Game of the Year. It is the award that every game – any genre, type, style – aspires to win. After all, winning Game of the Year can shoot a game into fame.
Take It Takes Two, for example. Released in early 2021, the game quickly gained traction, selling one million units in just two months. Within the next four months, another million units were sold. This is typical of games – there are many downloads upon first release, and then the growth slowly dies down over time. Then, It Takes Two won Game of the Year. In the four months following its win, the game sold an additional two million copies. The game’s success has only been up since then.
This success can be attributed to the millions of viewers the Game Awards have captured annually since its inception in 2014. Last year, it reached a record 118 million viewers. After each Game of the Year announcement, millions of gamers are either booting up their consoles, firing up their PCs, or rushing to GameStop to grab a copy. After all, who wants to miss out on playing the year’s most celebrated game?
The winner of Game of the Year is not decided lightly. It is chosen through a mixed vote – the audience makes up 10% of the vote while a jury of gaming outlets makes up the other 90%. The nominees, which are the games voted on by the audience, are also chosen by this jury. Then, the winners are announced at the awards ceremony.
Each nominee for Game of the Year represents the pinnacle of gaming excellence for their year – a perfect combination of innovation, creativity, and execution. With the recent announcement that Astro Bot won Game of the Year for 2024, let’s reflect on what made each of this year’s contenders stand out.
Astro Bot
Astro Bot is a 3-D platformer that is redefining the its genre. It is a sequel to Astro’s Playroom and takes full advantage of PlayStation 5’s new features like the DualSense controller.
Unlike simpler, 2-D platformers like Fireboy and Watergirl, Astro Bot’s design is more intricate and immersive. The game takes advantage of cutting-edge VR (Virtual Reality) technology to make players feel like they are actually in each level.
The levels themselves are very balanced. Some levels, like Great Master Challenge and To The Beat!, are notably difficult. But, due to the linear nature of platformers, these levels feel more like a nice challenge rather than an impossible obstacle.
As a Playstation 5-exclusive, Astro Bot embraces its heritage, incorporating Easter eggs from beloved PlayStation characters and games. While this exclusivity might make this game more appealing to PS5 owners, it also limits the game’s reach to those without the console.
Isabella Gonzalez ’26, a PS5 owner and avid gamer, said, “I do believe that PS5 exclusives are isolating to people who don’t own the console, but that shouldn’t mean that they don’t deserve game of the year. The same logic could be applied to games that are really expensive that not anyone could buy, but they also deserve game of the year.”
A simple game with well-crafted mechanics and fun design can sometimes outweigh a super in-depth narrative. This balance between being approachable and delivering a highly polished experience is part of what earned Astro Bot the Game of the Year title this year.
Balatro
What separates a physical card game from a digital card game? Accessibility. Obviously, playing itself is much more convenient on a digital device. But, it is also easier to access cool and aesthetic cards.
Balatro uses this accessibility to its advantage. There are 150 different Joker cards – each with its own design and abilities. Some of the more unique ones are Abstract Joker and Baseball Card Joker.
The Abstract Joker card is mostly white with an eye drawn on it in popping red, blue, and yellow. It gives a Mult (multiplier) boost for every Joker card a player has on hand. Mult essentially multiplies the amount of chips a player has, thus increasing their score. Baseball Card Joker looks exactly how it sounds – designed like the front of a typical collector baseball card but with the player being a joker. This Joker card gives 1.5x Mult for every uncommon card a player has on hand.
“The developer was one person, and they put a lot of effort into the sprite art, soundtrack, and gameplay mechanics. It is a phenomenal game made with passion,” said Mr. Nicholas Zanata – a physics teacher at Bronx Science and a Balatro player.
The core framework of the game is nothing special. It is inspired by Poker – borrowing familiar elements like suits, ranks, and combinations. Like other roguelikes, Balatro has a turn-based playstyle and a level system. Players are tasked with achieving a certain amount of points using their decks. After each round, players buy cards in the shop and then play the next level which requires a higher amount of points to beat.
This simpler gameplay allows the captivating nature of card games to shine through. “Balatro is an excellent roguelike with clear rules and systems that can then be broken once understood,” said Mr. Zanata. “Once you get the hang of the game and its mechanics, it’s exceptionally hard to put Balatro down. It’s simple, addictive, and fun.”
Black Myth: Wukong
Black Myth: Wukong is an amazing addition to the action-RPG (role-playing game) genre – combining stunning visuals, engaging mechanics, and a refreshing cultural perspective. Inspired by the Chinese book Journey to the West, the game’s narrative revolves around the legendary Monkey King Sun Wukong.
