Golden Joystick Awards 2024 Was a Big Showing for Indie Games

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, returns on November 21, 2024, for its 42nd year. This year's awards showcase games released between November 11, 2023, and October 4, 2024, with a notable emphasis on indie games. Titles like Balatro and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes have secured multiple nominations, highlighting the rising prominence of smaller-scale game development.

A new category, "Best Indie Game - Self Published," underscores the evolving landscape of indie game development. This award specifically recognizes self-developed and self-published titles from smaller teams, acknowledging their contributions to the gaming industry 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 features a wide array of anticipated titles, including Assassin's Creed Shadows, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Grand Theft Auto VI.

Fan Voting and Controversy:

Fan voting is currently open on the official website, with the nominees chosen by a jury panel including prominent gaming publications. The voting period for the Ultimate Game of the Year (UGOTY) award will commence later. The UGOTY shortlist will be unveiled on November 4th, with voting running from November 4th to 8th, 2024.

The omission of certain fan-favorite titles, such as Black Myth: Wukong, from the initial Game of the Year nominations has sparked controversy within the gaming community. The Golden Joystick Awards organizers have clarified that the UGOTY nominations are yet to be announced, addressing concerns about potential bias.

Voting participants are eligible to receive a free ebook.

The Golden Joystick Awards 2024 promises to be a significant event, celebrating the diverse and evolving world of video games. The full list of nominees and the eventual winners will undoubtedly shape the conversation surrounding the year's best games.