Indie Games Shine at Golden Joystick Awards 2024

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 year. This year's awards, recognizing games released between November 11th, 2023, and October 4th, 2024, showcase a strong showing for indie games, with titles like Balatro and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes receiving multiple nominations.

A significant development is the introduction of a new category: "Best Indie Game - Self Published." This category highlights indie developers who self-publish their games, acknowledging the growing significance of independent game development and the challenges faced by smaller teams without the backing of major publishers.

Here's a glimpse at some of the key categories and nominees:

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 diverse list including Assassin's Creed Shadows, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Grand Theft Auto VI.

(Note: A full list of nominees across all 19 categories is available on the official website.)

Fan Voting and Controversy:

Fan voting is currently open, with nominees chosen by a jury including prominent gaming publications. The Ultimate Game of the Year (UGOTY) nominees will be announced later. The initial GOTY nominations sparked controversy, with some fans expressing disappointment over the exclusion of titles like Black Myth: Wukong, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Space Marine 2. The Golden Joystick Awards organization addressed the concerns, clarifying that the UGOTY shortlist is yet to be revealed.

Voting for the Golden Joystick Awards 2024 is open now, offering participants a chance to win a free ebook. The awards ceremony promises to be a thrilling event, celebrating the best in gaming across various platforms and genres.