Players have chosen! The Golden Joystick Awards of 2023 has been announced. Whilst this year there was one game that dominated the contest, Baldur’s Gate 3, we can’t forget about other fantastic winners from various categories. Let’s take a look!
- What are the Golden Joystick Awards?
- Baldur’s Gate 3 wins 7 Golden Joystick Awards
- Best Storytelling: Baldur’s Gate 3
- Still Playing Award: No Man’s Sky
- Best Multiplayer Game: Mortal Kombat 1
- Studio of the Year: Larian Studios
- Best Game Expansion: Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Best Indie Game: Sea of Stars
- Best VR Game: Horizon Call of the Mountain
What are the Golden Joystick Awards?
The Golden Joystick Awards are a British video game awards ceremony hosted by GamesRadar+. It was first awarded in 1983 and is now one of the most prestigious gaming awards ceremonies in the world. The awards are voted on by the public, and they recognize the best games of the year in a variety of categories.
The Golden Joystick Awards are unique in that they are voted on by gamers themselves. This means that the awards reflect the games that are popular with gamers, rather than the games that are critically acclaimed. This makes the Golden Joystick Awards a valuable indicator of the current state of the gaming industry.
Baldur’s Gate 3 wins 7 Golden Joystick Awards
The 2023 Golden Joystick Awards were held on November 10, 2023, and Baldur’s Gate 3 was the big winner of the night, taking home a record seven awards: best storytelling, best visual design, studio of the year, best game community, PC game of the year, and the ultimate game of the year. Additionally, Neil Newbon, the actor standing behind the masterful delivery of one of the game’s heroes also grabbed the award for the best-supporting performer.
Other notable winners included
- Nintendo Game of the Year: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Xbox Game of the Year: Starfield
- Best multiplayer game: Mortal Kombat 1
- PlayStation Game of the Year: Resident Evil 4
- Critics’ Choice Award: Alan Wake II
- Best Audio: Final Fantasy XVI
- Best Streaming Game: Valorant
- Most Wanted Game: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Best Storytelling: Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 received the prestigious accolade for its exceptional storytelling, thanks to its captivating and immersive narrative. Set in the enchanting world of Forgotten Realms, the game follows a band of adventurers plagued by a mind flayer parasite. With its multitude of diverging paths and consequential choices, players wield the power to shape the outcome of the story in dozens of ways.
Still Playing Award: No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky was honored with the prestigious Still Playing Award for its ongoing support and updates. Although initially met with mixed reviews upon its 2016 release, the developers have invested relentless efforts to enhance the game ever since. Throughout the years, No Man’s Sky has received a plethora of updates, enriching it with new features, content, and bug fixes. These substantial improvements have catapulted No Man’s Sky into the ranks of the most popular and critically acclaimed games available today.
Best Multiplayer Game: Mortal Kombat 1
The iconic fighting game, Mortal Kombat, triumphed and snatched the prestigious award for the best multiplayer experience. With its rebooted history, the game mesmerized both critics and fans alike. It garnered critical acclaim for its unwavering dedication to preserving the series’ rich history, while skillfully incorporating new and exciting features that kept it feeling fresh and modern. The seamless blend of nostalgia and innovation truly set Mortal Kombat apart and solidified its position as a legendary gaming franchise.
Studio of the Year: Larian Studios
Larian Studios won the award for Studio of the Year for their work on Baldur’s Gate 3. The game is a masterpiece of game design, and it is clear that Larian Studios is a team of talented and passionate developers. They have demonstrated a commitment to creating unique and engaging experiences for their fans, as evidenced by the success of Baldur’s Gate 3. Their passion is evident in the level of detail that they pour into each game, and it’s clear that they take pride in delivering high-quality products to their players. Congratulations to Larian Studios!
Best Game Expansion: Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty won the Best Game Expansion award, recognizing its ambitious scope and thrilling new content. Set in a fresh district of Night City, this expansion offers an enticing narrative, captivating characters, and innovative gameplay mechanics. The expansion pack perhaps fully restored the base game’s honor. After the problematic premiere in 22020, the game managed to fix the problems that haunted this title.
Best Indie Game: Sea of Stars
The story of Sea of Stars follows two Children of the Solstice, Valere, and Zale, who combine the powers of the sun and moon to perform Eclipse Magic, the only force capable of fending off the monstrous creations of the evil alchemist.
Sea of Stars is a turn-based RPG with a focus on exploration and storytelling. The game features a variety of different environments to explore, including towns, dungeons, and forests. Players will also encounter a variety of different enemies, including monsters, bandits, and other adventurers.
Best VR Game: Horizon Call of the Mountain
Horizon Call of the Mountain won the award for Best VR Game for its immersive gameplay and stunning visuals. The game takes players on an adventure through the world of Horizon Zero Dawn, and it allows them to experience the game in a whole new way. It was also the flagship title for the newly released PS VR 2, truly showing its potential and capabilities.
It wasn’t the only reason for PlayStation to celebrate. The company took home the Golden Joystick award for Best Gaming Hardware thanks to the PSVR2 success.
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