It’s the end of another year of fantastic gaming, and you know what that means. Yes, it’s time for our boy Geoff Keighley to bring us the Game Awards 2023. Hosted last night in the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, there were thirty-one awards given to some very worthy winners, as well as some amazing trailers for upcoming titles. Join us as we cover some of the highlights of this prestigious evening.
Game of the Year
And the winner is… Baldur’s Gate 3
Starting off with the big one, the Game of the Year. This was a truly stacked lineup of games, and I’m sure every vote from the judges and public counted. With a wide range of genres, this has really been a fantastic year to be a gamer. The nominees for Game of the Year 2023 were Alan Wake 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Resident Evil 4, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Was there ever any doubt that Baldur’s Gate 3 would take the title, although the other nominees would’ve been worthy recipients, none made as big an impact as this huge RPG.
Player’s Voice
And the winner is… Baldur’s Gate 3
Voted for entirely by the public, this award also saw some strong contenders vying for the top spot. These are the games that grabbed our imaginations and haven’t let go, just tell me you don’t find yourself humming Down by the River every so often I dare you! Anyway, the contenders for the Player’s Voice Award 2023 are Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Genshin Impact. Another win for BG3, this game really did grip the hearts and minds of gamers across the world this year.
Best Independent Game
And the winner is… Sea of Stars
There were a lot of phenomenal games released this year, because of which some brand-new Indie titles may have passed under your radar. Well, luckily the Game Awards is shining the spotlight on some games you may have missed with the Best Independent Game category. Up for this award was Cocoon, Dave the Diver, Dredge, Sea of Stars, and Viewfinder. A throwback to the classics, this turn-based RPG came in with innovations that obviously turned the judges’ heads.
Best Art Direction
And the winner is… Alan Wake 2
A computer game can be a feast for the senses and, as such, the hardworking artists deserve to be recognised for their work. Each of these games boasts a unique art style from dark and gothic, to an explosion of vibrant colours. In contention for the Best Art Direction award were Alan Wake 2, Hi-Fi Rush, Lies of P, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. There is no denying that Alan Wake 2 is stunning in its level of detail, which makes it a worthy winner and not hard to see why it brought even the most powerful hardware to its knees.
Best Score and Music
And the winner is… Final Fantasy XVI
A game’s score is a powerful way of immersing you into the world you’re playing in, and some can stay with you for a long time. Heck, even for the rest of your life! Yes, that does mean that if you did end up humming Down by the River when I mentioned it earlier, it’s probably with you forever now. Up for the award for Best Score and Music are Alan Wake 2 – Petri Alanko, Baldur’s Gate 3 – Borislav Slavov, Final Fantasy XVI – Masayoshi Soken, Hi-Fi Rush – Shuichi Kobori, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Sound Team. Love them or hate them, Final Fantasy games always go big on the music and FF16 maintains that fact with a beautiful score from Masayoshi Soken.
Best Performance
And the winner is… Neil Newbon
A character’s performance can make or break a game, either cementing you into the narrative if it’s good, or shattering your immersion if it’s bad. Luckily for us, these performers knocked it out the park, bringing their A-game to some fantastic gaming titles. Nominated for Best Performance were Ben Starr – Final Fantasy XVI, Cameron Monaghan – Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, Idris Elba – Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Melanie Liburd – Alan Wake 2, Neil Newbon – Baldur’s Gate 3, Yuri Lowenthal – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Another win for Baldur’s Gate 3, there’s a reason everyone simps for Astarion! Neil Newbon’s performance gives this Vampire so much depth that you can’t help but love him no matter how deplorable he can get.
Best Multiplayer
And the winner is… Baldur’s Gate 3
Gaming is a fantastic means to bring us all together, whether it’s sat on the couch with your family and friends, or grabbing a quick match online after a long day at work. Multiplayer games are the perfect way to unwind and catch up with those you care about. These are the games that were nominated for the Best Multiplayer award Baldur’s Gate 3, Diablo IV, Party Animals, Street Fighter 6, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. I can attest that Baldur’s Gate 3 deserves this win, the multiplayer is flawlessly executed with endless hours of murder hoboing for you and your friends to partake in.
Innovation in Accessibility
And the winner is… Forza Motorsport
Gaming should be for everyone, and the developers of these games understand this. Each title nominated for this award added that little something to make gaming more welcoming to a wider audience. The nominees for the Innovation in Accessibility Award were Diablo IV, Forza Motorsport , Hi-Fi Rush, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Mortal Kombat 1, and Street Fighter 6. Forza Motorsport handily takes the gong for this, as it offers fantastic options for those with disabilities to enjoy sim racing, including driving assist, adjustable HUB elements, and colourblind options, just to name a few.
Most Anticipated
And the winner is… Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
The Game Awards celebrate what has come before but also looks towards the exciting future of gaming. In this category, there are some big names coming from an array of studios. Now, this is a category where I know the hearts of the OcUK content team may lead them in different directions, I know Rob is team Hades II, whereas I’m team Like a Dragon: Infinitie Wealth. Anyway, the games nominated for the Most Anticipated Award were Final Fantasy VII Rebirth , Hades II, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Star Wars Outlaws, and Tekken 8. (Personally, I was very torn between FF7 and Like a Dragon) As much as I would’ve loved to have seen Like a Dragon pick up this award, I can’t be sad as I’m just as excited for the next part of the Final Fantasy VII remake. Who knows what we’ll see when we get to THAT scene, seeing as how the last game changed the timeline.
The Perfect Choice to Play These Games
After watching the game awards, do you feel like diving into gaming? Then Overclockers UK has just what you need with a fantastic range of gaming PCs. With pre-built computers perfect for any gamer and configurable systems ideal for that enthusiast who wants everything just right. Click the button to explore our entire range. On the other hand, check out this amazing PC we hand-picked.
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Our Favourite Trailers of the Night
Now let’s look at what people really watch the game awards for, the game trailers. Because let’s be honest who doesn’t love a good trailer? They’re usually the best bit of going to the movies. Scattered throughout the show we saw some big announcements for upcoming games we can’t wait to play. And there certainly was a breadth of titles for us to feast our eyes on! Announcements for remakes and remasters of classics, such as Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake and Persona 3 Reload. New editions to existing game series, such as Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and the multiple Sega games. And plenty of new IPs announced! We’ll be keeping an eye of Windblown, Ready or Not, and Light No Fire. Oh, and let’s not forget, whatever that trailer was from Hideo Kojima.
What Did You Think of the Game Awards?
What a night that was, with some worthy winners across all the categories. Do you agree with the winners? Any awards you’d like to see in the future? Maybe you’d change how the awards are voted upon. Let us know your thoughts on the Game Awards in the comments below. One last thing to send you guys home happy, check out this phenomenal performance by the Old Gods of Asgard and members of the Alan Wake 2 cast.
- 9 min read
Simon Procter
Author
Having been a gaming nut for longer than he cares to think, Simon landed his dream job over a year ago at Overclockers UK. Since then, he has written many product pages and category texts. He even gets released from the basement to write the odd cheeky blog post. When not working, you can often find him entrenched in World of Warcraft, visiting friends to have his butt whooped in a board game, or with his nose buried in a book.
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