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, celebrating gaming's finest since 1983, returns on November 21st, 2024, for its 42nd edition. This year's awards, recognizing games released between November 11th, 2023, and October 4th, 2024, showcase a significant rise in indie game recognition, with titles like Balatro and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes receiving multiple nominations.

A notable addition is a new category dedicated to self-published indie games, highlighting developers who handle both development and publishing. This category acknowledges the evolving definition of "indie" and champions smaller teams lacking the backing of major publishers.

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

Key Award 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
• Most Wanted Game: (A comprehensive list of nominees is available on the official website.)

(A complete list of nominees for all categories can be found on the official Golden Joystick Awards website.)

Fan Voting and Controversy:

Fan voting is currently open, with the nominees chosen by a panel of industry experts. The Ultimate Game of the Year (UGOTY) nominees will be announced later. The absence of certain fan favorites, such as Black Myth: Wukong, from the initial Game of the Year nominations has sparked online debate and criticism. The organizers have clarified that the UGOTY shortlist is yet to be released.

Voting for the Golden Joystick Awards 2024 is open until November 8th, 2024. Participants who vote can claim a free ebook.