The Golden Joystick Awards 2024: Indie Games Shine, Controversy Brews

The Golden Joystick Awards, celebrating gaming excellence since 1983, unveiled its 2024 nominees across numerous categories, notably a new bracket dedicated to self-developed and self-published indie games. The awards, set for November 21st, will honor games released between November 11th, 2023, and October 4th, 2024. This year's nominations highlight a significant rise in smaller-scale game recognition, with titles like Balatro and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes receiving multiple nods.

A total of 19 categories are featured, including the aforementioned indie game category, specifically designed to showcase the achievements of smaller development teams lacking the backing of larger publishers. The organizers emphasized their aim to recognize the evolving definition of "indie" games and support those operating with limited resources.

Here's a selection of the nominated games:

Key Award Categories and Nominees (Partial List):

• 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 lengthy list of titles including highly anticipated releases)

Voting and Controversy:

Fan voting is now open on the official website, with nominees chosen by a jury including representatives from prominent gaming publications. The voting period for the main categories runs from November 4th to 8th. A separate "Ultimate Game of the Year" award will be announced later. The omission of several fan favorites, including Black Myth: Wukong, from the initial Game of the Year nominations sparked significant online backlash. Organizers clarified that the Ultimate Game of the Year shortlist is yet to be revealed, addressing fan concerns.

Voting participants can also receive a free ebook as a bonus.

The Golden Joystick Awards 2024 promises a compelling showcase of gaming achievements, though the controversy surrounding the initial nominations highlights the passionate engagement of the gaming community.