- Spider-Man 2
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Vote for the best game direction here.
3) Best ongoing game - Genshin Impact
Hoyoverse / Genshin Impact
Among other titles, we believe Genshin Impact is still one of the best ongoing live-service games in the industry, especially with the recent Fontaine region, as it introduced new gameplay elements and a plethora of new interesting characters.
The nominees for the best ongoing game are as follows:
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Apex Legends
- Final Fantasy 14
- Genshin Impact
- Fortnite
Vote for the best independent game here.
4) Best independent game - Sea of Stars
Sabotage Studio / Sea of Stars
In our opinion, Sea of Stars takes the cake for the best indie game this year, with Dave the Diver coming really close to it.
The beautiful art of Bryce Kho and the game's stunning pixel art and color palette really helped the Sea of Stars shine. In addition, the classic retro-inspired turn-based gameplay is very engaging and nostalgic.
The nominees for the best independent game are as follows:
- Sea of Stars
- Dave the Diver
- Dredge
- Cocoon
- Viewfinder
Vote for the best ongoing game here.
5) Best score and music - Final Fantasy 16
Square-Enix / Final Fantasy 16
The best score and music have to go to Final Fantasy 16, as no game came close to it except the best surprise of the year, Hi-Fi Rush!
Masayoshi Soken, Takafumi Imamura, Daiki Ishikawa, Saya Yasaki, and Justin Frieden did an amazing job with the soundtrack.
The nominees for the best score and music are as follows:
- Alan Wake 2
- Badlur's Gate lll
- Final Fantasy 16
- Hi-Fi Rush
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom
Vote for the best game in terms of score and music here.
For more nominees and categories, visit The Game Award's official website here.
