The Game Awards 2023: Baldur’s Gate 3 Clinches Game of the Year Honors in an Expected Yet Exceptional Triumph

In a night that held little surprise for many, the sprawling fantasy RPG adventure from Larian Studios, Baldur’s Gate 3, emerged victorious as the anticipated Game of the Year (GOTY) title. While it was hardly unexpected that this mammoth role-playing journey would secure the spotlight, what raised more than a few eyebrows was the near-tie with ‘Alan Wake 2,’ another undeniable powerhouse in the gaming landscape. This occurred amidst stiff competition from titles such as ‘Spider-Man 2’ or ‘The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.’

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A Night of Acclaim and Familiarity

Remedy’s trio of awards for their game was among the few nods to the unusual and innovative in a ceremony that, once again, favored commercial hits and showed little inclination to challenge or ruffle spectators’ preconceptions. The recurring comparison to the ‘Oscars of gaming’ remains fitting yet almost overly snug this year. Here are the coveted winners from the prestigious event:

Game of the Year

• Alan Wake 2
• Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Resident Evil 4
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Direction

• Alan Wake 2 – WINNER
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Narrative

• Alan Wake 2 – WINNER
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Final Fantasy XVI
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

And the night unfolded, bestowing recognition upon the triumphant titles in a manner somewhat expected, familiar in its lack of adventurous choices. While ‘Alan Wake 2’ made a notable mark, the spotlight remained fixed largely on the expected winners, leaving the avant-garde yearnings largely unsated.

Best Artistic Direction

• Alan Wake 2 – WINNER
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Lies of P
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Soundtrack

• Alan Wake 2
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Final Fantasy XVI – WINNER
• Hi-Fi Rush
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Sound Design

• Alan Wake 2
• Dead Space Remake
• Hi-Fi Rush – WINNER
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Resident Evil 4 Remake

Best Performance

• Ben Starr (Clive – ‘Final Fantasy XVI’)
• Cameron Monaghan (Cal Kestis – ‘Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’)
• Idris Elba (Solomon Reed – ‘Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty’)
• Melanie Liburd (Saga – ‘Alan Wake 2’)
• Neil Newbon (Astarion – ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’) – WINNER
• Yuri Lowenthal (Peter Parker – ‘Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’)

Impactful Game

• A Space for The Unbound
• Chants of Sennaar
• Goodbye Volcano High
• Tchia – WINNER
• Terra Nil
• Venba

Best Active Game

• Apex Legends
• Cyberpunk 2077 – WINNER
• Final Fantasy XIV
• Fortnite
• Genshin Impact

Outstanding Indie Game

• Cocoon
• Dave the Diver
• Dredge
• Sea of Stars – WINNER
• Viewfinder

Best Mobile Game

• Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure
• Honkai – Star Rail – WINNER
• Monster Hunter Now
• Terra Nil

Community Support

• Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Cyberpunk 2077
• Destiny 2
• Final Fantasy XIV
• No Man’s Sky

Accessibility Innovation

• Diablo IV
• Forza Motorsport – WINNER
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Street Fighter 6

VR/AR Game

• Gran Turismo 7
• Horizon Call of the Mountain
• Humanity
• Resident Evil Village VR Mode – WINNER
• Synapse

Best Action Game

• Armored Core VI – WINNER
• Dead Island 2
• Ghostrunner 2
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Remnant 2

Action-Adventure Excellence

• Alan Wake 2
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Resident Evil 4
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• The Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – WINNER

This roster of accolades, while acknowledging excellence, echoes the familiar resonance of acclaim showered upon the mainstream, an expected chorus in the grand theater of gaming recognition.

The full list of winners across diverse categories not only signifies the triumph of the celebrated but also sheds light on the persistent trend of the gaming industry award shows, favoring the established and the commercial, leaving the mavericks and groundbreaking concepts on the periphery of acknowledgment.

Best RPG

• Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Final Fantasy XVI
• Lies of P
• Sea of Stars
• Starfield

Finest Fighting Game

• God of Rock
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
• Pocket Bravery
• Street Fighter 6 – WINNER

Top Family Game

• Disney Illusion Island
• Party Animals
• Pikmin 4
• Sonic Superstars
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder – WINNER

Strategy Game Excellence

• Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp
• Cities: Skylines II
• Company of Heroes 3
• Fire Emblem Engage
• Pikmin 4 – WINNER

Best Sports and Racing Game

• EA Sports FC 24
• F1 23
• Forza Motorsport – WINNER
• Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged
• The Crew Motorfest

Outstanding Multiplayer Game

• Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Diablo IV
• Party Animals
• Street Fighter 6
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder

People’s Choice Award

• Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Genshin Impact
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Content Creator of the Year

• @ironmouse – WINNER
• @chrisbratt / People Make Games
• Quakity
• @spreenDMC
• @sypherpk

Premier Indie Release

• Cocoon – WINNER
• Dredge
• Pizza Tower
• Venba
• Viewfinder

Best Adaptation

• Castlevania: Nocturne
• Gran Turismo
• The Last of Us – WINNER
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie
• Twisted Metal

Most Anticipated Game

• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – WINNER
• Hades II
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Star Wars Outlaws
• Tekken 8

eSports Standouts

• Counter-Strike 2
• Dota 2
• League of Legends
• PUBG Mobile
• Valorant – WINNER

eSports Achievements

• Lee “Faker” Sang-Hyeok – WINNER
• Mathieu “Zywoo” Herbaut
• Max “Demon1” Mazanov
• Paco “Hydra” Rusiewiez
• Park “Ruler” Jae-Hyuk
• Phillip “Imperialhal” Dosen

eSports Team of the Year

• Evil Geniuses
• FNATIC
• Gaimin Gladiators
• JD Gaming – WINNER
• Team Vitality

eSports Coaching Excellence

• Christine “Potter” Chi – WINNER
• Danny “Zonic” Sorensen
• Jordan “Gunba” Graham
• Remy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam
• Yoon “Homme” Sung-Young

eSports Event of the Year

• 2023 League of Legends World Championship – WINNER
• TV Paris Major 2023
• EVO 2023
• The International DOTA 2 Championships 2023
• Valorant Champions 2023

The array of winners and their triumphs echo the recurring tale of predictability, celebrating the established while leaving the unorthodox and pioneering innovations on the fringe of acknowledgment.