The Game Awards is just a few winks away, and Game8 is here to present an overview of our reviews of these games. Read on to find out how these games measured up to their awards.
The Game Awards Nominees - Overview
The Game Awards 2023’s lineup of nominees are some of the gaming industry’s best and finest of the year. Though there were some controversial choices, many of them have proven themselves through the judgment of both critics and players alike, and some simply stand out as groundbreaking games that shook the industry.
Game8 stands to view games undeterred by the opinions of the public. Here are our takes on some of The Game Award 2023’s nominees over the year, listed by number of nominations received.
Starfield - 60/100
| Total Nominations - 1 |
|---|
 Best RPG |
Starfield is Bethesda’s latest open-world RPG set in the vast expanse of space. While the game promised to be the next big thing, it fell short of these expectations due to several issues like an unsatisfying main story, non-immersive exploration, and a middling soundtrack.
Sonic Superstars - 62/100
| Total Nominations - 1 |
|---|
|
Best Family |
Sonic Superstars is a visually appealing modern take on the classic Sonic games. It features a multiplayer mode, allowing you to play with multiple people in one sitting. However, it seems like they’re designed to keep you dead in your tracks and counterproductive to the player wanting to go fast.
Remnant 2 - 80/100
| Total Nominations - 1 |
|---|
|
Best Action Game |
Remnant 2 improves upon the previous game’s mechanics and doubles down on its fantastic gameplay. It has spectacular gunplay, great visuals, and an expansive pool of procedurally generated levels. It offers endless replayability and tons of fun as you play through this souls-like third-person shooter.
Pocket Bravery - 68/100
| Total Nominations - 1 |
|---|
|
Best Fighting |
Pocket Bravery is a fighting game made by passionate people who are not afraid to show it. It’s a unique take on the classic fighting game mechanics and modernizing them to its current release. It has multiple single-player modes and an expansive story mode that will keep you busy. It has some misses in terms of iconic soundtracks and more captivating characters, but it is interesting enough to be a great entry point for fighting games.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 - 84/100
| Total Nominations - 1 |
|---|
|
Best Fighting |
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 improved upon the previous game and returned as a fantastic platform fighter. While it's tough to take down Smash Bros, the original and pinnacle of platform fighters, it now stands as one of the greats, alongside Brawlhalla and others in the genre, and can showcase each character’s unique traits and strengths.
Honkai Star Rail - 78/100
| Total Nominations - 1 |
|---|
|
Best Mobile Game |
Honkai Star Rail has proven to be one of Mihoyo’s best in the gacha sphere, even in a landscape where Mihoyo already has a strong stranglehold. With colorful character designs, captivating stories and sequences, and great worldbuilding, it shows Mihoyo’s ability to make narrative-centric games without losing too much quality. It’s only really held back by the lower rates of pulling characters but is otherwise ready to be admitted as this year’s best mobile game.
Ghostrunner 2 - 82/100
| Total Nominations - 1 |
|---|
|
Best Action |
Ghostrunner 2 is a fast-paced first-person platformer that is hellbent on testing your skill and creativity for movement and combat. Similar to Hotline Miami and Katana Zero, it's a game where everything dies in one hit. It’s challenging, for sure, but it’s a whole lot of fun, especially once things start to click for you.
Fire Emblem: Engage - 76/100
| Total Nominations - 1 |
|---|
|
Best Sim/Strategy |
Fire Emblem: Engage features some of the best strategy gameplay in the franchise so far. Its unique "Engage" mechanic brings more depth to an already engaging game. It does have some issues with its lackluster story and generic characters, but it’s still a great entry point for players who want to get into the series.
Dead Space (2023) - 84/100
| Total Nominations - 1 |
|---|
|
Best Audio Design |
Dead Space (2023) is a terrifying remake of the original 2008 action horror game. It enhances the game experience by modernizing the graphics, improving quality-of-life features, and providing the same thrilling gameplay we’re familiar with. It’s a truly immersive and horrifying experience that cements this game as one of the better remakes of the year.
DAVE THE DIVER - 84/100
| Total Nominations - 1 |
|---|
|
Best Indie Game |
DAVE THE DIVER shows off its great gameplay with underwater exploration and restaurant management. It has incredible visuals and a vibrant soundtrack that will keep you wanting to explore the deep ocean. While the story could be a bit better, it still offers a ton of replayability that will keep you entertained.
