The Game Awards are an annual award ceremony that celebrates achievements in the video gaming industry. However, it is not happening for the first time. This ceremony has been taking place for the last nine years, initiated by Geoff Keighley (a game journalist) in 2014. Since then, the show has become a premier event for identifying the best in gaming.
The Game Awards have become the Oscars of gaming. Do you know why? The answer is that the Game Awards serve as a platform to recognise artistry and innovation within the industry, celebrate the talent of games, generate excitement for upcoming games, and, above all, showcase positive impact. And this year, it happened on the 7th, so let’s discuss its highlights.
The Game Awards 2023: Celebrating Excellence in Gaming
There are a lot of things to discuss regarding the Game Awards 2023. If you don’t know, it already happened on December 7th, 2023, at 7:30 ET. You will be glad to know that “Baldur’s Gate 3” won the title of “Game of the Year.” On the other hand, “Alan Wake 2” won the title of “Most Anticipated Game,” and “Nell Newbard” was awarded for “Best Performance.” Additionally, the show also featured some world premieres of upcoming titles like “Light No Fire,” so let’s discuss the complete highlights.
Highlights of the Game Awards 2023
The Game Awards 2023 had diverse categories and nominations. It is impractical to state all the nominations and game awards, but to help you understand, below we are sharing the top nominations and categories that you should know. So let’s get started.
| Categories | Games Awarded |
|---|---|
| Game of the Year | Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games Publishing)Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games/SIE)Resident Evil 4 (Capcom)Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo) |
| Most Anticipated Game | Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games Publishing)Light No Fire (Studio Firelight/Activision Blizzard)Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Expansion (Capcom)Star Wars: Jedi Survivor (Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts)Stray 2 (BlueTwelve Studio/Annapurna Interactive)The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo) |
| Best Game Direction | Alan Wake 2 (Sam Lake)Baldur’s Gate 3 (Swen Vincke)Elden Ring (Hidetaka Miyazaki)God of War Ragnarök (Eric Williams)Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Brian Intihar)Resident Evil 4 (Shinji Mikami) |
| Best Narrative | Alan Wake 2Baldur’s Gate 3God of War RagnarökHorizon Forbidden WestStrayThe Quarry |
| Best Art Direction | Alan Wake 2Elden RingGod of War RagnarökHorizon Forbidden WestStrayThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 |
| Best Score and Music | Elden Ring (Bear McCreary)God of War Ragnarök (Bear McCreary)Horizon Forbidden West (Joris de Man & The Flight)Stray (Yann van der Meijden)The Quarry (Jason Graves)The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 (Manaka Kataoka) |
| Innovation in Accessibility | A Plague Tale: RequiemAs Dusk FallsElden RingGod of War RagnarökHorizon Forbidden WestStray |
| Games for Impact | A Plague Tale: RequiemCitizen SleeperCuphead: The Delicious Last CourseElden RingStrayThis War of Mine |
Impact on the gaming industry
At this point, you have seen the different categories and their winners referred to in the Game Awards 2023. But if you observe more closely, especially in the gaming industry, you will notice that this ceremony influenced game sales and other important aspects. After analysing multiple impacts, we find that the Game Awards 2023 impacted the gaming industry in ways like increasing the visibility of winners in the domain, boosting sales, fostering collaboration between developers and publishers, and enhancing the reputation of winning games, among others.
Critiques and Controversies
The Game Awards initially started well and ran smoothly, but during the ceremony, numerous moments happened that gave rise to controversy. Many viewers were disappointed with the lack of time given to award winners to deliver their speeches. Several felt it was disrespectful and undermined the significance of the awards. Similarly, some critics focused on trailers and marketing over game developers. Continuing that flow, some specific controversies arose, like at the time of awarding the nominee for Best Art Direction.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the Game Awards 2023 showcased the pinnacle of gaming excellence, highlighting outstanding achievements and innovations. As we reflect on the event’s significance in the gaming landscape, it becomes evident that it not only honours the industry’s best but also serves as a catalyst for trends, collaborations, and future developments. The awards not only celebrate current accomplishments but also shape the trajectory of the gaming world, fostering excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead. Overall, The Game Awards 2023 continues to play a pivotal role in influencing and shaping the dynamic and ever-evolving realm of interactive entertainment.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. What game won the 2023 Game of the Year?
Ans. Baldur’s Gate 3 won this title at the Game Awards 2023.
Q2. Why did Baldur’s Gate 3 win Game of the Year?
Ans. Based on character clarity, in-game location, and story formation, this game deservingly deserves the Game of the Year title.
Q3. Who won the best performance game award in 2023?
Ans. Neil Newborn got the best performance game award in 2023 for serving in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Q4. Is Baldur’s Gate an AAA game?
Ans. Yes, it is an AAA game, as observed by its indie developers.
