The annual 41st Golden Joystick Awards 2023 drew its curtains on Friday, November 10. After a three-year-long hiatus, the event returned to its in-person form in London. It was also live-streamed around the globe. The Golden Joystick Awards were established back in 1983 and are the world’s longest-running public-voted games awards. It is also the second oldest gaming award after the Arcade Awards, launched in 1981.
The show aims at recognizing the talent across the video game industry. The winners were initially chosen by votes from the British general public; however, over the years, it has grown to become a global event wherein players can vote online via GamesRadar+.
The 2023 Golden Joystick Award ceremony, hosted by Troy Baker, took place at the Royal Lancaster Hotel on 10 November 2023. GamesRadar+ reports that they received a record amount of votes this year, with millions of fans coming together to pick their favorite games of the year across several categories.
Golden Joystick Awards 2023 categories and winners
Best Storytelling
Folklore forms a significant part of games. The best storytelling award was for the game that excelled in its overall narrative along with its gameplay.
Nominees:
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
- Armored Core 6: Fires Of Rubicon
- Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals
- Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Winner: Baldur’s Gate 3
Still Playing Award
The Still Playing Award recognizes the long-running game that has managed to evolve gracefully. This is one of the most competitive categories which recognizes the games that enjoy longevity.
Nominees:
- No Man’s Sky
- Genshin Impact
- The Sims 4
- Fortnite
- Naraka Bladepoint
- GTA Online
- Warframe
- Valorant
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive / Counter-Strike 2
- Apex Legends
- Dota 2
- Call of Duty
Winner: No Man’s Sky
Best Visual Design
This award recognizes the game, offering a visual experience like no other. The visual details, environment intricacies, motion graphics, and effects are some of the parameters considered in this award.
Nominees:
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Starfield
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Viewfinder
- Lies of P
- Street Fighter 6
Winner: Baldur’s Gate 3
Studio of the Year
Needless to say, this award acknowledges the best gaming studio involved in developing and publishing game titles. It awards the game studio, which has enjoyed a great run in terms of titles over the past year.
Nominees
- Larian Studios
- Digital Eclipse
- Nintendo EPD
- Mimimi Games
- Remedy Entertainment
- CD Projekt Red
Winner: Larian Studios
Huge congratulations to all of the winners of the The 41st Golden Joystick Awards Powered by @intel! What a great night it's been celebrating all! #GoldenJoystickAwards pic.twitter.com/YylrBITASn
— Golden Joysticks (@GoldenJoysticks) November 10, 2023
Best Game Expansion
This recognition is given to the latest expansion to an already existing game that added significant elements and improvements to the base game.
- Power Wash Simulator DLC
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom
- The Case of the Golden Idol Mysteries: The Lemurian Vampire and Spider of Lanka
- Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania
- A Little to the Left: Cupboards & Drawers
Winner: Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Best Indie Game
While major AAA titles and large studios often enjoy and snatch away most of the limelight, some small-time independent studios end up delivering some of the biggest hits. The Best Indie Game category recognizes those gems.
- Dave the Diver
- Pizza Tower
- Dredge
- Cocoon
- Viewfinder
- Sea of Stars
Winner: Sea of Stars
Best Multiplayer Game
While solo games enjoy their charm, multiplayer games offer a new experience by allowing players to team up with their friends. This award celebrates the best game from the multiplayer sub-genre.
Nominees:
- Exoprimal
- Diablo 4
- Street Fighter 6
- Remnant 2
- Mortal Kombat 1
- We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip
Winner: Mortal Kombat 1
Best Audio
Game visuals undoubtedly make or mar the game, but audio can enhance the gaming experience. This award recognizes the game with the best audio.
Nominees:
- Stray Gods
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
- Starfield
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Final Fantasy 16
Winner: Final Fantasy 16
Best Game Trailer
The trailer provides a window into what the game has in store. This award recognizes the best trailer for any game.
Nominees:
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty – Official Cinematic Trailer
- Alan Wake 2 – The Dark Place Gameplay Trailer
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Official Trailer #3
- Baby Steps Reveal Trailer
- Mortal Kombat 1 – Official It’s In Our Blood Trailer
- Dave the Diver – Official Release Month And Accolades Trailer
Winner: Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty – Official Cinematic Trailer
Congratulations to @CyberpunkGame 2077 for winning Best Game Trailer for Phantom Liberty #GoldenJoystickAwards pic.twitter.com/UBmifgIwGh
— Golden Joysticks (@GoldenJoysticks) November 10, 2023
Best Game Community
Fans and community are what make the game bigger and better. The Best Game Community awards the game that has garnered the most number of fans and admirers.
Nominees:
- Final Fantasy 14
- Warframe
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Deep Rock Galactic
- Dreams
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Winner: Baldur’s Gate 3
Best VR game
Virtual reality adds a new dimension to the fantastic games. The Best VR Game award recognizes the game offers the best virtual reality experience
Nominees:
- C-Smash VRS
- Horizon Call of the Mountain
- Synapse
- Vertigo 2 VR
- F1 23 VR
- The Light Brigade
Winner: Horizon Call of the Mountain
Best Gaming Hardware
Gaming hardware is what runs any game. The Best Gaming Hardware appreciates the best gaming hardware out there.
