[Discussion] The Game Awards Nominations: Game of the Year Finalists Revealed

[Uncrowned Guard]

Unveiling The Game Awards' Game of the Year Contenders

As an annual spectacle of the gaming industry held every year in December, The Game Awards represents the most significant event recognizing groundbreaking achievements in video gaming. Recently, the nominations for the show’s most sought-after award—Game of the Year—were unveiled, introducing some expected and surprise contenders into the mix.

Decoding the List of This Year's Game of Year Nominees

Awaiting the unveiling of the Game of the Year nominees, gamers worldwide are thrilled to see which game will grasp the title. This year's nominations feature some interesting entrants. The honorees include:

Astro Bot, by Team Asobi and SIE for PS5
Balatro, by LocalThunk and Playstack for Consoles, PC, and Mobile
Black Myth Wukong, by Game Science for PS5 and PC
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, by FromSoftware and Bandai Namco for Consoles and PC
Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, by Square Enix for PS5
Metaphor: ReFantazio, by Studio Zero, SEGA and Atlus for Consoles and PC

While all the games have gained recognition for their immersive gameplay and advanced designs, Black Myth Wukong has the lowest average score among its competitors. Nevertheless, the game's sales prove a strong contender's position. Interestingly, the PS5 platform outshines all others, boasting all nominated games playable on Sony's current-gen console.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree: An Interesting Nominee

One somewhat surprising nominee is Elden Ring's expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree. Despite being generally positively reviewed, it stands as an expansion rather than a standalone game, which has raised some eyebrows. The Game Awards' jury has demonstrated an evolved perspective, extending the eligibility to include DLCs, remasters, and remakes, if considered excellent. However, whether Shadow of the Erdtree will scoop the prestigious award remains uncertain due to its unique candidacy.

The jubilation and excitement will culminate on December 12, when The Game Awards will be broadcast on YouTube, Twitch, and most other major social media platforms.

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