I can already tell you what will be Game of the Year in 2025. 23 months from now,Rockstarwill be up on stage atThe Game AwardscelebratingGTA 6’svictory. It’s not that the contest is fixed or bought off, it’s just that GTA 6 is clearly the biggest game in the calendar and few studios are able to compete with Rockstar’s resources or GTA’s legendary status. If there is to be a surprise, it won’t be a surprise by the time we get there. This time last year, we all would have thoughtTears of the Kingdomhad it locked up. By December, we knew it would beBaldur’s Gate 3. The candidate changed, but the certainty didn’t. That makes 2024 very interesting.
We have had this certainty before, very often. We knew it would beElden Ringin 2022. We knew it would beThe Last of Us Part 2in 2020, despite the stacked field. 2021 was a little more open, but the pandemic-hit year was without any stone cold classics, especially compared to the nominees in 2023 or 2020. 2018 was the last big shoot out, whenRed Dead Redemption 2andGod of Warwere both in with an even chance, but that’s the exception that proves the rule. I’ve missed 2019 out there. Let’s talk about 2019. Then, I promise, onto 2024.
2019 Game of the Year Nominees
2019 falls between 2018 and 2021, and I don’t just mean chronologically. Take a look at 2019’s nominees, and what you’ll see is a lot of very good games but no generation-defining title like The Last of Us Part 2, Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War, Elden Ring, Baldur’s Gate 3, or Tears of the Kingdom. It was eventually won bySekiroin a tight contest where at least five out of six (Resident Evil 2might have been an upset) had a shot at winning - we need years like that sometimes.
Disco Elysium,Outer Wilds, and Player’s Voice winnerFire Emblem: Three Housesweren’t even nominated.
All anyone has had to sayabout 2024 is that it won’t live up to 2023, and that isadmittedly a very high bar to clear. But the games were almosttoogood last year, at least in terms of making the awards interesting. Tears of the Kingdom andAlan Wake 2had a right to feel hard done by, whileFinal Fantasy 16andStarfielddidn’t even make the final six. 2024 looks to be a lot more interesting in terms of even competition, and that could make it the most exciting Game of the Year showdown ever.
This leaves outPersona 3 ReloadandTekken 8, both of which cleared 90 on Metacritic, as well asPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown(which scored 87), plusHellblade 2,Star Wars Outlaws,Avowed,Rise of the Ronin, and any other games the Switch 2 will launch with. Add in thatSonyis yet to revealPlayStation’sslate beyond spring, and this could be a packed race.
I wrote back in Decemberthat I thought 2024 could be a thin year, and that itmade Infinite Wealth a dark horse. I still stand by my prediction that it will be the first game to launch in January and end up a Game of the Year nominee, and five of the six games I’m calling as challengers aren’t out yet, while several of them or the first alternates could be delayed. 2024 could still end up very thin ifNintendodoesn’t go all out on the launch (or,more surprisingly, doesn’t have one), if Sony isn’t showing us anything becauseit doesn’t have much, and ifXbox, well…Xbox is on a bad runandmight be about to pack up shop. A lot could go wrong.
But assuming just enough goes right, 2024 could have the most interesting Game of the Year showdown ever.Final Fantasy 7 Remakewas an also-ran in 2020 and 16 didn’t even make it to the starting line, so while Rebirth stands as the early favourite, it’s not cut and dried especially after the Western breakthrough Infinite Wealth has enjoyed. I have a feeling that when the lights dim for The Game Awards in 2025, I will already know who is walking away with the big prize. I hope that in 2024, I don’t.
The Game Awards
Founded by Geoff Keighley, The Game Awards is a video games event centered on celebrating the best of the year’s titles, with emphasis on reveals and promos for upcoming launches.
