The Game Awards features 24 game-related categories – and even that doesn’t seem like enough every time the nominees are announced. Indies and more experimental games are often overlooked as existing categories reward the biggest AAA action-focused titles. Geoff Keighley has stated that he constantly assesses what award categories should exist at The Game Awards, but recently the only major contribution was Best Game Adaptation in 2022.
There are entire genres and types of games that can feel neglected during The Game Awards each year. This year, we’ve decided to come up with some new categories of our own, highlight some potential nominees who we think would be deserving of nominations for these categories if they existed this year, and Explain why each category should be added. Sports Awards.
best puzzle games
potential nominee
- Talos principle 2
- cocoon
- viewfinder
- mantras of sennar
- humanity
Given how many puzzle games there are, I’m actually surprised that the Game Awards categories came closest to acknowledging them. The Best Action-Adventure Game description mentions “combining combat with traversal and puzzle solving.” The absence of a Best Puzzle Game category at The Game Awards this year especially stings because 2023 has been such a great year for the genre. In this year alone there have been a lot of amazing and satisfying puzzle game experiences that are worthy of praise. While many of the ones we’ve chosen on our list appear in other categories this year, they’re also all games that only appeared once or twice in very specific, more indie-friendly categories. like a title mantras of sennar Instead of Games for Impact, it will get the love it deserves in a category like Best Puzzle Game.
Best Remake/Remaster
Potential Nominees:
- resident Evil 4
- karateka creation
- dead Space
- metroid prime remastered
- Star Ocean: The Second Story
remake of resident Evil 4 Has been nominated for Game of the Year; This alone is already a sign that remakes and remasters deserve their own category, just like the best adaptations. There are plenty of extraordinary recreations of classic games launching every year, and sometimes the work required to create a great remake or remaster doesn’t really apply to other categories. This year, this has been most clearly demonstrated with the digital eclipse karateka creation, Its playable documentary setup allows players to experience the process of the game development iteration, providing greater insight into the highly influential game. Unfortunately, the Game Awards categories aren’t designed to make room for games like this. A best-in-class remake/remaster could change that.
best rhythm game
Potential Nominees:
- hi-fi rush
- theatrhythm final bar line
- melatonin
- Rhythms
- Rhythm Sprout
Currently, music games don’t really have much room to shine at The Game Awards – and that should change. Rhythm games are entertaining experiences that can test the player’s awareness and reaction time as much as a first-person shooter does. Plus, the best ones have amazing soundtracks. Of the five we listed, this is certainly the most niche and probably the least likely to happen, especially since The Game Awards already has two audio-focused categories. Regardless, 2023’s a great rhythm game lineup (led by Excellent). hi-fi rush) still demonstrated that most game genres currently deserve more recognition than The Game Awards, which elevates action-focused AAA titles.
best horror games
Potential Nominees:
- alan wake 2
- resident Evil 4
- dead Space
- to sprinkle
- Paranormasite: The Seven Secrets of Honjo
Yet another genre that could use a dedicated category is horror. Of course, this was a great year for horror, so games were already amply represented in the nominations alan wake 2, resident Evil 4, dead SpaceAnd to sprinkle This list may have been populated. However, plenty of other games could occupy that last spot Amnesia: The Bunker To Paranormasite: The Seven Secrets of Honjo, As was the case with the puzzle genre, horror is also a place where indie games shine. Viral horror indies love it five nights at freddy’s Or my friendly neighborhood Normally The Game Awards doesn’t have the kind of space a dedicated horror category could give it, especially in years where there aren’t so many AAA horror games.
best dlc/expansion
Potential Nominees:
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed
- Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Coast
- City’s Sleeper Episode: The Purge
- Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania
Best ongoing game and best community support means awards covering any potential DLC releases throughout the year. That said, there are also awards that are almost always given to the same popular live service games that update frequently. By getting a little more specific with the Best DLC award, The Game Awards can make room for amazing DLC like Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania And Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed who are not able to enter other categories like Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Did. It may seem redundant to have three awards dedicated to post-launch support, but something like Best DLC would feel much clearer in terms of what’s worthy and give smaller DLCs that can’t compete with the likes Fortnite Or final fantasy xiv A fighting chance.