The Golden Joystick Awards 2024: Indie Games Shine Bright
The Golden Joystick Awards, celebrating gaming excellence since 1983, returns on November 21st, 2024, for its 42nd year. This year's awards, recognizing games released between November 11th, 2023, and October 4th, 2024, showcase a strong showing for indie titles, with games like Balatro and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes receiving multiple nominations.
A notable addition this year is a new category dedicated to self-published indie games, highlighting the growing impact of smaller development teams working independently. This category recognizes the increasing diversity within the indie gaming landscape, focusing on studios without the backing of larger publishers.
Here's a glimpse at some of the nominated games across various categories:
Key Categories and Nominees:
- 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
(Full list of nominees across all 19 categories can be found on the official website.)
Voting and Controversy:
Fan voting is now open! The nominees were initially selected by a jury of gaming experts from various publications. Voting runs from November 4th to 8th, 2024. A separate "Ultimate Game of the Year" category will be announced later. The omission of several popular titles, including Black Myth: Wukong, from the initial Game of the Year nominations has sparked debate amongst fans. The Golden Joystick Awards has clarified that the Ultimate Game of the Year shortlist is yet to be revealed.
Voting participants receive a free ebook!
