The race for Game of the Year remains wide open, with celebrated indies having as much or stronger critical interest than the obvious AAA tentpoles (and the fall calendar shaking up last minute – Assassin’s Creed Shadows was never poised to be The Big One for 2024, but Ubisoft’s decision to punt it to 2025 makes it a non-starter). The nominees for this year’s Golden Joystick Awards, which is going on its 41st year of handing out trophies for the best in gaming, only strengthen the narrative that there is no narrative. It’s anyone’s… uh, game.
Astro Bot, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Helldivers 2 led the nominees for the Joysticks, which this year celebrates titles released between Nov. 11, 2023 and Oct. 4, 2024, with smaller games like Balatro, Tactical Breach Wizards, and UFO 50 popping up in multiple categories as well. Fan voting is now open for the awards, with the nominees selected by PC Gamer, the Future Games Show, Edge magazine, Retro Gamer, GamesRadar and “a variety of industry experts.” And Dragon Age fans wondering if The Veilguard is getting completely shafted by a weird nomination window, don’t fret: The Joysticks said games released between Oct. 4 and Nov. 21 (the day of the awards) will still be eligible for categories like Best Performance and Ultimate Game of the Year, where the sequel will likely dominate. Like the Golden Globes skirting the Oscars, the Joysticks clearly see opportunity in being first out the gate, while bending the rules to make sure nothing gets lost in the shuffle. Award season!
How indicative are these nominees of a larger Game of the Year wave that eventually informs The Game Awards in December? Among the Golden Joystick Awards nominating jury, only Edge, GamesRadar, and PC Gamer usually contribute to the TGA voting jury, which comprises over 100 outlets from all around the world. So if you are out there rooting for Black Myth Wukong or Metaphor: ReFantazio, it ain’t over yet.
Here is the complete list of nominees for the Golden Joystick Awards. The winners will be announced on Nov. 21.
Best Storytelling
1000xResist
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Tactical Breach Wizards
Best Multiplayer Game
Abiotic Factor
EA Sports College Football 25
Helldivers 2
Sons Of The Forest
Tekken 8
The Finals
Best Visual Design
Astro Bot
Black Myth: Wukong
Harold Halibut
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Best Indie Game
Animal Well
Arco
Balatro
Beyond Galaxyland
Conscript
Indika
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Thank Goodness You’re Here!
The Plucky Squire
Ultros
Best Indie Game – Self Published
Arctic Eggs
Another Crab’s Treasure
Crow Country
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami
I Am Your Beast
Little Kitty, Big City
Riven
Tactical Breach Wizards
Tiny Glade
UFO 50
Still Playing Award – PC and Console
Apex Legends
Counter-Strike 2
EA Sports FC
Dota 2
Fortnite
GTA Online
Minecraft
Naraka: Bladepoint
Roblox
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
Valorant
Warframe
Still Playing Award – Mobile
Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile
Free Fire
Honkai: Star Rail
Roblox
Marvel Snap
Monopoly Go!
Mini Motorways
PUBG: Battlegrounds
Squad Busters
Star Wars: Hunters
Subway Surfers
The Sims Mobile
Studio of the Year
11 Bit Studios
Arrowhead Game Studios
Capcom
Digital Eclipse
Team ASOBI
Visual Concepts
Best Game Expansion
Alan Wake 2 Expansion Pass
Destiny 2: The Final Shape
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla
World of Warcraft: The War Within
Best Audio Design
Astro Bot
Balatro
Robobeat
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Star Wars Outlaws
Still Wakes the Deep
Best Soundtrack
A Highland Song
Astro Bot
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Hauntii
Silent Hill 2
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
Best Lead Performer
Cody Christian as Cloud Strife in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Kaiji Tang as Ichiban Kasuga in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Humberly Gonzalez as Kay Vess in Star Wars Outlaws
Luke Roberts as James Sunderland in Silent Hill 2
Melina Juergens as Senua in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Sonequa Martin-Green as Alvilda in Asgard’s Wrath 2
Best Supporting Performer
Abbi Greenland & Helen Goalen as The Furies in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Briana White as Aerith Gainsborough in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Dawn M. Bennett as Aigis in Persona 3 Reload
Debra Wilson as Amanda Waller in Suicide Squad
Matt Berry as Herbert in Thank Goodness You’re Here!
Neve McIntosh as Suze in Still Wakes the Deep
PC Game of the Year
Animal Well
Balatro
Frostpunk 2
Satisfactory
Tactical Breach Wizards
UFO 50
Console Game of the Year
Astro Bot
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Helldivers 2
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Best Early Access Game
Enshrouded
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
Hades 2
Manor Lords
Lethal Company
Palworld
Best Gaming Hardware
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)
Backbone One (2nd Gen)
LG UltraGear 32GS95UE
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super
Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra
Steam Deck OLED