Indie Games Dominate Golden Joystick Awards

The Golden Joystick Awards 2024: A Spotlight on Indie Games and Heated GOTY Debate

The Golden Joystick Awards, celebrating gaming excellence since 1983, returns on November 21, 2024, for its 42nd edition. This year's awards, recognizing games released between November 11, 2023, and October 4, 2024, showcase a significant rise in indie game recognition, with titles like Balatro and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes receiving multiple nominations.

A total of 19 categories are up for grabs, including a brand-new category dedicated to self-published indie games. This category highlights the growing diversity within the indie scene, specifically focusing on smaller teams lacking the backing of larger publishers.

Here's a glimpse at some of the nominated titles across various categories:

Selected Nominee Highlights:

• 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

Fan Voting and Controversy:

Fan voting is currently underway on the official website, with nominees chosen by a jury including representatives from prominent gaming publications. The Ultimate Game of the Year (UGOTY) nominees will be announced later. Voting runs from November 4th to 8th, 2024.

The omission of several fan favorites, including Metaphor: ReFantazio, Space Marine 2, and notably Black Myth: Wukong, from the Game of the Year categories has sparked significant online backlash. The Golden Joystick Awards organization has addressed the criticism, clarifying that the UGOTY shortlist is yet to be revealed.

The full list of nominees can be found on the official Golden Joystick Awards website. The awards ceremony promises to be a thrilling event, highlighting the best in gaming and fueling further discussion surrounding the hotly contested Game of the Year title.