It’s that time of the year again, which is highly anticipated by all gaming fans worldwide. The Game Awards 2023 are all to take place on December 7, 2023, at Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Ahead of the glamourous awards night, the organizers will be hosting a live stream to announce the official nominees for various award categories.
The Game Awards is an awards ceremony held annually to honor the achievements in the video game industry. The awards started in 2014, and since then, it has been produced and hosted by game journalist Geoff Keighley. He has previously worked on The Game Awards predecessor, which was known as the Spike Video Game Awards, for over a decade. Apart from recognizing the achievers, The Game Awards also includes premieres of upcoming games and new announcements about previously announced titles.
The Game Awards includes an advisory committee that has representatives from hardware manufacturers like Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, and AMD, as well as several game publishers. The committee shortlists about thirty significant video game news organizations that can nominate and subsequently vote on the video games in the specified categories.
Notably, the committee does not participate in the nomination or voting process. First, the nomination round takes place, wherein each of the news organizations furnishes a list of games in multiple categories. The committee gathers all the nominations and picks the most-nominated games for voting by these news outlets.
Here’s a look at the most nominated games at #TheGameAwards on December 7.
ALAN WAKE 2 and BALDUR’S GATE 3 lead the pack with 8 nominations each.
🗳️ Vote now: https://t.co/ExP93r9hmS pic.twitter.com/hPcXqYviDL
— The Game Awards (@thegameawards) November 13, 2023
Before 2017, there were around 28 industry experts and representatives who selected the winners. However, 2017 onwards, 50 such experts are involved in selecting the winner. Notably, in 2019, non-English media publications were also added to the jury. The winners in each category are determined by a combined vote of the voting jury, which makes up 90% of the share, while public fan voting via social platforms and the show’s website determines the remaining 10%.
Among the several categories, the prestigious of all is the “Game of the Year,” which recognizes the game that has excelled in multiple areas. In recent years, some of the most deserving and acclaimed games have claimed the prestigious title. The action-adventure game God of War, developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, became the Game of the Year in 2018.
In the following year, it was FromSoftwares action-adventure title Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which bagged Game of the Year 2019. The second installment of Last of Us, Last of Us 2, by Naughty Dog, was awarded the Game of the Year 2020 in a virtual event. In 2021, It Takes Two, an action-adventure game from Electronic Arts, became the Game of the Year.
Currently, the defending title is FromSoftware’s action role-playing game, Elden Rings, which proudly sits at the Game of the Year 2022. While all eyes are on which game takes home the Game of The Year 2023, the competition is quite tough this year, considering that an impressive number of good titles have been released in the past year.
Likewise, the community also has its eyes and ears fixed on what new announcements and reveals will be made at this year’s awards. Fans are particularly expecting Rockstar Games to release the trailer for their most-awaited title, unofficially called GTA 6. Notably, last week, the devs revealed that they would be releasing the GTA 6 trailer early in December, which coincides with The Game Awards date. Thus, fans have their hopes high on seeing a glimpse of GTA 6 on a grand stage like The Game Awards 2023.
The Game Awards Categories and Nominees
The Game Awards 2023 will be announcing the nominees for the upcoming awards via a live stream on November 11, 2023.
Game of the Year
Nominees:
- Alan Wake 2
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Resident Evil 4
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Our Prediction: Baldur’s Gate 3
Here are your six nominees for GAME OF THE YEAR at #TheGameAwards
Vote now: https://t.co/ExP93r9hmS
Tune in December 7 to see who wins! pic.twitter.com/pR8S3ZExJW
— The Game Awards (@thegameawards) November 13, 2023
Content Creator of the Year
- Iron Mouse
- People Make Games
- Quackity
- Spreen
- Sypherpk
Our Prediction: Quackity
Most Anticipated Game
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Hades II
- Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
- Star Wars Outlaws
- Tekken 8
Our Prediction: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Best Independent Game
- Cocoon
- Dave The Diver
- Dredge
- Sea of Stars
- Viewfinder
Our Prediction: Sea of Stars
Best Mobile Game
- Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crises
- Honkai Starrail
- Hello Kitty Island Adventure
- Monster Hunter Now
- Terra Nil
Our Prediction: Honkai Starrail
Best Narrative
- Alan Wake 2
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Final Fantasy 4
- Spider-Man 2
Our Prediction: Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Best Score and Music
- Alan Wake 2 – Petri Alanko
