InformativeThe Game Awards 2023: Who Are The Game of the Year Nominees?

Premiering on the 7th of December, The Game Awards 2023 has just released its six Game of the Year nominees and many fans can agree that it looks like there’s going to be some stiff competition this year. “It’s no secret that 2023 has been a momentous year for the gaming industry. Players have thoroughly enjoyed the variety of games released by their favourite AAA and indie developers, although this pool of blockbusters has upped the competition this year for the Game of the Year category,” says our gaming expert, Jessica Pinker. In this blog, LDV dives into the Game of the Year nominees, discussing how they made the cut and who’s more likely to take home the prize this year.

In this guide, we will tell you:

• How Tears of the Kingdom exceeded fans’ expectations
• How Wonder surpassed all expectations associated with 2D Mario games
• How Spider-Man 2 further enhanced the experience of the Insomniac universe
• Why Resident Evil 4 Remake can be considered a standalone game
• How Baldur’s Gate 3 is changing mainstream gaming
• Why Alan Wake 2 is considered one of the most experimental games of the year

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

It’s no surprise that the highly anticipated sequel to Breath of the Wild made it as a nominee for Game of the Year, however, fans were pleasantly surprised to see how well it filled the shoes of its predecessor. Essentially Tears of the Kingdom took everything fans adored about Breath of the Wild but added a ton of new mechanics and content, including a brand new storyline, two enormous regions, enthralling puzzles and two new abilities. This pair of new abilities (Fuse & Ultrahand) allowed players to create a slew of new weapons and gadgets to help them solve puzzles and is what propelled TOTK into being one of the most represented games at The Game Awards 2023 for Nintendo. Try it out for yourself by purchasing the Nintendo Switch game for £49.99 at Very. Feel free to use one of our Very discount codes too for an added discount!
Product code VH5NI

Super Mario Bros Wonder

Another nomination under Nintendo’s belt, Super Mario Bros Wonder surpassed all expectations associated with 2D Mario games. Commonly having less appeal compared to their 3D counterparts, Wonder broke the pattern by becoming one of the fastest-selling games in the entire Mario series. Game Rant even went as far as saying it’s “one of the best Mario games in years”. It’s no secret why considering the game introduced the Wonder Flower into the series which turns all traditional Mario gameplay conventions on its head, creating a truly unique experience for fans of the franchise. Creative and ambitious, Super Mario Bros Wonder earned its place as a nominee for the Game of the Year award. Find it at Very for only £49.99 under the Nintendo Switch section.
Product code VN7T3

Spider-Man 2

Another successful sequel to the list of Game of the Year nominees, Spider-Man 2 not only filled the shoes of its predecessors but also added new content and characters that further enhanced the experience set out in the original. Creating the perfect blend between the original combat and oh-so-satisfying transversal mechanics with the introduction of characters like Venom set the stage for Spider-Man 2 to become the massively successful game it is today. From a tech standpoint, the game effortlessly juggles ray-tracing each graphical preset while ensuring no frame drops or pop-ins occur, fully showcasing the capabilities of the PS5. Despite a few teething issues regarding bugs during the initial release, Spider-Man 2 has more than earned its place as a Game of the Year nominee. You don’t have to take our word for it though. Try the game out for yourself by purchasing it at Game for £69.99 or less when you use a Game discount code.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

What may come as a controversial candidate for the Game of the Year award, Resident Evil 4 Remake is (as its name implies) a remake of an original game. However, thanks to its undeniable success since its release, the game has proved itself to be more than just a visual overhaul of the original. Like the other Resident Evil Remakes, it’s a completely reimagined version of the original combined with the latest graphics, modernised controls and refreshed characters. It’s a faithful remake of the original with all its charm but with all the characteristics of a post-2020 game. All-in-all Resident Evil 4 Remake has proven to be a strong candidate for Game of the Year despite some fans preferring the original 2005 version. Feel free to do your own comparison of the remake vs the original by purchasing Resident Evil 4 from Game for £37.98.

Baldur’s Gate 3

It’s no surprise that the universally acclaimed Baldur’s Gate 3 has made the cut as one of the Game of the Year nominees. Having benefited from an early access period, the game has received a vast amount of TLC that has turned it into the polished RPG it is to date. Intended for RPG fans, the game was designed with carte blanche at its heart. Each decision made (no matter how big or small) by the player has a long-lasting impact. Despite the prevalence of combat in mainstream gaming, the focus has been placed primarily on storytelling, exploration and class-building in Baldur’s Gate 3. Yet despite this contradiction, the game has gained mainstream appeal and has been labelled as one of the best-received titles of 2023. Although the game is currently only available on certain platforms (specifically PC and PS5), we still recommend trying it out for yourself! Purchase it on Eneba with a Steam Key and remember to apply an Eneba discount code at checkout.

Alan Wake 2

Despite being the new kid on the block, Alan Wake 2 has gained immense recognition over the past few weeks. Inspired by Stephen King and David Lynch, the sequel pushes the boundaries of lore & storytelling by interlinking characters & concepts from their other franchises, including Quantum Break and Control. While Alan Wake 2 elaborates further on the Dark Presence and lore set out in the first game, the sequel also introduces a new character to the franchise, Saga Anderson. With creativity and originality at the heart of this game, it’s clear to see why it has been praised as one of the most experimental games of 2023. Feel free to add this Game of the Year nominee to your Christmas Wishlist. It only costs £46.99 on Eneba!

Get The Latest News On The Game Awards 2023 With LDV

The competition may be tight this year at The Game Awards 2023, but some Game of the Year nominees have an ace up their sleeve. According to BBC, frontrunners (Baldur’s Gate 3 and Alan Wake 2) have both received 8 nominations each, upping their chances of bringing home an award for their developers this year. But overall it’s still fair game for the nominees. If you’re interested in reading more of our gaming blogs, feel free to check out our Best Gaming Laptop Under £1000 blog. Alternatively visit our Music, Games & Movies page for the latest news on discounts, sales and more from your favourite gaming brands.