The Golden Joystick Awards 2024: A Celebration of Gaming Excellence, with a Focus on Indie Titles
The Golden Joystick Awards, a prestigious event honoring the best in gaming since 1983, is set to return on November 21st, 2024, for its 42nd year. This year's awards will celebrate games released between November 11th, 2023, and October 4th, 2024, and show a significant spotlight on indie game development. Titles like Balatro and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes have garnered multiple nominations, highlighting the rising prominence of smaller-scale game studios.
A notable addition this year is a new category dedicated to self-published indie games, recognizing the growing diversity within the indie gaming landscape. This award specifically celebrates developers who handle both development and publishing, without the backing of larger publishers.
Here's a glimpse at some of the nominated titles across various categories:
Key Award Categories and Nominees:
- Best Soundtrack: A Highland Song, Astro Bot, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Hauntii, Silent Hill 2, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
- Best Indie Game: Animal Well, Arco, Balatro, Beyond Galaxyland, Conscript, Indika, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Thank Goodness You’re Here!, The Plucky Squire, Ultros
- Best Indie Game - Self Published: Arctic Eggs, Another Crab’s Treasure, Crow Country, Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, I Am Your Beast, Little Kitty, Big City, Riven, Tactical Breach Wizards, Tiny Glade, UFO 50
- Console Game of the Year: Astro Bot, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Helldivers 2, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
- PC Game of the Year: Animal Well, Balatro, Frostpunk 2, Satisfactory, Tactical Breach Wizards, UFO 50
- Most Wanted Game: This category boasts a diverse range of highly anticipated titles, including Assassin's Creed Shadows, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Grand Theft Auto VI, and Hollow Knight: Silksong. (Full list within the original article)
Fan Voting and Controversy:
Fan voting is currently open on the official website, with nominees chosen by a jury of gaming industry experts. The Ultimate Game of the Year (UGOTY) nominees will be announced later. The initial GOTY nominations have sparked debate, with some fans expressing disappointment over the exclusion of titles like Black Myth: Wukong, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Space Marine 2. The Golden Joystick Awards have addressed the concerns, clarifying that the UGOTY shortlist is yet to be released.
Voting runs from November 4th to 8th, 2024. A free ebook is offered as an incentive for participation.
The Golden Joystick Awards 2024 promises to be a thrilling event, celebrating the breadth and depth of the gaming world, from indie darlings to AAA blockbusters.
