Recapping The Game Awards 2024
The Game Awards 2024 dazzled fans with a night full of world premieres, trailers, and heartfelt tributes as it marked its 10th anniversary. Held on December 12, this year’s ceremony celebrated a decade of gaming excellence while giving a glimpse into the industry’s thrilling future. With blockbuster announcements, creative surprises, and accolades for the year’s best, The Game Awards delivered a memorable showcase. Here’s everything you need to know.
A Feast of Major Announcements
One of the night’s most anticipated segments, the world premieres, didn’t disappoint.
FromSoftware took center stage with the reveal of Elden Ring: Nightreign. This multiplayer cooperative spinoff introduces large-scale boss battles and innovative traversal mechanics, such as sprouting wings for aerial combat. Fans of the original Elden Ring will explore new lands and team up in a faster-paced take on the acclaimed formula. The game is slated for release in 2025 across multiple platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
Adding to the nostalgia, Bandai Namco unveiled Pac-Man: Shadow Labyrinth, a darker reimagining of the arcade icon. This Metroidvania-style 2D platformer blends eerie storytelling with Pac-Man’s classic maze mechanics. Inspired by Amazon’s Secret Level series, it’s expected to release in 2025.
Another retro revival came with Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, announced by Dotemu and The Game Kitchen. This 2D action-platformer harkens back to the original Ninja Gaiden trilogy, combining modern gameplay elements with its iconic high-stakes combat. Fans can look forward to slicing through enemies in summer 2025.
CD Projekt Red also thrilled audiences with the highly anticipated announcement of The Witcher IV. This time, Ciri takes center stage, battling monsters and navigating a world brimming with danger. While details remain sparse, the cinematic trailer set a haunting tone for what’s to come.
For fans of cinematic storytelling, Mafia: The Old Country transported viewers to early 20th-century Sicily. A prequel to the Mafia series, this game promises a fresh look at the franchise’s crime-drama roots, set to release in summer 2025.
Virtua Fighter fans had their prayers answered with a surprise reveal from Sega, marking the return of the beloved 3D fighting franchise. While information remains under wraps, its resurgence is a clear nod to the fighting game renaissance.
Capcom announced a sequel to the 2006 action-adventure game Okami. The new installment, currently unnamed, was unveiled through a musical performance. Notably, original director Hideki Kamiya is returning to lead the project at his new studio, Clovers. Production is in its early stages, with Capcom stating that "a new adventure in the same vein as Okami has been set in motion."
Adding an innovative twist to cooperative gameplay, Hazelight Studios (creators of It Takes Two) unveiled Split Fiction. This action-adventure takes players on a journey through dual genres, with sci-fi and fantasy worlds clashing in a creative narrative. The game will launch on March 6, 2025.
Other noteworthy announcements included:
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth arriving on PC on January 23, 2025.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which showcased an exhilarating new trailer.
Path of Exile II, now in early access, which teased its ambitious plans.
The Outer Worlds 2, confirmed for 2025, with new gameplay footage.
Killing Floor 3, announced for March 2025.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword by Capcom, coming in 2026.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered, arriving on PC on April 3, 2025.
Familiar franchises also returned to the spotlight. Borderlands 4 delivered its first gameplay trailer, showcasing a vibrant world full of quirky humor, unique environments, and, of course, explosive loot-filled mayhem. Meanwhile, Palworld, the creature-collecting survival game, demonstrated its multiplayer mechanics in a trailer highlighting the vast array of creatures players can encounter.
Awards Spotlight
As always, the awards portion of the evening celebrated the best in gaming for 2024. This year’s Game of the Year nominees were packed with heavyweights, including Astro Bot, Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio. Ultimately, Astro Bot emerged victorious. A handful of the top-level awards included:
Game of the Year - Astro Bot
Best Game Direction - Astro Bot
Best Narrative - Metaphor: ReFantazio
Best Art Direction - Metaphor: ReFantazio
Best Score and Music - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Best Audio Design - Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Best Performance - Melina Juergens, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
A Decade of The Game Awards
This year’s event marked the 10th anniversary of The Game Awards, and the celebration was as much about the past as the future. A touching retrospective highlighted how far the industry has come in the last decade, from indie breakthroughs to blockbuster hits. Host Geoff Keighley thanked fans and developers for their continued support, emphasizing the global impact of gaming as a cultural force.
What’s Next?
The Game Awards 2024 provided a powerful reminder of why gaming remains one of the most dynamic entertainment industries. From groundbreaking new titles to the revival of beloved classics, the night deftly balanced nostalgia with innovation. As the industry looks ahead to 2025 and beyond, gamers have plenty to be excited about.
Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the release dates of these highly anticipated titles. Whether you’re eagerly awaiting Elden Ring: Nightreign, fascinated about Pac-Man’s dark turn, or gearing up for The Witcher IV, one thing is clear: the next few years of gaming are set to be legendary.
