Key Takeaways from the 2023 Game Awards

For those who don’t know, the Game Awards has aired annually for the past nine years, and it celebrates all of the games that have been released over the past year. It also announces new games that are coming in the next few years, making the Game Awards equivalent to the Grammies or Oscars – but for gaming. If you missed it, the 2023 Game Awards aired on December 7^th, 2023, and watching it back is a great way to catch all up on all the best games currently as well as all upcoming hits.

Awards

Now, let’s get into the biggest takeaway, which wasn’t really news because everyone knew it was coming, but Baldur’s Gate 3 took the title of the “2023 Game of the Year,” as well as several other awards like Best Character Performance, Best Community Support, Best RPG, Best Multiplayer Game, and Players’ Voice. The runner up was Alan Wake 2, which one Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction.

Other games that won one or more awards include: Final Fantasy 16, Hi-Fi Rush, Cyberpunk 2077, Sea of Stars, Cocoon, Honkai: Star Rail, Resident Evil Village, Forza Motorsport, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Street Fighter 6, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Pikmin 4, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (which is yet to be released, but is the most anticipated game of 2024). The Last of Us also won Best Adaptation for their hit TV series that aired this year. Finally, Riot Games and its affiliated games, esports events, teams, and personalities also won a lot, including Best Esports Athlete (Faker), Best Esports Coach (potter), Best Esports Event (2023 League of Legends World Champion), Best Esports Game (Valorant), and Best Esports Team (JD Gaming aka JDG, which is most well known for their League of Legends team).

Upcoming Games

There were a few dozen exciting, new games that were announced at the 2023 Game Awards, however, I will start this by telling you about the game that was not announced but should have been – Grand Theft Auto 6. The first trailer for GTA 6 was released on December 4^th, 2023, and while there was no mention of it at the Game Awards, it looks really great (WARNING: GTA 6 is an M(18+) rated game and the Trailer shows off some of that M rated material).

Moving onto some of the best announced games from the 2023 Game Awards, a Hideo Kojima game called “OD” looks the most exciting. It is rumored that this game will take horror games to the next level, and this rumor was started by the award-winning Horror Movie Directory/Comedian Jordan Peele. Another big announcement was that God of War: Ragnarok will be receiving a FREE DLC update on December 12, 2023. Final Fantasy 16 also announced two upcoming DLCs, Echoes of the Fallen (which came out after its announcement) and The Rising Tide (coming in 2024). Potentially the most popular announcements were for Fortnite though. Fortnite is partnering with Rocket League to make Fortnite Rocket Racing (which out on December 8^th, 2023), and LEGO to create LEGO Fortnite (this has no announced release date).

Here are some other exciting release announcements:

• SEGA announced five new games within one trailer with more to come, no released dates yet. They are:
  • Jet Set Radio
  • Shinobi
  • Golden Axe
  • Streets of Rage
  • Crazy Taxi
• Blade – based on a Marvel Character, no release date yet
• Black Myth: WuKong – a game based on the classic story “Journey to the West” set for release in August of 2024
• Dragon Ball Sparking Zero – a 3D Fighting game, no release date yet
• Jurassic Park Surivial – no release date yet
• Visions of Mana – a series receiving its first new game in nearly 20 years, no release date yet
• Light No Fires – from the creators of No Man’s Sky, no release date yet
• The Finals – a fast-paced FPS currently in beta but should be fully released sometime in 2024
• Rise of the Ronin – a Souls-like game to be released in March of 2024
• Skull and Bones – similar to Sea of Thieves, to be released in February 2024
• Lost Records: Bloom and Rage – no release date yet
• No Rest for the Wicked – an ARPG with early access release in early 2024
• Exodus – a sci-fi RPG featuring Matthew McConaughey as a voice actor, no release date yet
• Kemuri – a single person developed action game, no release date yet
• The Casting of Frank Stone – a Dead by Daylight sequel or tangent, no more details on it yet
• HellBlade: Senua’s Saga – an RPG set for release sometime in 2024
• Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons – a duo co-op game set for release in February 2024
• Den of Wolves – a Payday-like game, no release date yet
• Tales of Kenzera: Zua – an EA published 2D side-scroller set for release in April 2024
• Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 – set for release in September 2024
• Mecha Break – multiplayer sci-fi mech game, no release date yet
• The First Berserker: Khazan – no release date yet
• Pony Island 2: Panda Circus – Horror game, no release date yet
• Harmonium: The Musical – a narrative musical game, on Xbox Game Pass
• The First Descendant – a space themed looter shooter set for release in summer of 2024

And there are several more releases that are not mentioned here that may excite you! As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, it would be worth your while to go back and watch the 2023 Game Awards learn about all the upcoming games and see their exciting trailers.