Introduction
The annual game awards not only celebrate the best in gaming but also highlight titles that push the boundaries of creativity and technology. From pioneering classics who won in the past to modern masterpieces, these awards spotlight games that leave a lasting impact on the industry.
This year, going into the game awards, we believe that Baldur’s Gate 3 will receive a lot of acknowledgment as a game that is not only well deserved but also an important acknowledgment of the studio’s past work, values, and impact on the industry.
Before we make our predictions, let’s have a look at past games that have made a lasting impact on the industry as a means of understanding how really impactful games like Baldur’s Gate 3 have been in the past:
Doom (1993): Doom wasn't just a game; it was a phenomenon that defined the FPS genre. Its influence was so vast that early FPS games were known as "Doom clones."
The Legend of Zelda (1986): This iconic series introduced the revolutionary concept of saving game progress, allowing for more complex and immersive gaming experiences.
Rogue (1980): The progenitor of the "roguelike" genre, Rogue introduced elements like procedural generation and permadeath, influencing a multitude of games.
Civilization (1991): Sid Meier's Civilization became a blueprint for turn-based strategy games, popularizing the 4X strategy genre and influencing countless successors.
With these in mind, let’s move on to our predictions for this year’s winners and what they mean for the industry going forward:
Game of the Year (GOTY): Baldur’s Gate 3, Runner-up: The Legends of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Best Game Direction: Baldur’s Gate 3, Runner-up: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Best Narrative: Baldur’s Gate 3, Runner-up: Final Fantasy XVI
Best Art Direction: Hi-Fi Rush, Runner-up: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Best Score and Music: Baldur’s Gate 3, Runner-up: Hi-Fi Rush
Innovation in Accessibility: Street Fighter 6, Runner-up: Hi-Fi Rush
Games for Impact: Goodbye Volcano High, Runner-up: Terra Nil
Best Ongoing: Genshin Impact, Runner-up: Final Fantasy XIV
Best Indie: Dave the Diver, Runner-up: Dredge
Best Debut Indie: Dredge, Runner-up: Pizza Tower
Best Mobile Game: High Seas Rally, Runner-up: Final Fantasy Ever Crisis
Best Action Game: Hi-Fi Rush, Runner-up: Armored Core
Best Action/Adventure: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Runner-up: Spider-Man 2
Best Role-Playing Game: Baldur’s Gate 3, Runner-up: Final Fantasy XVI
Best Fighting Game: Street Fighter 6, Runner-up: Mortal Kombat 11
Best Simulation/Strategy: Fire Emblem Engage, Runner-up: Cities: Skylines 2
Best Multiplayer: Street Fighter 6, Runner-up: Diablo 4
Best Adaptation: The Last of Us, Runner-up: Mario
Most Anticipated Game: Hades 2, Runner-up: Star Wars: Outlaws
Conclusion
So, this year's list is quite special. We believe that Baldur’s Gate 3 will definitely receive the recognition it deserves. And even if not in every category, its impact on the industry will be felt for years to come. Nintendo has been able to deliver a genre-defining game with Breath of the Wild and have successfully improved on the titles with Tears of the Kingdom - a not-so-simple task we’ve seen failed time and again.
Lastly, indie titles and new IPs continue to lead the charge for innovation. Hi-Fi rush withstood a very strong year in gaming and remained relevant to the GOTY discussion until the very end. Hades has been so unique, well-made, and prominent that we believe it’s very likely that it will outweigh Star Wars as the most anticipated title.
Without a doubt, gaming is at a unique point in the industry’s history, and we couldn’t be more excited to find out what the future holds.