A Brief Recap of The 2023 Game Awards
There were too many games announced to do them all justice. That’s a great problem to have. There were a few notable announcements such as the free Valhalla dlc for God of War: Ragnarok, Monster Hunter Wilds, Suicide Squad, and OD from Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele. Games weren’t the only show stoppers. Poets of the Fall took to the stage as Alan Wake villains Old Gods of Asgard to perform the sequel’s musical number.
- Baldur’s Gate 3
BG3 took home four awards in total. This includes the GOTY award. The massive rpg that grows with every update, has given fans a world with almost limitless choices. Players are in a race to remove a mindflayer parasite from their brains and along the way they meet unique characters with memorable voice acting. The world is expansive with hundreds of hours of gameplay waiting to be explored.
- Alan Wake 2
The sequel to 2012’s Alan Wake picked up three awards. When the sequel was announced it was a surprise, but that was quickly overcome by hype. Its twisting story, horrifying enemies, and moments of levity show that the wait was well worth it. Players take on the role of detective through Saga while also playing as Alan, who is shaping reality around them. Alan Wake 2 is a tragic mystery that starts with ritualistic murders and quickly escalates to a paranormal nightmare.
- Forza MotorSports
Forza picked up awards for Innovation in Accessibility and Best Sports/Racing Game. Fans get to race on world famous courses. So gamers who also like cars get over 500 to choose from. The focus is more on multiplayer than narrative, so it’s perfect for competitive players. Seeing Forza win for accessibility was a surprise, but always a good sign to see such a large game make room for anyone who wants to play.
The games that went home with one award are still worth mentioning. There were big names and newcomers who made their mark this year. The other Game Award winners:
- Best Family Game: Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Best E-Sport Game: Valorant
- Best debut Indie Game: Cocoon
- Best Action Game: Armored Core VI
- Games for Impact: Tchia
- Best Score & Music: Final Fantasy XVI
- Best Fighting Game: Street Fighter 6
- Most Anticipated Game: Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
- Best Ongoing Game: Cyberpunk 2077
- Best Adaptation: The Last of Us
- Best Action-Adventure Game: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Best Sim/Strategy: Pikman 4
The Game Awards ended with an amazing medley of the GOTY nominee themes. For all the exciting reveals, there were some games that have had their share of delays. It wasn’t enough to ruin the night, but it was a reminder to stay grounded when watching flashy trailers. The games that won should be proud of their accolades. If there’s one, or more, that have been on the backlog this might be the time to find out what they’re all about.
