The 2024 Game Awards, which airs on Thursday, December 12, announced its Game of the Year nominees this week, and the discourse has been muy picante.
In addition to expected frontrunners like Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, this year’s noms include indie sensation Balatro; U.S. election simulator Metaphor: ReFantazio; commercial darling Black Myth: Wukong; and, via a surprise last-minute rule change, Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
It’s a fine list in many respects. Our team loves Astro Bot, Rebirth, and Metaphor just as much as anyone, and we were particularly thrilled that Balatro nabbed a nom. But the inclusion of Wukong—an 81 Metacritic game that’s garnered a staggering 22 million players on Steam alone—feels more like a popularity pick than a merit-based one. And Shadow of the Erdtree, as great as it is, is an expansion that cannot be played as a standalone game. One could argue it’s bizarre to award a victory lap for Elden Ring, as it already won big at the 2022 Game Awards.
In a quiet year for games, Erdtree’s nomination wouldn’t rankle me as much. But 2024 was far from quiet. This was a surprisingly strong year for AAA and indie games alike, yet only Balatro seems to have broken through to the mainstream. Take a look at the nominees for Best Independent Game, and you’ll see Animal Well and UFO 50—two games that both earned top marks with critics yet are no-shows for the industry’s highest honor. Then, there are the outright snubs: the excellent Zelda– and Persona-inspired Dungeons of Hinterberg; the lovingly realized yet gutwrenching Arco; the mind-bending x1000 Resist… the list goes on.
Look, I get that gaming, like all art forms, is subjective. Clearly, Keighley and a fair share of critics preferred Wukong over Lorelei and the Laser Eyes this year, and though I find the selection process frustratingly opaque, I respect the final slate of games. And while I’ll undoubtedly catch the recap the morning after, I doubt I’ll tune in for a show that always seems to compromise individuality for spectacle.
The Alternative? Catch the Indie Game Awards
If, like me, you’re tired of the small creator being overlooked at these ceremonies, look no further than the 2024 Indie Game Awards. Set to air December 19 on YouTube and IGN, the Indie Game Awards promise to get us back to basics: celebrating the best and brightest games, no matter how small or niche.
The award categories are impressive, celebrating everything from the best “bite-sized game” to the studio with the best community management. It’s a wholesome, inclusive ceremony designed to amplify quieter voices in the space while calling attention to the best this industry has to offer.
Look no further than Game of the Year, which has a whopping 10 nominations (many of which we can certainly vouch for). Here are your 2024 Indie Game Awards nominees:
- 1000xResist (sunset visitor)
- Animal Well (Billy Basso)
- Arco (Arco Team)
- Balatro (LocalThunk) – Read our Balatro impressions
- Crypt Custodian (Kyle Thompson)
- Lorelei and the Laser Eyes (Simogo)
- Mouthwashing (Wrong Organ) – Read our Mouthwashing impressions
- Neva (Nomada Studio)
- Nine Sols (RedCandleGames) – Read our Nine Sols review
- UFO 50 (Mossmouth)
Many, many other great games are featured, including Minishoot’ Adventures (which I loved, but never got the chance to cover) and several games we did write about:
- Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus – Read our Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus review
- Crow Country – Read our Crow Country review
- Duck Detective: The Secret Salami – Read our Duck Detective review
- Hauntii – Read our Hauntii review
- The Plucky Squire – Read our Plucky Squire review
- Ultros – Read our Ultros review
Even a show as inclusive as the Indie Game Awards has its misses. I’m bummed to see Dungeons of Hinterberg passed up for nomination, particularly for the Best Debut category. Still, it’s refreshing to see an industry event celebrate the diversity of developers, ideas, and creations that we know to be self-evident. Not even Geoff Keighley can take that truth away.
Catch the 2024 Indie Game Awards on December 19 via YouTube and IGN. And, for the love of all that is good and holy, buy Dungeons of Hinterberg on Steam or Xbox Series X/S.
David is the founder of The Punished Backlog. He has a problem finishing games he starts. Just beat: Nine Sols, UFO 50. Working on: Metaphor: ReFantazio. Can't wait for: Hollow Knight: Silksong. Follow David on Twitter at @David_Silbert to keep up to date with all things The Punished Backlog.
