- 2023 has featured so many great games that it has become the most competitive year in the history of The Game Awards.
- My personal favorite is Alan Wake 2, but any of the picks for Game of the Year are likely to win this year.
The Game Awards have always been memorable for the industry. With exciting reveals, anticipation around Game of The Year, and numerous possibilities, millions of fans tune in each year to watch this event live.
In 2018, this event was more competitive than ever. With behemoths like God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2 competing for the glorious Game of the Year award, the buzz surrounding the result kept everyone on their toes.
However, 2023 has the potential to be the biggest year for The Game Awards.
Why it matters: With major events like E3 slowly dying out, The Game Awards have become a pillar of the industry, serving as the last annual event for gaming reveals and information.
Lack of Competition In 2022
2022 was by no means a bad year for games. However, it was lacking big hitters.
This meant that the competition for Game of the Year was not fierce. From the beginning, it was obvious that God of War Ragnarok or Elden Ring would take this title home, with the latter having an advantage due to its fresh ideas.
Eventually, Elden Ring won Game of the Year. Other categories were also dominated by these two titles, making for a predictable show. While I was happy with this outcome, there was no tension or suspense last year.
The same could be said for The Game Awards in 2021 or 2020. However, the 2023 awards are a completely different ball game.
Complete 180 In Terms of Competition From 2022
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder are three games that would be favorites to win any other year. All of these games have uncountable strengths.
Tears of the Kingdom shocked developers worldwide for its interactivity and physics-based mechanics, while Baldur’s Gate 3 was massive and packed with hundreds of hours of content. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is also considered the best modern 2D Mario game.
However, all these games are face-to-face with each other this year. A wildcard like Alan Wake 2 has added further complexity to the competition, with the horror game being tied for most nominations with Baldur’s Gate 3.
The competition has been so intense that deserving games like Starfield were left out of the race for Game of the Year. Who could’ve thought that a new Bethesda game would not be a part of the Game of the Year discussion? Certainly not me.
This selection of games has introduced an element of unpredictability that I have missed in recent years. For this reason, I cannot wait to see surprising outcomes, unexpected triumphs, and developers celebrating their achievements at this event next month.
Alan Wake 2 Could Shock Everyone
If I had to select my personal Game of the Year, the choice would have me picking between Alan Wake 2 and Resident Evil 4 Remake. While this remake was incredible, by all means, I found Alan Wake 2 to be the breath of fresh air I have craved in horror games.
In my opinion, Remedy has raised the bar for horror games. Therefore, while the competition did not make this choice any easier, Alan Wake 2 would get my vote for Game of the Year, and I hope to see it winning numerous awards on 7 December.
With The Game Awards just one week away, I cannot contain my excitement for this event. Rockstar is also expected to air the first GTA 6 trailer during the same week, so there are more than a few reasons to look forward to December.
Apart from the awards themselves, new looks at Death Stranding 2, Elden Ring DLC, and more will likely elevate the awards show, making it one to remember for many years to come.
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[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree, while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over a year because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.