Golden Joystick Awards 2024 Was a Big Showing for Indie Games

The Golden Joystick Awards 2024: A Celebration of Gaming Excellence, with a Focus on Indie Titles

The Golden Joystick Awards, a prestigious event honoring the best in gaming since 1983, is set to return on November 21st, 2024, for its 42nd year. This year's awards will celebrate games released between November 11th, 2023, and October 4th, 2024. A notable highlight is the significant representation of indie games, with titles like Balatro and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes receiving multiple nominations.

This year's awards feature 19 categories, including a brand-new category specifically for self-published indie games. This addition reflects the evolving landscape of the gaming industry and acknowledges the growing contributions of smaller development teams working independently. The award organizers emphasized their commitment to recognizing teams lacking the backing of larger publishers, particularly those entering less saturated markets.

Here's a glimpse at some of the nominated titles across various categories:

Selected Nominee Highlights:

• Best Soundtrack: A Highland Song, Astro Bot, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Hauntii, Silent Hill 2, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
• Best Indie Game: Animal Well, Arco, Balatro, Beyond Galaxyland, Conscript, Indika, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Thank Goodness You’re Here!, The Plucky Squire, Ultros
• Best Indie Game - Self Published: Arctic Eggs, Another Crab’s Treasure, Crow Country, Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, I Am Your Beast, Little Kitty, Big City, Riven, Tactical Breach Wizards, Tiny Glade, UFO 50
• Console Game of the Year: Astro Bot, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Helldivers 2, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• PC Game of the Year: Animal Well, Balatro, Frostpunk 2, Satisfactory, Tactical Breach Wizards, UFO 50

Voting and Controversy:

Fan voting is currently underway on the official website, with nominees selected by a jury comprising prominent gaming publications. The voting period for the Ultimate Game of the Year (UGOTY) category will commence later. A shortlist will be announced on November 4th, with voting open from November 4th to 8th, 2024. Games released after October 4th, 2024, will still be considered for Best Performance and UGOTY awards.

A free ebook is offered as an incentive for participation.

The omission of certain fan-favorite titles, such as Black Myth: Wukong, from the Game of the Year nominations has sparked considerable online debate. The Golden Joystick Awards organization addressed the criticism, clarifying that the UGOTY shortlist is yet to be released.

The Golden Joystick Awards 2024 promises to be a compelling event, showcasing the breadth and depth of the gaming industry, while also highlighting the growing influence of indie developers. The ongoing discussion surrounding the nominations only adds to the anticipation surrounding the final results.