41st Golden Joystick Awards nominations announced, voting is live right now
The nominations for the 41st Golden Joystick Awards have been unveiled today.
Baldur’s Gate 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom both earned the most nominations with four each, including a battle for Best Game Community. This year’s awards also see the return to the Best VR Game category, which finds six games going for the gold.
A list of nominees can be seen below. Three additional categories (Breakthrough Award, Critics’ Choice Award, and Lifetime Achievement) will be voted on by the press. Voting for Ultimate Game of the Year, Best Performer and Best Supporting Performer will go live on Monday, October 23 for one week.
Daniel Dawkins, Content Director - Games, Video and Digital Events said this about the nominees:
“What. A. Year. It’s testament to the astonishing quality of 2023’s game releases that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - an exceptional sequel to one of the best games of all-time - isn’t the only game to claim the most nominations. Larian’s critically-adored Baldur’s Gate 3 shares that accolade, earning a coveted 10/10 in Edge Magazine, and hailed by PC Gamer’s reviewer as the ‘greatest RPG I’ve played’.
Bethesda’s epic Starfield achieved lift-off despite the gravity of expectations, while big sequels such as Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1 hit the mark. Add a slew of superb AAA remakes, plus indie gems including Dave the Diver, Dredge and Cocoon, and 2023 has a legitimate claim to the best in gaming history.
The Golden Joystick Awards are held in such high regard, since only the public’s votes will decide the winners. We’re thrilled to share this intensely-debated shortlist and - this year, more than ever - are a touch relieved at not casting the deciding vote.”
Voting is open right now here, and it’ll close on Friday, October 20 at 6 p.m. EST/3 p.m. PST. Everyone who votes will get to claim one free ebook (100 Retro Games to Play Before You Die, Ultimate Guide To Fantasy Gaming, The Story of Zelda, Retro Gamer Presents: The Handheld Gaming Collection, or Minecraft Secrets & Cheats Vol 3.)
The 41st Golden Joystick Awards will take place on Friday, November 10, and it’ll air live on various streaming platforms.
41st Golden Joystick Awards nominations
Best Audio
Stray Gods
Hi-Fi Rush
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
Starfield
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Final Fantasy XVI
Best Storytelling
Baldur's Gate 3
The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
Armored Core VI: Fires Of Rubicon
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals
PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Best Game Community
Final Fantasy XIV
Warframe
Baldur's Gate 3
Deep Rock Galactic
Dreams
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Best Game Expansion
Power Wash Simulator DLC
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom
The Case of the Golden Idol Mysteries: The Lemurian Vampire and Spider of Lanka
Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania
A Little to the Left: Cupboards & Drawers
Best Gaming Hardware
PlayStation VR2
Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Headset
Alienware 34 AW3423DWF
Nitro Deck
ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96
Samsung 990 PRO
Best Indie Game
Dave the Diver
Pizza Tower
Dredge
Cocoon
Viewfinder
Sea of Stars
Best Multiplayer Game
Exoprimal
Diablo IV
Street Fighter 6
Remnant II
Mortal Kombat 1
We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip
Best Visual Design
Baldur's Gate 3
Starfield
Hi-Fi Rush
Viewfinder
Lies Of P
Street Fighter 6
Nintendo Game of the Year
Pikmin 4
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Fire Emblem Engage
Metroid Prime Remastered
Octopath Traveller II
Fae Farm
PC Game of the Year
Baldur's Gate 3
Diablo IV
Dave the Diver
Tchia
System Shock
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
PlayStation Game of the Year
Final Fantasy XVI
Resident Evil 4
Street Fighter 6
Humanity
Armored Core VI: Fires Of Rubicon
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Xbox Game of the Year
Starfield
Chants of Sennaar
Hi-Fi Rush
Planet of Lana
Dead Space
Pentiment
Still Playing Award
No Man's Sky
Genshin Impact
The Sims 4
Fortnite
Naraka: Bladepoint
GTA Online
Warframe
Valorant
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive / Counter-Strike 2
Apex Legends
Dota 2
Call of Duty
Studio of the Year
Larian Studios
Digital Eclipse
Nintendo EPD
Mimimi Games
Remedy Entertainment
CD Projekt Red
Best Game Trailer
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty - Official Cinematic Trailer
Alan Wake 2 - The Dark Place Gameplay Trailer
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Official Trailer #3
Baby Steps Reveal Trailer
Mortal Kombat 1 - Official It's In Our Blood Trailer
Dave the Diver - Official Release Month And Accolades Trailer
Most Wanted Game
Death Stranding 2
Star Wars Outlaws
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Tekken 8
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Hades II
Fable
Hollow Knight: Silksong
EVERYWHERE
Frostpunk 2
ARK 2
METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER
Persona 3 Reload
Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Pacific Drive
Black Myth: Wukong
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin
(Returning in 2023) Best VR Game
C-Smash VRS
Horizon Call of the Mountain VR
Synapse
Vertigo 2 VR
F1 23 VR
The Light Brigade