The nominees for The Game Awards 2024 have been announced, set for December 12. The event is a yearly highlight for gaming fans as the best games of the year are honoured while up and coming titles receive their premieres. And for this year, things are rather interesting as each category receives surprising nominations while the prestigious Game of the Year award is currently subject to hot debate with six contenders: Astro Bot, Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio.

The inclusion of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has sparked some controversy since it is an expansion rather than a standalone game, with some raising questions about nomination eligibility criteria. And if it wins by any chance, the ongoing debate of expansions competing with full games is sure to be more spirited than ever.

Nonetheless, with such a strong lineup, predicting a winner is difficult, as each nominee represents the best of each different genre with unique game experiences. And fans are already engaging in intense discourse online, thus adding further to the excitement of the event.

The following lists the nominees for the other categories:

Best Game Direction:

• Astro Bot
• Balatro
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Elden Ring: Shadow of The Erdtree
• Final Fantasy 7
• Metaphor: ReFantazio

Best Role-Playing Game:

• Dragon's Dogma 2
• Elden Ring: Shadow of the ERdtree
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio

Best Ongoing Game:

• Destiny 2
• Diablo 4
• Final Fantasy 14
• Fortnite
• Helldivers 2

Best Performance:

• Briana White (Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth)
• Hannah Telle (Life is Strange: Double Exposure)
• Humberly Gonzalez (Star Wars Outlaws)
• Luke Roberts (Silent Hill 2)
• Melina Juergens (Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2)

Best Mobile Game:

• AFK Journey
• Balatro
• Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket
• Wuthering Waves
• Zenless Zone Zero

Best Art Direction:

• Astro Bot
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Neva

Best Score and Music:

• Astro Bot
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Silent Hill 2
• Stellar Blade

Best Audio Design:

• Astro Bot
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
• Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2
• Silent Hill 2

Games for Impact:

• Closer the Distance
• Indika
• Neva Life is Strange: Double Exposure
• Senua's Saga: Hellbalde 2
• Tales of Kenzera: Zau

Best Community Support:

• Baldur's Gate 3
• Final Fantasy 14
• Fortnite
• Helldivers 2
• No Man's Sky

Best Debut Indie Game:

• Animal Well
• Balatro
• Manor Lords
• Pacific Drive
• The Plucky Squire

Best VR/AR Game:

• Arizona Sunshine Remake
• Asgard's Wrath 2
• Batman: Arkham Shadow
• Metal: Hellsinger VR
• Metro: Awakening

Most Anticipated:

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Ghost of Yotei
• Grand Theft Auto 6
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
• Monster Hunter Wilds

Best Adaptation:

• Arcane
• Fallout
• Knuckles
• Like a Dragon: Yakuza
• Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft

Best Narrative:

• Final Fantasy 7
• Rebirth Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2
• Silent Hill 2

Best Multiplayer:

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Helldivers 2
• Super Mario Party Jamboree
• Tekken 8
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Best Independent Game:

• Animal Well
• Balatro
• Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
• Neva
• UFO 50

Best Action Game:

• Black Myth: Wukong
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Helldivers 2
• Stellar Blade
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Best Action/Adventure Game:

• Astro Bot
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
• Silent Hill 2
• Star Wars Outlaws
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Best Fighting Game:

• Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
• GranBlue Fantasy Versus: Rising
• Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Arcade Classics
• MultiVersus
• Tekken 8

Innovation in Accessibility:

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Diablo 4
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
• Star Wars Outlaws

Best Family Game:

• Astro Bot
• Princess Peach: Showtime
• Super Mario Party Jamboree
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• The Plucky Squire

Best Sim/Strategy Game:

• Age of Mythology: Retold
• Frostpunk 2
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
• Manor Lords
• Unicorn Overlord

Best Sports/Racing Game:

• F1 24
• EA Sports FC 25
• NBA 2K25
• Top Spin 2K25
• WWE 2K24

Best Esports Team:

• Bilibili Gaming
• Gen.G
• Navi
• T1
• Team Liquid

Best Esports Game:

• Counter-Strike 2
• Dota 2
• League of Legends
• Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
• Valorant

Best Esports Athlete:

• 33
• Aleksib
• Chovy
• Faker
• Zywoo
• Zmjjkke

And as for which game will take home the trophy for each category, fans will just have to wait until December 12 to find out. In the meantime, they can cast their votes for the nominees at The Game Awards and support their titles.