While many people may consider “the” GOTY at this point to be whoever wins the crown at The Game Awards, there are plenty of other award shows out there, and of course individual tier lists for sites or creators.
But the Golden Joysticks is a pretty big one, and its list of winners indicates a heavy favorite heading into the larger GOTY season. Baldur’s Gate 3 won the show’s “Ultimate GOTY” award, along with six other categories.
Outside of that, Final Fantasy XIV, Starfield, Tears of the Kingdom, Alan Wake 2 and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty picked up awards. Here’s the full list, which is an interesting look at the potential awards to come:
- Ultimate GOTY – Baldur’s Gate 3
- Best Storytelling – Baldur’s Gate 3
- Best Visual Design – Baldur’s Gate 3
- Best Gaming Community – Baldur’s Gate 3
- Best Supporting Performer – Neil Newborn as Astarion (Baldur’s Gate 3)
- Studio of the Year – Larian Studios (Baldur’s Gate 3)
- PC Game of the Year – Baldur’s Gate 3
- Best Game Expansion – Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Best Game Trailer – Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Best Audio – Final Fantasy XVI
- Best Lead Performer – Ben Starr as Clive (Final Fantasy XVI)
- Best Multiplayer Game – Mortal Kombat 1
- Best India Game – Sea of Stars
- Best VR Game – Horizon Call of the Mountain
- Best Streaming Game – Valorant
- Still Playing Award – No Man’s Sky
- Breakthrough Award – Cocoon
- Best Gaming Hardware – PS VR2
- PlayStation Game of the Year – Resident Evil 4
- Xbox Game of the Year – Starfield
- Nintendo Game of the Year – Tears of the Kingdom
- Most Wanted Award – Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Critics’ Choice Award – Alan Wake 2
Critics love Alan Wake 2, and despite just the one win here, given that The Game Awards is a whole lot of critics voting, it seems like it is probably the main contender going up against Baldur’s Gate 3 for GOTY. And yet, it is very, very hard not to see Baldur’s winning. I mean, look at that sweep.
How on point are the Golden Joysticks with their past picks? Draw your own conclusions. Elden Ring won 2022 GOTY, Resident Evil Village won 2021 GOTY, The Last of Us Part II won 2020 GOTY, Resident Evil 2 won 2019 GOTY, Fortnite won 2018 GOTY, Breath of the Wild won 2017 GOTY and I’ll probably stop there. I guess they really like Resident Evil, huh.
I will reveal my own pick in a bit here, but yes, I do expect Baldur’s to take the grand prize, along with a few others at at least the Game Awards, but likely a lot of other lists as well.
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