Game Of The Year 2022: Announcing The Finalists For The 2022 Award Ceremony

On December 8th, 2022, more than 40 global video outlets will broadcast the Game Awards live. Below is the complete roster of nominees.

Game Of The Year 2022

This award goes to the game that has the best overall creative and technical experience.

• Focus Entertainment and Asobo Studio’s A Plague Tale: Requiem.
• Bandai Namco and FromSoftware’s Elden Ring.
• Santa Monica Studio and Sony Computer Entertainment’s God of War: Ragnarok.
• Horizon: Forbidden West (Guerrilla Games / Sony Computer Entertainment).
• STRAY was developed by BlueTwelve Studio and published by Annapurna Interactive.
• The third installment of the Xenoblade series (Nintendo/Monolith Soft).

The Best Game-Planning

Honored for exceptional originality and freshness in the development and direction of video games.

• This is the Elden Ring, developed and published by FromSoftware and Bandai Namco.
• Santa Monica Studio and Sony Computer Entertainment’s God of War: Ragnarok.
• Horizon: Forbidden Species (Guerrilla Games / Sony Computer Entertainment)
• IMMORTALITY (Half Mermaid) (Half Mermaid)
• BlueTwelve Studio and Annapurna Interactive’s STRAY.

The Top Story

For the best use of plot and character development in a video game.

• Focus Entertainment and Asobo Studio’s A Plague Tale: Requiem.
• This is the Elden Ring, developed and published by FromSoftware and Bandai Namco.
• Santa Monica Studio and Sony Computer Entertainment’s God of War: Ragnarok.
• Horizon: Forbidden Species (Guerrilla Games / Sony Computer Entertainment)
• IMMORTALITY (Half Mermaid) (Half Mermaid)

The Finest Artistic Direction

For exceptional originality and/or technical skill in cartoon animation design.

• This is the Elden Ring, developed and published by FromSoftware and Bandai Namco.
• Santa Monica Studio and Sony Computer Entertainment’s God of War: Ragnarok.
• Horizon: Forbidden Species (Guerrilla Games / Sony Computer Entertainment)
• Ebb Software / Kepler Interactive’s Scorn
• BlueTwelve Studio and Annapurna Interactive’s STRAY.

Superior Soundtrack And Instrumental Composition

Honoring the best score, original song, and/or licensed soundtrack.

• Requiem, a Plague Tale (Olivier Deriviere, Composer)
• Ring, Elden (Tsukasa Saitoh, Composer)
• Ragnarok, God of War (Bear McCreary, Composer)
• Heavy Music: Hellsinger (Two Feathers, Composer)
• The Third Chapter of Xenoblade’s Chronicles (Yasunori Mitsuda, Composer)

Winner, Best Audio Engineering

Honoring the best music and sound effects in video games.

• Modern Warfare 2 (Infinity Ward / Activision) as “Call of Duty.”
• ‘Elden Ring‘ by ‘FromSoftware’ and ‘Bandai Namco Entertainment
• The Santa Monica Studio and Sony Computer Entertainment video game God of War: Ragnarok.
• This year’s Gran Turismo 7 was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment.
• Game: Horizon: Forbidden West (Guerrilla Games / Sony Computer Entertainment).

Highest Quality Work

Honoree in the fields of voice acting, motion capture, and/or performance capture.

• Ashely Burch (Horizon Forbidden West)
• Miss Charlotte McBurney (A Plague Tale: Requiem)
• Judge Christopher (God of War Ragnarok)
• It’s Manon Gage, of course! (IMMORTALITY)
• Suljic Sunny (God of War Ragnarok)

Simulations With Meaningful Effects

In recognition of an engaging video game that also has a positive social message.

• Blue, a Recollections Game (Cloisters Interactive / Annapurna Interactive)
• Sunset at Xbox Game Studios – Interior at Night
• ‘Citizen Sleeper’ by Jump Over the Age & ‘Fellow Traveller.
• Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age (Hero beat Studios / HandyGames)
• Games developed by Team Hindsight and published by Annapurna Interactive under the name Hindsight.
• I Was a Teenage Exocolonist (Northway Games / Finji)

Highest-Rated Active Game

This honor goes to the game that best improves its player experience over time with frequent updates.

• Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts’ Apex Legends
• Part 2 of Fate (Bungie)
• Creative Business Unit III / Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIV.
• Fortnite (Epic Games) (Epic Games)
• Influence of Genshin (HoYoverse)

Most Outstanding Independent

Recognizing the highest standards of artistic and technological excellence in games developed independently of major publishing houses.