Nominees:
- PlayStation VR2
- Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Headset
- Alienware 34 AW3423DWF
- Nitro Deck
- ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96
- Samsung 990 PRO
Winner: PlayStation VR2
Breakthrough Award
The Breakthrough Award celebrates the developers and created behind the unexpected titles, the games that amaze and entertain users with their out-of-the-box craft.
Winner: Cocoon / Geometric Interactive
Critics’ Choice Award
Critics Choice Award voted by a group of journalists from GamesRadar+, PC Gamer, Future Game Show, EDGE Magazine, Retro Gamer, and PLAY magazine, along with Future’s trusted network of freelance writers.
Winner: Alan Wake 2
Best Streaming Game
Streamers help the games reach new heights. This award recognizes the game that generates the best streaming content.
Winner: Valorant
Best Lead Performer
This award recognizes the lead performer of the game.
Nominees:
- Ben Starr – Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy 16
- Yuri Lowenthal – Peter Parker in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Cameron Monaghan – Cal Kestis in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- Ilkka Villi and Matthew Porretta – Alan Wake in Alan Wake 2
- Nadji Jeter – Miles Morales in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Ellise Chappell – Kathy Johanson in Deliver Us Mars
- Melanie Liburd – Saga Anderson in Alan Wake 2
Winners: Ben Starr – Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy 16
Best Supporting Performer
As much as the lead performer is important in any game, the supporting performer also deserves equal credit. This award does just that.
Nominees:
- Laura Bailey – Mary Jane in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Neil Newbon – Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3
- Cissy Jones – Andreja in Starfield
- Amelia Tyler – Narrator in Baldur’s Gate 3
- Ralph Ineson – Cidolfus Telamon in Final Fantasy 16
- Patricia Summersett – Princess Zelda in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Idris Elba – Solomon Reed in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Winner: Neil Newbon – Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3
Nintendo Game of the Year
Nintendo has some of the best exclusive titles out there. This award accredits the best Nintendo Game of the Year.
Nominees:
- Pikmin 4
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Fire Emblem Engage
- Metroid Prime Remastered
- Octopath Traveller 2
- Fae Farm
Winner: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Most Wanted Game goes to @finalfantasyvii Rebirth Congratulations #GoldenJoystickAwards pic.twitter.com/H4W8xDzIji
— Golden Joysticks (@GoldenJoysticks) November 10, 2023
PC Game of the Year
Just like any other platform, PC has a wide range of games that offer an unparalleled game experience. The PC Game of the Year awards the best game on PC.
Nominees:
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Diablo 4
- Dave the Diver
- Tchia
- System Shock
- Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
Winner: Baldur’s Gate 3
PlayStation Game of the Year
This game rewards the best PlayStation game out there.
- Final Fantasy 16
- Resident Evil 4
- Street Fighter 6
- Humanity
- Armored Core 6: Fires Of Rubicon
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Winner: Resident Evil 4
Xbox Game of the Year
This award recognizes the best game available on Xbox.
Nominees:
- Starfield
- Chants of Sennaar
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Planet of Lana
- Dead Space
- Pentiment
Winner: Starfield
Most Wanted Game goes to @finalfantasyvii Rebirth Congratulations #GoldenJoystickAwards pic.twitter.com/H4W8xDzIji
— Golden Joysticks (@GoldenJoysticks) November 10, 2023
Most Wanted Game
This category aims at awarding the most anticipated game that the community is looking forward.
Nominees:
- Death Stranding 2
- Star Wars Outlaws
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Tekken 8
- Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
- Hades 2
- Fable
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Everywhere
- Frostpunk 2
- Ark 2
- Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater
- Persona 3 Reload
- Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles
- Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
- Pacific Drive
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
- Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin
Winner: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Huge congratulations to all of the winners of the The 41st Golden Joystick Awards Powered by @intel! What a great night it’s been celebrating all! #GoldenJoystickAwards pic.twitter.com/YylrBITASn
— Golden Joysticks (@GoldenJoysticks) November 10, 2023
Ultimate Game of the Year
Finally, the Ultimate Game of the Year awards the best overall game, which excels in various aspects.
Nominees:
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- Alan Wake 2
- Resident Evil 4
- Cocoon
- Starfield
- Final Fantasy 16
- Diablo 4
- Forza Motorsport
- Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Street Fighter 6
- Metroid Prime Remastered
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Lords of the Fallen
- Dead Space
- Sea of Stars
Winner: Baldur’s Gate 3
The awards witnessed Larian Studios’ highly acclaimed title, Baldur’s Gate 3, bagging an impressive number of awards. To be precise, the game claimed a record-breaking seven Golden Joysticks overall, including Ultimate Game of the Year (UGOTY) and Larian Studios taking home Studio of the Year.