Unlike other action-RPGs – such as God of War, Elden Ring, and The Witcher – which draw heavily from either Western culture or a mix of cultures, Black Myth: Wukong stands out as an explicitly Chinese-based RPG. The game incorporates Chinese folklore, landscapes, and traditions. While games like Seriko: Shadows Die Twice have ventured into East Asian settings, a fully Chinese-based RPG like Black Myth is groundbreaking.
Due to this, Black Myth has a lot of appeal beyond just the American market. The Chinese gaming industry, one of the largest in the world, has embraced Black Myth wholeheartedly. About 75% of its sales are in China which, when compared to Baldur’s Gate’s 15.7% and Elden Ring’s 24.3%, is notably large.
However, Black Myth’s success can not solely be attributed to culture – its graphics and mechanics are also phenomenal. The scenery is beautiful and eye-catching, the story is engaging, and the bosses are satisfyingly difficult.
What stands out the most is the animation. Black Myth is split into six chapters, each featuring a cutscene with a new art style. But even through just walking around in-game players come across incredible visuals.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
While Elden Ring is undeniably a masterpiece and part of the reason why action-RPGs are rising in popularity, its nomination for Game of the Year stirred up some controversy.
The issue stems from the fact that the game is a DLC (downloadable content) which, by definition, builds upon an existing framework rather than offering an entirely new experience. The decision to include Shadow of the Erdtree led The Game Awards to release an official definition of what qualifies for the category.
Questions have been raised about Elden Ring already winning GOTY in 2022. Allowing a previous winner to compete again with a DLC risks overshadowing the achievements of newer, groundbreaking titles deserving of the spotlight.
Furthermore, the prevalence of action RPGs in this year’s Game of the Year category – making up half of the nominees – has fueled further debate. While the genre’s popularity is undeniable, it can be argued that it comes at the expense of recognizing games that push boundaries in other styles.
Players of the game, however, believe that Shadow of the Erdtree earned its spot in the Game of the Year category.
Mr. Zanata said, “I think if larger, new games are not winning game of the year over a DLC package, that simply speaks to the quality of material FromSoft (developer of Elden Ring) is bringing to the table. FromSoft games have no microtransactions, no annoying DLC, no skin transactions, and no nonsensical battle passes. They are simply amazing games. Other studios should take note.”
Gonzalez corroborates this opinion, noting, “it has so many hours of playable content and it’s considered to be magnificent. Just because it is a DLC doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve recognition.”
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is, as the name suggests, a remake. The second installment in the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy, it breathes new life into one of gaming’s most iconic titles – building on the legacy of the original Final Fantasy VII while modernizing it for today’s audiences.
Rebirth embraces the increasing popularity of more open-world designs, allowing players to explore a vast and visually stunning environment that seamlessly integrates with its action-RPG gameplay. This take on the classic series blends nostalgia with innovation, allowing it to appeal to both long-time enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
The remake trilogy arrives amidst a trend of reimagining old games like the Resident Evil remakes and the Tomb Raider I-III remasters. However, Rebirth sets itself apart with its focus on narrative depth and character development. The trilogy format is used to fully explore the original story across three games – enhancing the emotional connection to the lore and cast.
Originally a PlayStation exclusive, Rebirth expanded to PC on January 23rd, 2025.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Metaphor stands out in the RPG genre due to its innovative mechanics and compelling storytelling. It is a turn-based RPG similar to Dungeons & Dragons-inspired games like Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023 Game of the Year).
The highlight of Metaphor is its Archetype system. It is a modern take on traditional RPG classes. With 14 base Archetypes and 46 in total, players have a wealth of options to tailor their characters. Archetypes are flexible – this system rewards experimentation and ensures no two playthroughs are the same.
Adding another layer of strategy are the Synthesis Skills, which allow two Archetypes in a party to combine their powers for unique and powerful moves. These special abilities encourage thoughtful party composition and make combat exciting.
Beyond gameplay, Metaphor shines through its narrative depth. The story is central, inviting players to fully immerse themselves in their character. Whether you are navigating complex dungeons or making critical decisions, the game fully embraces the role-playing aspect of RPGs, making every choice feel meaningful.
Even though only one of these games won Game of the Year, each of them are outstanding in their own way. The gaming sphere is large and diverse, so there is room for all of these projects to be celebrated.
Each nominee for Game of the Year represents the pinnacle of gaming excellence for their year – a perfect combination of innovation, creativity, and execution. With the recent announcement that Astro Bot won Game of the Year for 2024, let’s reflect on what made each of this year’s contenders stand out.