The Game of the Year Award is the highest honor one can hope to win in the gaming industry. Over the past ten years, there have been many games nominated, but the winners are some of the heaviest hitting games in the industry. In 2015, The Witcher III took the title. In 2016, Overwatch won, the only game to win the award that is online multiplayer only. In order, between 2017 and 2023, here are the winners: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, God of War, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, The Last of Us Part II, It Takes Two, Elden Ring, and Baldur’s Gate 3. Needless to say, whatever game wins this year will stand amongst giants in the industry.
The nominees for this year’s Game of the Year Award are Metaphor: ReFantazio, Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, Astro Bot, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Balatro. Gamers are in a bit of a disagreement over whether or not some of these games deserve to be on the list.
There is one game on this list that I definitely am conflicted over. That is Shadow of the Erdtree. I debate with myself over what my favorite game of all time is, and I usually conclude with Elden Ring. Like its predecessor, Shadow of the Erdtree is amazing. It is brutally difficult, massive, and every new location is designed like a work of art. However, it’s a DLC. It’s hard to argue that DLCs should be considered for Game of the Year, but it’s also hard to argue that they should be excluded. DLCs piggyback off of the core game they’re attached to for their story, success, and playability. I’m not sure it’s fair to allow a game that piggybacks off another to be the Game of the Year. That leads me to the next conflict.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, as far as I understand it, is a sequel to a remake of an original game. I’ve never played a Final Fantasy game, so unpacking how this game fits into any sort of title was a handful. Luckily, I have a few friends who love the games and were able to explain them and their complexity to me. A sequel to a remake of an original game certainly also piggybacks off of the original’s concept and success which seems to be the core issue up for debate. However, if we’re questioning if games that are sequels deserve to be candidates, we would have to question the legitimacy of every other Game of the Year winner except Overwatch, Sekiro, and It Takes Two.
Certainly, games should not be automatically disqualified if they are sequels, but should remakes and DLCs be considered? Ultimately, the answer is yes, but on a case by case basis. Some DLCs, like Shadow of the Erdtree, are so polished and massive that they're simply better than many other brand new games. That being said, I think original games that are nominated for Game of the Year without being a sequel, remake, remaster, or DLC should be given extra points on whatever grading scale the judges use. In a world of reboots and legacy sequels, original ideas are becoming harder and harder to come by. In fact, the last three games I’ve played, Black Ops 6, Alan Wake II, and Batman Arkham Knight, my comfort game, are all sequels.
Taking all this into consideration, I think the clear choice for Game of the Year is Black Myth: Wukong.
A bit of a disclaimer: I have never played Metaphor: ReFantazio or Balatro, so maybe it isn’t fair for me to judge, but I have looked into them and watched some gameplay of each. While the former does not seem like my cup of tea at all, the latter is very interesting to me. A deck building roguelike game wrapped in a poker theme sounds both complex and fun. However, does this kind of game really hold a candle to a masterpiece like Black Myth: Wukong?
If you haven't played it, call in sick for a few days and buckle in. The game is incredible. It borrows a lot from the soulslike category of games, although whether or not it is one is up for debate, creating a fantastic experience. The combat is challenging but, while there are a few bosses that made me yell loud enough for my neighbors to hear, it isn't quite as hard as Elden Ring overall. The visual design of the playable character, regular enemies, and bosses is exquisite. The customization of play styles is very fun and can definitely lead to several play throughs. The lore is nice and confusing, borrowing from Chinese myth. To top it off, it's not a sequel, remake, reboot, or established IP at all making it all the more impressive. If you haven't played it, do so as soon as you can, and you'll see why I believe it is a clear choice for Game of the Year.
What do you think should win? Let me know below!