Cities: Skylines 2 - 78/100
| Total Nominations - 1 |
|---|
|
Best Sim/Strategy |
Cities: Skylines 2 builds upon its predecessor’s solid foundations and innovates and enhances them. With stunning visuals, fantastic audio, and an addicting gameplay loop, its performance is the only thing holding it back, which even lagged even on more powerful gaming setups.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon - 86/100
| Total Nominations - 1 |
|---|
|
Best Action |
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is the franchise’s return after a long period of no releases.
It combines elements from previous games and amazing quality-of-life improvements to prove its identity as one of the best mecha games out there.
A Space for the Unbound - 94/100
| Total Nominations - 1 |
|---|
|
Games for Impact |
A Space for the Unbound features an exceptional narrative story providing raw depictions of societal issues. Coupled with vivid visuals and great music, the game will make a lasting impression on you.
Viewfinder - 90/100
| Total Nominations - 1 |
|---|
|
Best Indie Game |
Viewfinder is an amazing, mind-bending game that tests your puzzle-solving skills. With breathtaking visuals and a fantastic soundtrack, it tackles the theme of climate change and taking care of the environment in a unique way.
Pikmin 4 - 90/100
| Total Nominations - 2 |
|---|
|
Best Family Best Sim/Strategy |
Pikmin 4 perfectly balances difficulty and accessibility with its new gameplay mechanics and familiar Pikmin gameplay. With vibrant environments, thought-provoking puzzles, and various enemies, the game promises a long and enjoyable experience that is sure to be filled with pure joy.
Party Animals - 90/100
| Total Nominations - 2 |
|---|
|
Best Family Best Multiplayer |
Party Animals has everything you want and need from a party game. With hilariously fun gameplay, cute characters, unique locales, and excellent sound design, it promises that all parties and get-togethers are better every time. It’s a must-have for every group willing to throw down to have fun.
Mortal Kombat 1 - 74/100
| Total Nominations - 2 |
|---|
|
Best Fighting Game Best Innovation in Accessibility |
Mortal Kombat 1 offers a fresh reboot to the historic fighting game franchise through its massive lore. It provides numerous single-player modes that will keep you entertained and brand-new gameplay mechanics that enhance its depth. With all the different unlockables and cosmetics available in the game, dropping the controller for another fighting game will take a while.
Lies of P - 84/100
| Total Nominations - 2 |
|---|
|
Innovation in Accessibility Best Fighting |
Lies of P is the best souls-like game out there, featuring a fantastic take on Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio. With spectacular gameplay as a souls-like, beautiful visuals, and excellent sound design, it offers a delightful, well-balanced experience in terms of difficulty and progression.
Forza Motorsport - 86/100
| Total Nominations - 2 |
|---|
|
Innovation in Accessibility Best Sports/Racing |
Forza Motorsport is one of the best racing simulation games out right now. Showcasing excellent gameplay, visuals, and audio design, it provides players with an incredible experience behind the wheel. With vast customization options and numerous car choices, it’s the perfect game for car connoisseurs and those who just wanna go for a test drive.
Dredge - 96/100
| Total Nominations - 2 |
|---|
|
Best Indie Game Best Debut Indie Game |
Dredge is a fantastic game, from its horror-mystery story, intensely addicting gameplay, immersive sound design, and atmosphere. It revolves around its addictive fishing mechanics and inventory management, where you have to manage EVERYTHING in the ship, including caught fish, discovered loot, and even passengers on the ship. It shines as a game through its unique identity and shows it off flawlessly.
Diablo 4 - 88/100
| Total Nominations - 2 |
|---|
|
Innovation in Accessibility Best Multiplayer |
Diablo 4 is one of the franchise’s best games, with a strong plot, well-designed combat, excellent visuals, and sound direction. It offers vast and near-endless replayability with the amount of endgame content that it has.
Cocoon - 94/100
| Total Nominations - 2 |
|---|
|
Best Indie Game Best Debut Indie Game |
Cocoon is a captivating puzzle game with breathtaking graphics and amazing sound design. It’s a unique and excellent experience that immerses you in a truly psychedelic experience.