• Cult of the Lamb (Massive Monster / Devolver Digital)
• Angel Matrix / Annapurna Interactive’s Neon White
• Sifu (Sloclap) (Sloclap)
• STRAY (BlueTwelve Studio / Annapurna Interactive)
• TUNIC (Finji’s TUNIC Team)

Favorite Portable Game

For the top portable video game.

• Lightspeed Studios / Respawn Entertainment / Electronic Arts Present: Apex Legends Mobile
• Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase Games have released Diablo Immortal.
• The Effect of Genshin (HoYovese)
• Second Dinner Studios/MARVEL Nuverse’s SNAP.
• Imagination’s Skyscraper (Hotta Studio / Perfect World / Level Infinite)

Community Assistance At Its Finest

This award is given to a game that has demonstrated exceptional community support across all mediums, from social media to in-game fixes and updates.

• Electronic Arts and Respawn Entertainment’s Apex Legends.
• Fantasy Role-Playing Game: Destiny 2 (Bungie)
• Game by Square Enix’s Creative Business Unit III, Final Fantasy XIV.
• Fortnite (Epic Games) (Epic Games)
• Space With No Humans (Hello Games)

Progress in Usability Innovation

Recognizing software and/or hardware that advances the medium by introducing innovative features, technologies, and/or content that encourages a wider audience to participate in and enjoy games.

• The Evening Approaches (Inside at Night) Xbox Game Studios
• Video game developed and published by Santa Monica Studio and Sony Computer Entertainment; God of War: Ragnarok.
• The Monkey Island Series: Return to Monkey Island (Terrible Toybox / Devolver Digital)
• Naughty Dog and Sony Computer Entertainment’s The Last of Us: Part I
• (Supermassive Games / 2K) The Quarry.

The Top Virtual And Augmented Reality Experiences

If you want the top-notch virtual or augmented reality gaming experience, it doesn’t matter what platform you’re using.

• Since the Decline
• Inside of Me (InnerSloth / Schell Games)
• BONELAB (Stress Level Zero) (Stress Level Zero)
• Moss, Volume 2
• Reddish Stuff 2

Excellent Action Game

For the most outstanding entry in the action genre whose primary focus is on the battle.

• A Third Blade of the Bayonetta (Platinum Games, Nintendo)
• Modern Warfare 2 (Infinity Ward / Activision) as “Call of Duty.”
• White Neon (by Angel Matrix and Annapurna Interactive)
• Sifu (Sloclap) (Sloclap)
• Dotemu / Tribute Games’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

The Top Adventure/Action Film

For the greatest game that combines action, exploration, and puzzle solving.

• Plague Tale: Requiem (Asobo Studio / Focus Entertainment)
• Video game developed and published by Santa Monica Studio and Sony Computer Entertainment; God of War: Ragnarok.
• Guerrilla Games and Sony Computer Entertainment’s Horizon: Forbidden West.
• Find Your Way Home (BlueTwelve Studio / Annapurna Interactive)
• The TUNIC Team (Finji)

Winner, Best Acting

This award recognizes the best game that offers extensive options for shaping and developing player characters, and that supports online co-op and competitive play.

• From FromSoftware and Bandai Namco Entertainment comes Elden Ring.
• Run For Your Life (history / Square Enix)
• The Game Freak / Nintendo / Pokemon Company video game Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
• Artdink / Square Enix’s Triangle Strategy.
• The latest installment of the Xenoblade series was developed and published by Monolith Soft for the Nintendo 3DS.

For The Best In Combat

This award is given to the best game where the main focus is on one-on-one fights.

• Duel (Arc System Works/Eighting/Neople/Nexon) that ended in a Draw.
• Released for CyberConnect 2 and developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R features an all-star cast from the series.
• The Fifteenth King of Fighters
• Player-First Games / Warner Bros. Games’ MultiVersus
• Sifu (Sloclap) (Sloclap)

Superior Relatives

For the best game that everyone in the family can enjoy, regardless of genre or system requirements.

• HAL Laboratory and Nintendo’s Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
• Traveller’s Tales / WB Games’ LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.
• Ubisoft Milan / Ubisoft Paris / Ubisoft’s Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
• Sporting Events for the Nintendo Switch (Nintendo EPD / Nintendo).
• Super Mario Odyssey (Nintendo DS / Nintendo)

The Top Modeling / Planning Process

Best cross-platform strategy or simulation game that emphasizes either real-time or turn-based gameplay.

• The Dune video game, Spice Wars (Shiro Games / Funcom).
• Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Paris, and Ubisoft’s Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope.
• Creative Assembly / SEGA’s Total War: Warhammer III
• Two Point Studios/Two SEGAA’s Point Campus
• To paraphrase Victoria 3 (Paradox Development Studio / Paradox Interactive).

