Game of the Year 2024 Predictions
The year is fast approaching its end and many gamers around the world are anticipating which game will become Game of the Year. Some games have managed to distinguish themselves this year, which is why we’ll list down our predictions for each potential nominee and winner.
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Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
It’s no surprise that FromSoftware has put out another high-quality game, or rather DLC, this year. This distinction already has gamers questioning whether an expansion to the already GotY winner should also be awarded as its own game or not.
Though FromSoftware played down the size of the game, the expansion has been compared by players to an entire game sequel, with the size and content of the DLC map. Along with its famous difficulty, gamers have fallen in love with the new Land of Shadow. Should the Game Awards allow it, Shadow of the Erdtree might just be another notch on FromSoftware’s award belt.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Bioware’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard has been praised by many game critics and has been slated to be nominated for Game of the Year already. While this may be a controversial pick considering the backlash, it’s certain that DA:TV will at least be nominated for best RPG among other entries.
Set in the continent of Thedas, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a soft reboot to the franchise, making it more accessible for a general audience to learn the setting and lore without having prior knowledge of the game. One core aspect in every Bioware game is the companions, each given an entire storyline that influences the main questline.
Black Myth: Wukong
Black Myth: Wukong has received glowing praise from critics for its graphical fidelity, gameplay features, and art style. Many have also praised the game on forums like Steam, GameFAQs, and other community sites.
With the beloved Journey to the West tale getting a video game adaptation, the core combat loop of Black Myth: Wukong has many players comparing it to FromSoftware’s many Souls games, albeit with a twist.
Space Marine 2
Warhammer 40k has had a grassroots community in pop media. And, with the release of SM2, gamers have given it a lot of praise for its punchy combat and engaging narrative involving Lieutenant Titus and the Tyranid swarm on Kadaku.
With Saber Interactive’s prior release of their World War Z game, Space Marine 2’s combat has been praised by players to be very engaging with a nice balance of its melee system and gunplay. Along with its Operations and Eternal War mode, Space Marine 2 is a complete package at launch with post-launch support. Overall, Space Marine 2 is a likely winner of its own category, but could be a GotY for many.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Atlas is known for its unique JRPGs that stand out, whether in combat, art style, music, or story. Metaphor: ReFantazio is no exception and is beloved by both critics and fans alike.
The game oozes a lot of style and flair unique to Atlus and is considered a love letter to the studio’s past RPGs like Shin Megami Tensei, Etrian Odyssey, and Persona. Metaphor: ReFantazio has taken all the lessons learned from the studio’s past releases and has created an unparalleled JRPG experience unlike any other.
Silent Hill 2 Remake
Despite being a remake of the PS2 classic, Bloomer Team’s rendition of Silent Hill 2 has not only faithfully adapted its classic psychological horror theme, but even added some new aspects to the game that even players who previously completed it will want to come back to.
Much of the charm in Silent Hill 2 was its pioneering in psychological horror, exploring the psyche of the main character James Sunderland, and the other characters that are tormented by the town. With the game available on PC and modern consoles, the remake will definitely attract a lot of new horror fans, while also giving long-time Silent Hill fans the same nostalgia as the original. The SH2 remake will definitely be a top contender for Best Horror Game if not GotY.
Our Prediction for Game of the Year
Based on community polling and overall sentiment, the game most likely to win Game of the Year might be Black Myth: Wukong. The general sentiment between both critics and fans is that the game has mastered both artistry and fun gameplay that anyone can enjoy. Whether it’s the master-crafted handmade animations shown at the end of each chapter, the in-depth build crafting, or the tight action combat, Black Myth: Wukong has done a lot of things right when it comes to a full-package single-player game.
