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Writer's pictureMatthew Rondina

The Game Awards 2023 Predictions

I give my predictions and my personal picks ahead of The Game Awards 2023, let’s dive in!

The Game Awards, an annual celebration of the best in video games and the people who make them, is returning for its 10th edition on December 7th, 2023. The show will stream live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, and feature exclusive announcements, trailers, performances, and appearances from celebrities and industry icons. (Shoutout to The Muppet’s Gonzo and Flute Guy!)


The main attraction of the show is, of course, the awards themselves. This year, the Game Awards will honor the achievements of 112 different games, individuals, teams, and events across 30 categories, ranging from Game of the Year to Best Esports Athlete and beyond. The winners will be decided by a combination of votes from a global jury of media outlets and influencers, and votes from fans who can cast their ballots online or on Discord.

So, who are the nominees for the Game Awards 2023, and who has the best chance of taking home the coveted trophies? Let’s look at the categories and the games that are competing for them. I’ll be predicting winners along with my personal picks (which are my hopes for winners) for each category. Let’s kick things of with esports nominees and work our way up to predictions for Game of the Year 2023:


esports Categories

esports categories at the Game Awards recognize the outstanding achievements and performances of the esports scene, which is the competitive and professional level of video gaming here are all the nominees, my prediction for the winner and my personal pick.


Best esports Game

  • Counter-Strike 2 (Valve) DAPPER’S PERSONAL PICK

  • Dota 2 (Valve)

  • League of Legends (Riot Games) WINNER

  • PUBG Mobile (LightSpeed Studios/Tencent Games)

  • VALORANT (Riot Games)


Best esports Athlete

  • Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok (League of Legends) WINNER / DAPPER’S PERSONAL PICK

  • Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut (CS:GO)

  • Max “Demon1” Mazanov (VALORANT)

  • Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez (Call of Duty)

  • Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk (League)

  • Phillip “ImperialHal” Dosen (Apex Legends)


Best esports Team

  • Evil Geniuses (VALORANT)

  • Fnatic (VALORANT) WINNER / DAPPER’S PERSONAL PICK

  • Gaimin Gladiators (Dota 2)

  • JD Gaming (League)

  • Team Vitality (Counter-Strike)


Best esports Coach

  • Christine “potter” Chi (Evil Geniuses, VALORANT) DAPPER’S PICK / WINNER

  • Danny “zonic” Sorensen (Team Falcons, Counter-Strike)

  • Jordan “Gunba” Graham (Florida Mayhem, Overwatch)

  • Remy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam (Team Vitality, Counter-Strike)

  • Yoon “Homme” Sung-young (JD Gaming, League)


Best esports Event

  • 2023 League of Legends World Championship - WINNER

  • Blast.tv Paris Major 2023

  • EVO 2023 - DAPPER’S PICK

  • The International Dota 2 Championships 2023

  • VALORANT Champions 2023


Content Creator of the Year

  • IronMouse

  • PeopleMakeGames

  • Quackity - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • Spreen

  • SypherPK


Best Game Direction

  • Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment) – WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)

  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games)

  • Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo)

  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo)


Best Adaptation

  • Castlevania: Nocturne (Powerhouse Animation/Netflix)

  • Gran Turismo (PlayStation Productions/Sony Pictures)

  • The Last of Us (PlayStation Productions/HBO) - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Illumination/Nintendo/Universal Pictures)

  • Twisted Metal (PlayStation Productions/Peacock)

 

Best Narrative

  • Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment) - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)

  • Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (CD Projekt Red)

  • Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix)

  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games)


Best Art Direction

  • Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment) – WINNER / DAPPER’S PERSONAL PICK

  • Hi-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks)

  • Lies of P (Round8 Studio)

  • Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo)

  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo)


Best Score and Music

  • Alan Wake 2, composer Petri Alanko (Remedy Entertainment)

  • Baldur’s Gate 3, composer Borislav Slavov (Larian Studios)

  • Final Fantasy XVI, composer Masayoshi Soken (Square Enix) – WINNER / DAPPER TUX’S PICK

  • Hi-Fi Rush, audio director Shuichi Kobori (Tango Gameworks)

  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, composed by Nintendo Sound Team (Nintendo)


Best Audio Design

  • Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment) - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • Dead Space (Motive Studio)

  • Hi-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks)

  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games)

  • Resident Evil 4 (Capcom)

 

Best Performance

  • Ben Starr, Final Fantasy XVI

  • Cameron Monaghan, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

  • Idris Elba, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • Melanie Liburd, Alan Wake 2

  • Neil Newbon, Baldur’s Gate 3

  • Yuri Lowenthal, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Innovation in Accessibility

  • Diablo IV (Blizzard Entertainment)

  • Forza Motorsport (Turn 10 Studios)

  • Hi-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks)

  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games) - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • Mortal Kombat 1 (NetherRealm Studios)

  • Street Fighter 6 (Capcom)

Games for Impact

  • A Space for the Unbound (Mojiken Studio/Toge Productions/Chorus) WINNER

  • Chants of Sennaar (Rundisc)

  • Goodbye Volcano High (KO_OP)

  • Tchia (Awaceb)

  • Terra Nil (Free Lives)

  • Venba (Visai Games) – DAPPER’S PICK


Best Ongoing Game

  • Apex Legends (Respawn Entertainment)

  • Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt Red) - DAPPER’S PICK

  • Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)

  • Fortnite (Epic Games) – WINNER

  • Genshin Impact (HoYoverse)


