Part of GDC 2019
If you thought we were done awarding games that came out in 2018, you’ve got another thing coming as theGame Developers Choice Awardsnominees were announced today.
Similar to the Oscars and various guild award ceremonies in the movie industry, the GDCA nominees are picked by the developers in the organization. As such, there has been some criticism in the past that the awards show neglects to bring to light to eastern-developed games, and if you were looking for an improvement on that trend, then you’re going to come away disappointed.
All of the big-hitting western games are here and in large numbers as well.Red Dead Redemption 2leads the pack with seven nominations, withSpider-Manand Destructoid’s staff and community pick for game of the yearGod of Warfollowing close behind with six nominations each.
A surprise on my end is seeing just how many nominationsTetris Effectgot. I mean yes, it’sTetrisandTetrisdeserves to be praised every chance it gets becauseTetrisisTetrisandTetrisis perfect. But seeing it in both audio and innovation really shows how great of an adaptationEffectis. It’s also fun to see the indie darlingsCelesteandReturn of the Obra Dinnchallenging AAA games for the grand prize. I don’t think either of them will win but there’s always hope for a2010 Oscars moment.
Best Audio
Honorable Mentions:Beat Saber(Beat Games),Wandersong(Greg Lobanov / Humble Bundle),Return of the Obra Dinn(Lucas Pope / 3909),Battlefield V(EA DICE / Electronic Arts),Forza Horizon 4(Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios / Microsoft Studios)
Best Debut
Honorable Mentions:Beat Games (Beat Saber), Digital Sun (Moonlighter), Two Point Studios (Two Point Hospital), Okomotive (Far: Lone Sails)
Best Design
Honorable Mentions:Frostpunk(11 bit studios),Minit(Kitty Calis, Jan Willem Nijman, Jukio Kallio & Dominik Johann / Devolver Digital),Return of the Obra Dinn(Lucas Pope / 3909),Astro Bot Rescue Mission(SIE Japan Studio / Sony Interactive Entertainment),Monster Hunter: World(Capcom)
Best Mobile Game
Honorable Mentions:Furistas Cat Cafe(Runaway),The Room: Old Sins(Fireproof Studios),Pocket Run Pool(Zach Gage),Alphabear 2(Spry Fox),Twinfold(Kenny Sun)
Innovation Award
Honorable Mentions:Minit(Kitty Calis, Jan Willem Nijman, Jukio Kallio & Dominik Johann / Devolver Digital),Celeste(Matt Makes Games),God of War(Sony Santa Monica / Sony Interactive Entertainment),Astro Bot Rescue Mission(SIE Japan Studio / Sony Interactive Entertainment),Moss(Polyarc),A Way Out(Hazelight Studios / Electronic Arts)
Best Narrative
Honorable Mentions:Assassin’s Creed Odyssey(Ubisoft Quebec / Ubisoft),Detroit: Become Human(Quantic Dream / Sony Interactive Entertainment),Celeste(Matt Makes Games),Life is Strange 2(Dontnod Entertainment / Square Enix),Where the Water Tastes Like Wine(Dim Bulb Games and Serenity Forge / Good Shepherd Entertainment)
Best Technology
Honorable Mentions:Sea of Thieves(Rare / Microsoft Studios),Far Cry 5(Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Toronto / Ubisoft),Battlefield V(EA DICE / Electronic Arts),Detroit: Become Human(Quantic Dream / Sony Interactive Entertainment),Return of the Obra Dinn(Lucas Pope / 3909)
Best Visual Art
Honorable Mentions:Battlefield V(EA DICE / Electronic Arts),Tetris Effect(Monstars and Resonair / Enhance),Dragon Ball FighterZ(Arc System Works / Bandai Namco Entertainment),Assassin’s Creed Odyssey(Ubisoft Quebec / Ubisoft),Below(Capybara Games)
Best VR/AR Game
Honorable Mentions:Jurassic World Alive(Ludia),In Death(Sólfar Studios),Tendar(Tender Claws),Firewall Zero Hour(First Contact Entertainment / Sony Interactive Entertainment),Deracine(FromSoftware / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Game of the Year
Honorable Mentions:Tetris Effect(Monstars and Resonair / Enhance),Super Smash Bros Ultimate(Bandai Namco Studios & Sora / Nintendo),Into the Breach(Subset Games),Assassin’s Creed Odyssey(Ubisoft Quebec / Ubisoft),Florence(Mountains / Annapurna Interactive),Monster Hunter: World(Capcom)
The awards ceremony, which will take place during the Game Developers Conference on March 20, will be streamed atTwitch.tv/gdcand be hosted by industry veteran Tim Schafer.
