The Game Awards 2024: Predictions, Categories, & Dates

The Game Awards 2024 event is one of the most awaited night in the gaming industry. The year 2024 marks its 10th anniversary, which only adds to the excitement of this particular event. Gamers and developers celebrate all aspects of the gaming industry while allowing developers to showcase their upcoming projects. With the announcement of the nominees for all the categories, fans can predict the games likely to go home with an array of accolades. In this write-up, we look into the possible awardees, their categories, and the event dates in detail.

6. Black Myth: Wukong

Black Myth: Wukong, with an 81 Metascore, is a revered title with massive sales and a huge fan following, especially in China. The Game Awards nominated the game in the action category this year. It is an RPG game derived from the Chinese mythology story Journey to the West. Players embark on a quest as the Destined One. He aims to uncover the hidden truth behind the veil of a great legend from the past. 

You enter a beautiful realm filled with wonder, hidden discoveries, and danger. The protagonist engages in epic battles with a diverse cast of enemies. You wield a magical staff and must master its various techniques to harness its maximum power. Finding a combat style that best suits your strategy enhances your chances of navigating and conquering the game’s intricate gameplay.

5. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

The title is the best-reviewed game of the year, holding the top spot on Metacritic’s list. It secured four nomination spots, including a nomination for the best role-playing game. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion of the game Elden Ring. In this title, players continue with a dark and intense quest through the Realm of Shadow in pursuit of  Miquella. You uncover Miquella’s history and Marika’s hidden past as you go deeper into the game. Danger creeps from all corners, challenging players to employ strategy and wit to succeed. Notably, you have access to new weapons, spells, and armor. They will enhance your character, giving you a fair shot at battling the monstrous enemies you encounter.

4. Balatro

With a 90 Metascore, Balatro is a famous game with a huge fan following worldwide. It has five nominations, including in Game Direction, where games in its genre hardly appear. Balatro also features a new mobile version that increased the game's fan base's traction. The roguelike deck builder game derives its inspiration from poker, and its aim is to create powerful synergies. In addition, the game allows players to combine poker hands with distinct Joker cards to craft strategic synergies and builds. Lastly, earning enough chips will help defeat blinds and uncover hidden bonus cards and decks as the game progresses. 

3. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

From the renowned series Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth boasts a Metascore of 92 in addition to having no peers this year. The game has a lot of nominations, including in the key Game Direction, Performance, and Narrative categories. Square Enix developed this action role-playing game in 2024 after the Final Fantasy VII Remake developed in 2020. The game embodies the features of its predecessors, which combine real-time action with proper strategy and role-playing elements. 

In the game, you take control of a mercenary named Cloud Strife. He is in liaison with other characters who make up the eco-terrorist group Avalanche. They all embark on a journey across the planet, trying to prevent a megacorporation named Shrina from draining their source of energy, the Lifestream. Additionally, they have to defeat a former elite soldier, Sephiroth, who wants to merge with the planet to gain immense power.

2. Metaphor: ReFantazio

Atlus’ Studio Zero’s popularity rose after their game Persona 5 got nominated for GOTY and won Best RPG in 2017. Now with their amazing game, Metaphor: ReFantazio, that has a metascore of 94, they stand a chance to walk away with another award at the Game Awards 2024. The game is Atlus’ Studio Zero's fastest-selling game so far and has six nominations in the Game Awards. It is second to Astro Bot and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. 

The role-playing medieval fantasy game is set in the United Kingdom of Euchronia. Its story reflects the contemporary world and is set after the assassination of its former king. The prince of the land was cursed during an earlier attempt on his life, plunging him into a long slumber. The protagonist is an orphan named Will, who is of the magic-wielding Elda tribe. Will embarks on a journey across Euchronia to gather the support of its people.  Additionally, he participates in a royal tournament to determine the throne's next successor. He does all this while still trying to find a way to lift the curse that befell his friend, the prince.

1. Astro Bot

With a Metascore of 94, this platformer game connected many critics and fans like no other game this year. The main attraction to this game lies in the quality of its making. Every minute spent playing Astro Bot feels extremely satisfying and unforgettable for gamers. In the gameplay, you control a small robot as he courses across platforms, saving other bots, fighting off enemies, and solving puzzles. It features over 90 levels extending across 6 galaxies and 60 planets. 

The levels are designed to offer a unique experience in each one. An example is how players can control night and day in one level, changing the entire layout. Similarly, in another, players can shrink down to a tiny mouse and see the layout from a different perspective. At seven nominations, Astro Bot ties with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth as the most-nominated game. However, with a statistical analysis between the two, Astro Bot stands a better chance of taking home the gold. 

Dates and Time for The Game Awards

The Game Awards 2024 will take place on December 12th. The event begins at 7:30 PM EST, 4:30 PM PDT, 3:30 PM MST, and 8:30 AM BST on December 13th. Other streams happen before and after the main showcase, usually about four hours long. You can watch the show from The Game Awards’ social media channels on YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and their X Account.

So, what’s your take on our Game Awards 2024 predictions? Let us know your thoughts here on our socials or down in the comments.