Astro Bot Takes Top Honors at The Game Awards 2024

The 10th annual Game Awards brought together gaming's biggest names for a night filled with awards, game announcements, and unforgettable moments.

Astro Bot, a colorful PlayStation platformer by Team Asobi, claimed the coveted Game of the Year title, beating strong contenders like Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. The game also snagged three more awards: Best Family Game, Best Action/Adventure, and Best Game Direction. Nicolas Doucet, Team Asobi's studio head, accepted the trophy with a nod to the gaming community and its rival developers.

On a night that celebrated global creativity, indie poker game Balatro made its mark, winning Best Mobile Game and two other categories. Meanwhile, Japanese developers shone brightly with Metaphor: ReFantazio securing three awards.

New Game Announcements and Celebrity Surprises

Beyond the awards, the event showcased many exciting reveals. Fans were thrilled to learn about The Witcher 4, which highlights a grown-up Ciri, and Naughty Dog's mysterious Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Other notable announcements included the return of Ninja Gaiden with Ragebound, a co-op expansion of Elden Ring called Nightreign, and Fumito Ueda’s intriguing Project Robot.

Celebrity appearances also spiced up the ceremony. Snoop Dogg presented Best Ongoing Game to Helldivers 2 and debuted a new track. Meanwhile, Harrison Ford joined Troy Baker on stage, delighting fans of Indiana Jones.

Industry Struggles Take Center Stage

While the awards celebrated innovation, the event didn't shy away from the industry's challenges. With ongoing strikes by video game actors demanding better AI protections and widespread layoffs, the night carried a somber undertone. Amir Satvat, winner of the Game Changers Award, used his platform to highlight these issues, thanking his parents and emphasizing compassion in the industry.

Controversies and Criticism

The inclusion of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree as a Game of the Year nominee sparked debate, with fans arguing that expansions shouldn't qualify. Additionally, the fan-voted Player’s Choice Award faced backlash for featuring free-to-play mobile games like Genshin Impact.

Despite criticism that the show prioritizes trailers over speeches, it remains a favorite among fans, boasting 118 million livestream viewers last year. The reveals, ranging from Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth's PC release to the quirky Catly, are bound to keep players excited for what's to come in 2025 and beyond.

See the list of winners and nominees below:

Game of the Year

WINNER: Astro Bot

Balatro

Black Myth: Wukong

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Best Game Direction

WINNER: Astro Bot

Balatro

Black Myth: Wukong

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Metapahor: ReFantazio

Best Ongoing Game

WINNER: Helldivers 2

Destiny 2

Diablo 4

Final Fantasy 14

Fortnite

Best Art Direction

WINNER: Metaphor: ReFantazio

Astro Bot

Black Myth: Wukong

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Neva

Best Mobile Game

WINNER: Balatro

AFK Journey

Wuthering Waves

Zenless Zone Zero

Pokémon TCG Pocket

Best Narrative

WINNER: Metaphor: ReFantazio

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Like a Dragon: Infinte Wealth

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Silent Hill 2

Best Performance

WINNER: Melina Juergens, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Briana White, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Hannah Telle, Life is Strange: Double Exposure

Humberly Gonzalez, Star Wars Outlaws

Luke Roberts, Silent Hill 2

Best Score & Music

WINNER: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Astro Bot

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Silent Hill 2

Stellar Blade

Best Audio

WINNER: Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Astro Bot

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Silent Hill 2

Best Adaptation

WINNER: Fallout

Arcane

Knuckles

Like a Dragon: Yakuza

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft

Best Multiplayer

WINNER: Helldivers 2

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2

Super Mario Party Jamboree

Tekken 8

Best Independent Game

WINNER: Balatro

Animal Well

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

Neva

UFO 50

Debut Indie Game

WINNER: Balatro

Animal Well

Manor Lords

Pacific Drive

The Plucky Squire

Most Anticipated Game

WINNER: Grand Theft Auto 6

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Ghost of Yotei

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Monster Hunter Wilds

Best Role-Playing Game

WINNER: Metaphor: ReFantazio

Dragon’s Dogma 2

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Games for Impact

WINNER: Neva

Closer the Distance

Indika

Life Is Strange: Double Exposure

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Tales of Kenzera: Zau

Content Creator

WINNER: CaseOh

Illojuan

Techno Gamers

TypicalGamer

Usada Pekora

Best Action/Adventure

WINNER: Astro Bot

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Silent Hill 2

Star Wars Outlaws

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Best Action

WINNER: Black Myth: Wukong

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Helldivers 2

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2

Stellar Blade

Best Fighting

WINNER: Tekken 8

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

Granblue Fantasy: Versus Rising

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection

Multiversus

Innovation in Accessibility

WINNER: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Diablo 4

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Star Wars Outlaws

Best Community Support

WINNER: Baldur’s Gate 3

Final Fantasy 14

Fortnite

Helldivers 2

No Man’s Sky

Best Family Game

WINNER: Astro Bot

Princess Peach Showtime

Super Mario Party Jamboree

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

The Plucky Squire

Best Sim/Strategy Game

WINNER: Frostpunk 2

Age of Mythology Retold

Kunitsu-Gami Path of the Goddess

Manor Lords

Unicorn Overlord

Best Sports/Racing

WINNER: EA Sports FC25

F1 24

NBA 2K25

Topspin 2K25

WWE 2K24

Best VR/AR Game

WINNER: Batman: Arkham Shadow

Arizona Sunshine Remake

Asgard’s Wrath 2

Metal: Hellsinger VR

Metro Awakening

Best Esports Game

WINNER: League of Legends

Counter Strike

Dota 2

Mobile Legends Bang Bang

Valorant

Best Esports Athlete

WINNER: Faker

AleksiB

Chovy

Zywoo

Zmjjkk

Best Esports Team

WINNER: T1, League of Legends

Bilibili Gaming, League of Legends

Gen.G, League of Legends

Navi, Counterstrike

Team Liquid, Dota 2

The Game Changer Award

This first-time award for The Game Awards was given to Amir Satvat, in honor of his commitment to helping game developers affected by layoffs and studio closures find jobs through a job database.