Street Fighter 6 - 84/100
| Total Nominations - 3 |
|---|
|
Innovation in Accessibility Best Fighting Best Multiplayer |
Street Fighter 6 succeeded in many ways. It exceeded its predecessor by a mile in graphics, sound design, and gameplay and even introduced more accessibility options. It’s one of the best fighting games right now, with many single-player modes and amazing connectivity in terms of online gameplay.
Resident Evil 4 Remake - 90/100
| Total Nominations - 3 |
|---|
|
Game of the Year Best Audio Design Best Action/Adventure |
Resident Evil 4 Remake elevates the original release by capturing the game's original essence and updating it to modern standards. It was already known for being a great game during its time and has come back even better than before, allowing modern-day players to experience its horrors. It’s a remake that you don’t want to miss for its (mostly) faithful adaptation.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty - 88/100
| Total Nominations - 3 |
|---|
|
Best Narrative Best Ongoing Best Community Support |
Cyberpunk 2077 is quite possibly one of the best comeback stories of the past few years. It redeemed itself from its disastrous initial launch in 2020 and is back to becoming the game CD Projekt Red promised. Phantom Liberty and the 2.0 update improved the gameplay by introducing a better progression and even more amazing spy-thriller narrative with the expansion.
Hi-Fi Rush - 82/100
| Total Nominations - 4 |
|---|
|
Best Art Direction Best Score and Music Best Audio Design Innovation in Accessibility |
Hi-Fi Rush is a creative and innovative take on the hack-and-slash formula, adding rhythmic action using in-game music. With a fantastic cast of characters and graphics, it’s a must-play for fans of the genre for its unique gameplay.
Final Fantasy XVI - 88/100
| Total Nominations - 5 |
|---|
|
Best Narrative Best Score and Music Best Audio Design Best Performance (Ben Starr) Best RPG |
Final Fantasy XVI is a different game for the franchise. It took elements from its predecessor and showed off its capability to create an engaging action RPG. Square Enix broke the norm by changing their formula with its latest entry, and it is sure to be something to look forward to moving forward.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - 96/100
| Total Nominations - 5 |
|---|
|
Game of the Year Best Game Direction Best Art Direction Best Score and Music Best Action/Adventure |
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an amazing follow-up to its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, and builds upon its original formula. It enhanced an already engaging and innovative gameplay, elevating it to a whole other level. Nintendo came out with many bangers this year, and this game is their number one release.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder - 88/100
| Total Nominations - 5 |
|---|
|
Game of the Year Best Game Direction Best Art Direction Best Family Best Multiplayer |
Super Mario Bros. Wonder keeps the same 2D Mario formula and proves that Nintendo is one of the best, if not the best, at 2D platformers. It’s able to mix it up with new mechanics like new power-ups, minigames, and more. It’s a game that allows new players and veterans alike to have fun and enjoy the game and is, therefore, a strong nominee for Game of the Year.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 - 88/100
| Total Nominations - 6 |
|---|
|
Game of the Year Best Game Direction Best Narrative Best Audio Design Best Performance (Yuri Lowenthal) Best Action/Adventure |
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a spectacular sequel that builds significantly on top of its predecessors. Insomniac was able to capture the magic of being able to move as Spider-Man while being able to tell a compelling story and fast-paced gameplay. The game is one of the best superhero games this year and is a great nominee for Game of the Year.
Alan Wake 2 - 90/100
| Total Nominations - 7 |
|---|
|
Game of the Year Best Game Direction Best Narrative Best Art Direction Best Score and Music Best Audio Design Best Action/Adventure |
Alan Wake 2 is an action thriller filled with psychological horrors and an immersive atmosphere. It has compelling storytelling that keeps you guessing right until the very end. Alan Wake 2 is a strong nominee as one of the best games of 2023 and solidifies itself as the gold standard of action horror games.
Baldur’s Gate 3 - 90/100
| Total Nominations - 7 |
|---|
|
Game of the Year Best Game Direction Best Narrative Best Score and Music Best Performance (Neil Newbon) Best Community Support Best RPG |
Baldur’s Gate 3 is hands down the best CRPG this year and may be the best choice for Game of the Year. Mixing Dungeons and Dragons mechanics and CRPG elements has allowed players everywhere to experience a tabletop campaign as a video game. This is one for the ages and is rightfully nominated as one of the best games of 2023, with captivating storytelling, intricate gameplay, beautiful music, and more.