Best Community Support

  • Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)

  • Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt Red) - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • Destiny 2 (Bungie)

  • Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)

  • No Man’s Sky (Hello Games)

 

Best Independent Game

  • Cocoon (Geometric Interactive) - WINNER

  • Dave the Diver (MINTROCKET)

  • Dredge (Black Salt Games/Team 17)

  • Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio) - DAPPER’S PICK

  • Viewfinder (Sad Owl Studios)


Best Debut Indie Game

  • Cocoon (Geometric Interactive) – WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • Dredge (Black Salt Games/Team 17)

  • Pizza Tower (Tour de Pizza)

  • Venba (Visai Games)

  • Viewfinder (Sad Owl Studios)


Best Mobile Game

  • Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis (Applibot/Square Enix)

  • Honkai: Star Rail (HoYoverse) - WINNER

  • Hello Kitty Island Adventure (Sunblink Entertainment)

  • Monster Hunter Now (Niantic/Capcom) - DAPPER’S PICK

  • Terra Nil (Free Lives)


Best VR/AR Game

  • Gran Turismo 7 (Polyphony Digital) - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • Humanity (tha LTD)

  • Horizon Call of the Mountain (Guerrilla Games)

  • Resident Evil Village VR Mode (Capcom)

  • Synapse (nDreams)


Best Action Game

  • Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (FromSoftware) - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • Dead Island 2 (Dambuster Studios)

  • Ghostrunner 2 (One More Level)

  • Hi-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks)

  • Remnant 2 (Gunfire Games)


Best Action/Adventure Game

  • Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment)

  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games) - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • Resident Evil 4 (Capcom)

  • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Respawn Entertainment) – Honourable Mention

  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo)


Best RPG

  • Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios) - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix)

  • Lies of P (Round8 Studio)

  • Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio)

  • Starfield (Bethesda Game Studios)


Best Fighting Game

  • God of Rock (Modus Studios Brazil)

  • Mortal Kombat 1 (NetherRealm Studios)

  • Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 (Ludosity) – Honourable Mention

  • Pocket Bravery (Statera Studio)

  • Street Fighter 6 (Capcom) - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK


Best Family Game

  • Disney Illusion Island (Dlala Studios)

  • Party Animals (Recreate Games)

  • Pikmin 4 (Nintendo)

  • Sonic Superstars (Arzest/Sonic Team/Sega)

  • Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo) - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK


Best Sim/Strategy Game

  • Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (WayForward)

  • Cities: Skylines II (Colossal Order)

  • Company of Heroes 3 (Relic Entertainment)

  • Fire Emblem Engage (Intelligent Systems)

  • Pikmin 4 (Nintendo) - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK


Best Sports/Racing

  • EA Sports FC 24 (EA Sports)

  • F1 23 (Codemasters)

  • Forza Motorsport (Turn 10 Studios) - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged (Milestone)

  • The Crew Motorfest (Ubisoft)


Best Multiplayer

  • Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)

  • Diablo IV (Blizzard Entertainment) - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • Party Animals (Recreate Games)

  • Street Fighter 6 (Capcom)

  • Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo)


Most Anticipated Game

  • Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix) - WINNER / DAPPER’S PICK

  • Hades II (Supergiant Games)

  • Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega)

  • Star Wars Outlaws (Massive Entertainment)

  • Tekken 8 (Bandai Namco/Arika)


Game of the Year 2023

The Game of the Year award is the most prestigious and coveted prize of the year, recognizing the game that delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields. This year, the nominees are:


Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games Publishing): The long-awaited sequel to the cult classic psychological thriller, Alan Wake 2 follows the titular writer as he returns to the town of Bright Falls, where a mysterious darkness has taken over. The game features a gripping story, intense combat, and stunning visuals powered by the Unreal Engine 5.


Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios): The third installment in the legendary role-playing series, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a massive and immersive adventure set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. The game allows players to create their own characters, explore a vast and dynamic world, and engage in turn-based combat and dialogue with a rich cast of characters and creatures.


Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games/SIE): The sequel to the critically acclaimed and best-selling superhero game, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 continues the story of Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they face new threats and challenges in New York City. The game features spectacular web-swinging, combat, and stealth mechanics, as well as a compelling narrative that introduces fan-favorite characters and villains from the Marvel comics.


Resident Evil 4 (Capcom): The remake of the classic survival horror game, Resident Evil 4 brings back the iconic protagonist Leon S. Kennedy as he travels to a rural village in Spain to rescue the president’s daughter from a sinister cult. The game features enhanced graphics, gameplay, and sound, as well as new content and modes that add to the horror and tension of the original.


Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo): The latest entry in the beloved platforming series, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a colorful and creative game that takes Mario and his friends to a new world where everything is made of paper. The game features innovative mechanics that allow players to fold, cut, and glue the paper environment to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles, as well as a charming story and a variety of modes and minigames.


The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo): The sequel to the masterpiece The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a breathtaking and epic game that expands on the open-world and exploration aspects of its predecessor. The game features a new story that reveals the secrets of Hyrule’s past and future, as well as new gameplay elements that allow players to manipulate time, water, and gravity.


Prediction: Baldur’s Gate 3

Dapper’s GOTY 2023: Alan Wake II


All of these games are worthy contenders for the Game of the Year award, but only one can claim the ultimate glory. Which one will it be? We’ll have to wait and see on December 7th, I’m personally hoping for Alan Wake II although based on trends in the industry I think Baldur’s Gate 3 will take the coveted prize.


 

 

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