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – Borislav Slavov
- Final Fantasy 4 – Masayoshi Soken
- Hi-fi Rush – Shuichi Kobori
- Legends of Zelda: Tears of Kingdom – Nintendo Sound Team
Our Prediction: Hi-Fi Rush – Shuichi Kobori
Best Performance
- Ben Starr – Final Fantasy
- Cameron Monaghan – Jedi Survivor
- Idris Elba – Cyberpunk 2077
- Melani Liburd – Alan Wake 2
- Neil Newbon – Baldur’s Gate
- Yuri Lowenthal – Spider-Man 2
Our Prediction: Yuri Lowenthal (Spiderman 2)
Games for Impact
- A Space for the Unbound
- Chants of Sendaar
- Goodbye Volcano High
- Tchia
- Terra Nil
- Venba
Our Prediction: Space for the Unbound
— The Game Awards (@thegameawards) November 13, 2023
Best Action/Adventure
- Alan Wake 2
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Resident Evil 4
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Our Prediction: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Best Role Playing Game
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Final Fantasy XVI
- Lies of P
- Sea of Stars
- Starfield
Our Prediction: Baldur’s Gate 3
Best Fighting Game
- God of Rock
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
- Pocket Bravery
- Street Fighter 6
Our Prediction: Street Fighter 6
Best Family Game
- Disney Illusion Island
- Party Animals
- Pikmin 4
- Sonic Superstars
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Our Prediction: Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Best Sports/Racing Game
- EA Sports FC 24
- F1 23
- Forza Motorsport
- Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged
- The Crew Motorfest
Our Prediction: Forza Motorsport
Best Multiplayer
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Diablo 4
- Party Animals
- Street Fighter
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Our Prediction: Diablo 4
Best Art Direction
- Alan Wake 2
- Hi-fi Rush
- Lies of P
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Legends of Zelda: Tears of Kingdom
Our Prediction: Lies of P
Best Game Direction
- Alan Wake 2
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Our Prediction: Alan Wake 2
Best VR/AR Game
- Gran Turismo 7
- Humanity
- Horizon VR: Call of the Mountain
- Resident Evil Villae: VR Mode
- Synapse
Our Prediction: Gran Turismo 7
Best Action Game
- Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
- Dead Island 2
- Ghostrunner 2
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Remnant 2
Our Prediction: Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
Best Sim/Strategy Game
- Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp
- Cities: Skylines II
- Company of Heroes 3
- Fire Emblem Engage
- Pikmin 4
Our Prediction: Company of Heroes 3
Best Audio Design
- Alan Wake 2
- Dead Space
- Spider-Man 2
- Resident Evil 4
Our Prediction: Resident Evil 4
Best Ongoing Game
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Apex Legends
- Endwalker Final Fantasy 14
- Fortnite
- Genshin Impact
Our Prediction: Fortnite or Apex Legends
Best Debut Indie Game
- Cocoon
- Dredge
- Pizza Tower
- Venba
- Viewfinder
Our Prediction: Pizza Tower
Best Community Support
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Destiny 2 Lightfall
- Endwalker Final Fantasy 17 Online
- No Man’s Sky
Our Prediction: Cyberpunk 2077
Innovation in Accessibility
- Diablo IV
- Forza Motorsport
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Street Fighter 6
Our Prediction: Forza Motorsport
— The Game Awards (@thegameawards) November 13, 2023
Best Adaptation
- Castlevania Nocturne
- Gran Turismo
- The Last of Us
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie
- Twisted Metal
Our Prediction: The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Best Esports Game
- Counter-Strike 2
- Dota 2
- League of Legends
- PUBG Mobile
- Valorant
Our Prediction: Valorant
Best Esports Athlete
- Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok (League of Legends)
- Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut (CS:GO)
- Max “Demon1” Mazanov (Valorant)
- Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez (Call of Duty)
- Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk (League of Legends)
- Phillip ”ImperialHal” Dosen (Apex Legends)
Our Prediction: Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok (League of Legends)
Best Esports Team
- Evil Geniuses (Valorant)
- Fnatic (Valorant)
- Gaimin Gladiators (Dota 2)
- JD Gaming (League of Legends)
- Team Vitality (Counter-Strike)
Our Prediction: Fnatic (Valorant)
Best Esports Coach
- Christine “Potter” Chi (Evil Geniuses – Valorant)
- Danny “Zonic” Sorensen (Team Falcons – Counter-Strike)
- Jordan “Gunba” Graham (Florida Mayhem – Overwatch)
- Remy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam (Team Vitality – Counter-Strike)
- Yoon “Homme” Sung-young (JD Gaming – League of Legends)
Our Prediction: Christine “Potter” Chi (Evil Geniuses – Valorant)
Best Esports Event
- 2023 League of Legends World Championship
- Blast.tv Paris Major 2023
- EVO 2023
- The International Dota 2 Championships 2023
- Valorant Champions 2023
Our Prediction: Valorant Champions 2023
This looks like a competitive field with stiff competition. The winners will be announced on December 7, 2023, during The Game Awards 2023, which will be held at Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, California with a live stream over Twitch and YouTube.