Favorite Sports And Racing

For the most innovative take on sports and racing games, both old and new.

• A Formula One Season 22 Video Game (Codemasters/EA Sports)
• EA Vancouver / EA Romania / EA Sports – FIFA 23
• The National Basketball Association 2K23 video game (by Visual Concepts / 2K Sports).
• Gran Turismo 7 (Sony Computer Entertainment / Polyphony Digital)
• Roll7/Private Division’s OlliOlli World

Greatest Online Multiplayer Experience

In recognition of exceptional co-op and massively multiplayer experiences available online, regardless of game genre or platform.

• Title: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Developer(s): Infinity Ward Publisher(s): Activision Release Date: “MultiVersus” (Player-First Games / Western-Based Games).

• Second Overwatch (Blizzard)
• Super Mario Odyssey (Nintendo DS / Nintendo)
• TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge (Tribute Games / Dotemu).

Award For Outstanding Content Creator

Award is given to a 2021 streamer or content creator who has made a significant and positive impact on their audience.

• The Late Karl Jacobs
• Ludwig
• Nibellion
• Nobru
• QTCinderella

First-time Director Of The Year – Independent Film

This award recognizes the best first-ever game developed by a small, unbiased developer.

• Bright White Neon (Angel Matrix/Annapurna Interactive)
• The NORCO (Raw Fury / Robot Geography)
• STRAY is a game developed and published by BlueTwelve Studio and Annapurna Interactive.
• TUNIC (Finji’s TUNIC Team)
• Monsters Who Fought Off the Vampires (pole)

Maximum Conversion

Awarding exceptional creative work that transforms a video game into another medium while remaining true to the source material.

• League of Legends (Fortiche/Riot Games/Netflix): Mystical
• Studio Trigger/CD Projekt RED/cyberpunk Netflix’s action RPG Edgerunners.
• Studio MDHR/King Features Syndicate/Netflix Presents The Cuphead Show!
• Sega Sammy Group/Paramount Pictures presents Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
• Sony Pictures and Sony Computer Entertainment’s Uncharted.

Popularly Expected

Honoring a forthcoming game that has shown promise for developing the video game industry.

• Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XVI (Creative Business Unit III).
• The Hogwarts Legacy video game by Avalanche Software and Warner Bros. Games
• A Resident Evil 4 (Capcom)
• Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks’ Starfield.
• Tears of the Kingdom, a Legend of Zelda game (Nintendo EPD / Nintendo).

Ultimate Electronic Sports Title

Presented to the game, regardless of genre or platform, that has provided its players with the finest esports experience as a whole (including competitions, community support, and content updates).

• In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the Offensive is on the Offensive (Valve)
• DOTA 2 (Valve) (Valve)
• The role-playing video game is known as League of Legends (Riot Games)
• Psyonix and Epic Games’ Rocket League
• VALORANT (Riot Games) (Riot Games)

Greatest Performer In The World Of Electronic Sports

The 2021 best-performing and best-behaving eSports player, regardless of genre.

• Chovy, or Jeong. Ji-hoon (Gen.G, League Legends) (Gen.G, League of Legends)
• To paraphrase Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok (T1, League of Legends) (T1, League of Legends)
• Karrigan, Finn
• Simplified Russian for Oleksandr: Kostyliev (Natus Vincere, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive) (Natus Vincere, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)
• Whiteaker, Jacob “Yay”

Favorite eSports Squad

This award goes to the 2021 eSports team that has been singled out as the best in terms of performance and behavior (not the entire company).

• E-sports Team DarkZero (Apex Legends)
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive FaZe Clan Gen.G
• L.A. Robbers
• LOUD (VALORANT)

Top eSports Trainer

The 2021 eSports mentor is deemed to have been the best in terms of both results and character.

• Horodenskyi, Andrii “B1ad3” (Natus Vincere, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)
• bzkA, or Matheus Tarasconi (LOUD, VALORANT)
• Sandgren, Erik “d00mbr0s” (FPX, VALORANT)
• Lars “RobbaN” Dahlström, Robert (FaZe Clan, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)
• To Dong-bin, a resounding “Score!” (Gen.G, League of Legends)
• Favorite Online Sports Competition

An event (over a single day or numerous) that provided an exceptional experience for its attendees and viewers is being honored.

EVO 2022

• League of Legends will hold its first-ever World Championship in 2022.
• The 2022 PGL Major Antwerp
• The 2022 Invitational at Season’s Middle
• The Valuable Champions of 2022

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