Summary
The slate of nominees for Game of the Year atThe Game Awards 2023has just been announced, and it represents the historically competitive year the industry has enjoyed. As it often happens, there are someTGA nominations that seem questionableto a handful of gamers, but the Game of the Year lineup is mostly in keeping with public opinion from the last twelve months. That said, there are still some inclusions and omissions that are worth discussing.
To say that 2023 was a great year for gaming wouldn’t exactly be a fringe opinion. The year has been filled with high-quality releases from AAA developers and indie studios alike, with highly-anticipated blockbusters and unexpected gems coming at a consistent cadence. Variety has characterized this year in video games, as players have been able to get their hands on critically acclaimed titles from a wide selection of genres, from survival horror to traditional RPGs. Indeed, the jam-packed release schedule of 2023 has made it hard for even popular games likeStarfieldto stand out, making this race for GOTY even more competitive than usual.
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Alan Wake 2
Alan Wake 2is the most recently released of allThe Game Awards 2023GOTY nominees, dropping just a few weeks ago on October 27. It hasn’t taken long for the title to gain recognition, though, with many praising it as one of the most experimental and original games of the year.
The game follows the titular Alan Wake alongside series newcomer Saga Anderson as they work to uncover the secrets of a mysterious cult and The Dark Presence, a monstrous force that is affected by fiction.Alan Wake 2fleshes out the Dark Presenceand the greater lore of the franchise, while also serving as another significant step in establishing Remedy Entertainment’s connected universe of games, as it features characters and concepts fromQuantum BreakandControl. Like its predecessor,Alan Wake 2takes clear inspiration from the works of David Lynch and Steven King, although it also succeeds in forming a unique identity, making it one of 2023’s most baffling, exciting, and creative releases.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Releasing to near-universal acclaim,Baldur’s Gate 3is one of the least surprising contenders for Game of the Year. Even thoughBaldur’s Gate 3hasn’t released on all platformsyet, currently only available for PC and PS5, it has managed to gather a surprisingly large following and is one of the best-received titles of 2023.Baldur’s Gate 3has clearly benefited from its almost three-year early access period, being notably well polished and content-rich.
Baldur’s Gate 3is a game designed for RPG fans. Freedom ofchoice is at the core ofBG3, with even seemingly minor decisions having long-lasting and sometimes unexpected consequences. Despite combat being prevalent in the game, it’s not the main focus, as a far greater emphasis is placed on storytelling, class-building, exploration, and interactions with NPCs. While this runs somewhat contrary to many tenets of fast-paced mainstream gaming,BG3has nonetheless achieved mainstream appeal, with many resonating with its strong and uncompromised creative vision.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Despite having mammoth-sized shoes to fill,The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdommanages to please both fans ofBreath of the Wildand players who are new to the Switch-eraZeldaformula.TOTKkeeps what works fromBOTWwhile adding a wealth of new content and mechanics, which has helped to make it one ofNintendo’s most represented games at TGA 2023.
At a glance,Tears of the Kingdommay look a lot likeBreath of the Wildand, to an extent, this would be an accurate assessment; the game features the same overworld, cel-shaded graphical style, and focus on exploration as its predecessor. However,TOTKadds two massive new regions, one in the sky and one deep underground, alongside a host of new puzzles, quests, and, naturally, an all-new story. Perhaps the most significant additions are the Fuse and Ultrahand abilities, which allow players to create unique weapons and advanced contraptions. The limitless potential of these abilities, particularly Ultrahand, has led to a greatdeal ofTOTKfan content, where players show off and discuss their unique creations. These innovative systems and the strong foundations established inBOTWhave helped makeTOTKa triumphant release for Nintendo, exceeding the already-high expectations of many.
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Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2is similar toTears of the Kingdom, in that it is a direct follow-up to a massively successful game, building upon what works well rather than serving as a reinvention. For many gamers,Spider-Man 2succeeds as a sequel, keeping the satisfying traversal and combat mechanics of the originalMarvel’s Spider-Man(alongside theMarvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Moralesspin-off game) while adding new content that enhances the experience.Spider-Man 2also introduced characters like Venom, setting the stage for future stories in the Insomniac universe.
From a technical standpoint,Spider-Man 2is quite an achievement. Frame drops and pop-in are almost nonexistent, ray-tracing is enabled in every graphical preset, and Insomniac’s digital version of New York City is more detailed than ever. This makesSpider-Man 2a stunning game, one that showcases the capabilities of the PlayStation 5 in ways that other games from the past three years haven’t quite been able to. AlthoughSpider-Man 2isn’t perfect, with missed opportunities, somewhat limited content, and more bugs than Sony fans have come to expect, it is still one of the best releases of the year, likely inducing a number of gamers to purchase a PS5. As such, it is more than worthy of its spot as a GOTY nominee.
Resident Evil 4 Remake
This is one nomination that might come as a surprise to some. WhileResident Evil 4Remakehas earned itself a number of stellar reviews and is an undeniable success for Capcom, it’s still a remake rather than a completely original game. Moreover, while Capcom is sure to address controversial elements of some of the moredivisiveResident Evilgames in future remakes,Resident Evil 4has long been considered one of the best in the franchise. This means that the remake ofRE4had a lot riding on it leading up to its release, and ran the risk of living in its predecessor’s shadow.
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Having said that,Resident Evil 4 Remakestuck the landing when it dropped in March. Like the twoResident Evilremakes preceding it,Resident Evil 4Remakeis far more than just a simple visual overhaul or port. Instead, it is a complete, ground-up reimagining of the original game, with impressive, next-generation graphics, modernized controls, and characters that aremore fleshed out than in the originalRE4. Although the game certainly looks and feels like a post-2020 game, it manages to retain the charm, identity, and gameplay fundamentals of the original, making it a faithful remake as well as a well-crafted, stand-alone game. With its redesigned visuals and gameplay,Resident Evil 4 Remakeis a fair choice for someone’s 2023 Game of the Year, even if some still prefer the original.
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Super Mario Bros. Wonder
The second Nintendo game nominated for the 2023 GOTY award,Super Mario Bros. Wonderis yet another feather in the legendary gaming company’s cap. Being aSuper Mariogame, expectations were high leading up toWonder’s release, although perhaps not as high as they would be for a 3DMariogame. Despite 2DMariogames never having the same mass appeal as their 3D counterparts,Super Mario Bros. Wonderhas become the fastest-sellinggame in the series, with many players considering it one of the bestMariogames in years.
It’s clear that Nintendo aimed to makeWonderjust as impressive and enjoyable, if not more so, than the 3D entries in the franchise. The game is as visually stunning and charming as any in theSuper Marioseries, replete with vibrant colors and expressive character designs. The signature Wonder Flower feature has also gone a long way toward makingSuper Mario Bros. Wonderstand out from the rest of the series, as it joins other power-ups and gameplay modifiers to make a truly originalMarioexperience. Although some may be disappointed withSuper Mario Wonder’s lack of power-upsrelative to other entries, the game is undeniably ambitious and creative, which has helped land it the GOTY nomination.
The Game of the Year category contains six of the best-selling and best-received games of the year, but there are some notable exclusions. RPG fans may notice thatStarfield, a game that many consider a personal favorite of 2023, is absent from this list, with the game only earning a nomination for Best Role Playing Game. Perhaps even more significant is thecomplete omission ofHogwarts Legacy, not only from the GOTY category, but fromThe Game Awards 2023as a whole. Gamers can (and likely will) debate the merits of both the nominees and the snubbed games in the coming months and years, but it’s clear that 2023 has been a historic year for the games industry, and the winner of Game of the Year will probably be contentious no matter what.
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