Olivia Barone
Arts & Entertainment Editor
The annual Game Awards have returned with a roster of beloved games from franchises new and old. Video game fans are eagerly casting their votes waiting to hear which title will achieve Game of the Year to be announced this December. Here are this year’s games to beat:
This year’s Game of the Year nominees are from a range of successful franchises, making it difficult to predict a winner. “Alan Wake 2,” “Baldur’s Gate 3,” “Spider-Man 2,” “Resident Evil 4,” “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” and “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” are all in the running, each title raising the stakes higher than the last.
The Game Awards began in Dec. 2014, making its roster of previous winners short but still indicative of what is to come. The Awards’ audience seems to favor action-adventure and fantasy titles with intense boss battles, with games like “Dragon Age: Inquisition,” “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and “The Witcher 3” being crowned previous winners. This indicates a positive outcome for both “Baldur’s Gate 3” and “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.” Both games are already fan favorites and seem to be the most likely candidates for the award. But with “Baldur’s Gate 3” being so popular across TikTok for its revolutionary customization options, outstanding graphics and musical score, many assume we already have our champion.
The horror games on the roster, “Alan Wake 2” and “Resident Evil 4” come from two franchises with loyal audiences, especially “Resident Evil.” The series is made up of 29 titles and counting, its first game having been released in 1996 and subsequent film and game releases spanning over the last decade. Despite the popularity of both games, horror games are not as well represented in the Awards compared to action-adventure and fantasy.
“Spider-Man 2” and “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” are also worthy opponents for Game of the Year, but both were released very recently in late October. It seems neither game has had enough time in the spotlight to be considered possible winners, as “Baldur’s Gate 3” appears to be the game to beat.
The Game of the Year nominees and more span across The Game Awards’ 31 categories, making it possible to see your favorite rise to the top. Other categories include Best Narrative, Most Anticipated Game, Best Soundtrack and even Best Adaptation, wherein “The Last of Us” series on Max is going head-to-head with “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.”
Which game are you rooting for? Vote for your favorite to win Game of the Year and other categories at The Game Awards’ website. The Game Awards show will stream Dec. 7 on various streaming platforms, including Youtube and Twitch.
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