The vibrant PlayStation platformer Astro Bot claimed the prestigious Game of the Year prize at The Game Awards, beating strong contenders like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Black Myth: Wukong, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and Balatro.
Nicolas Doucet, studio head of Team Asobi, accepted the award and appeared to acknowledge Nintendo in his remarks. Astro Bot had a stellar night, also winning Best Family Game, Best Action/Adventure, and Best Game Direction.
The indie poker-themed hit Balatro impressed as well, securing three awards, including Best Mobile Game, while the role-playing title Metaphor: ReFantazio matched the tally with three wins, marking a strong showing for Japanese developers. Meanwhile, Black Myth: Wukong, inspired by Chinese mythology, delighted fans and claimed the Player’s Voice Award, a public-voted honor.
In contrast, it was a tough evening for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Despite seven nominations, it only won Best Music.
Among individual accolades, Melina Juergens from Ninja Theory’s Hellblade 2: Senua’s Saga earned Best Performance for her portrayal of Senua.
The event combined glitz and music, featuring a live orchestra and a performance by Snoop Dogg, who also presented Best Ongoing Game to Helldivers 2. Celebrity appearances added to the spectacle, with Harrison Ford sharing the stage with Troy Baker, the voice of Indiana Jones in the latest game.
While The Game Awards has faced criticism for prioritizing game trailers and commercials over award presentations, it continues to attract massive viewership—organizers claim 118 million livestream viewers last year. Notably absent were updates on highly anticipated releases like Grand Theft Auto VI or Nintendo’s next console.
However, there were exciting announcements, including a new game from Naughty Dog, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, showcased with a cinematic trailer set to It’s a Sin by Pet Shop Boys. Capcom also revealed a sequel to Okami, while CD Projekt Red confirmed development on The Witcher 4.
The awards came amidst widespread layoffs in the gaming industry, with calls for greater acknowledgment of these issues. A new Game Changers Award was introduced, honoring Amir Satvat for his efforts to assist laid-off developers in finding jobs. In a heartfelt acceptance speech, he reflected on his passion for gaming and the values instilled by his parents.
Swen Vincke of Larian Studios, whose Baldur’s Gate 3 won last year, presented the Game of the Year award. In his speech, Vincke criticized the industry’s focus on market share and sales targets, advocating for studios to return to creating games they genuinely want to play.
The night celebrated both creative success and emerging challenges in an industry undergoing significant change.
