The curtains have fallen on The Game Awards 2023, leaving behind a memorable celebration that encapsulated both the history and future of the gaming realm that was dominated by Baldur’s Gate 3.
Amidst the thrilling announcements and insights into upcoming games, The Game Awards took a moment to pay homage to the remarkable games and developers of the past year.
This summary will compile the notable victors from the event, with a special emphasis on the highly coveted Game of the Year award, which holds even greater significance in the expansive landscape of 2023. Despite a multitude of deserving contenders, Baldur’s Gate 3 emerged triumphant, claiming the prestigious title. Notably, Baldur’s Gate 3 not only secured the Game of the Year honor but also surprised audiences by releasing its Xbox version simultaneously. The game further solidified its triumph by clinching victories in categories such as Best Community Support, Best RPG, Best Multiplayer, and the Player’s Voice award.
Following closely behind, Alan Wake 2 secured three wins in the categories of Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction.
You can check out the full list of The Game Awards 2023 winners below:
Game of the Year
Recognizing a game that delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields.
- Alan Wake 2
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Resident Evil 4 Remake
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Best Game Direction
Awarded for outstanding creative vision and innovation in game direction and design.
- Alan Wake 2 – WINNER
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Best Narrative
For outstanding storytelling and narrative development in a game.
- Alan Wake 2 – WINNER
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Final Fantasy 16
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Best Art Direction
For outstanding creative and/or technical achievement in artistic design and animation.
- Alan Wake 2 – WINNER
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Lies of P
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Best Score/Music
For outstanding music, inclusive of score, original song and/or licensed soundtrack.
- Alan Wake 2
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Final Fantasy 16 – WINNER
- Hi-Fi Rush
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Best Audio Design
Recognizing the best in-game audio and sound design.
- Alan Wake 2
- Dead Space Remake
- Hi-Fi Rush – WINNER
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Resident Evil 4 Remake
Best Performance
Awarded to an individual for voice-over acting, motion and/or performance capture.
- Ben Starr – Final Fantasy 16
- Cameron Monaghan – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- Idris Elba – Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Melanie Liburd – Alan Wake 2
- Neil Newbon – Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
- Yuri Lowenthal – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Games for Impact
For a thought-provoking game with a pro-social meaning or message.
- A Space for the Unbound
- Chants of Sennaar
- Goodbye Volcano High
- Tchia – WINNER
- Terra Nil
- Venba
Best Ongoing Game
Awarded to a game for outstanding development of ongoing content that evolves the player experience over time.
- Apex Legends
- Cyberpunk 2077 – WINNER
- Final Fantasy 14
- Fortnite
- Genshin Impact
Best Indie Game
For outstanding creative and technical achievement in a game made outside the traditional publisher system.
- Cocoon
- Dave the Diver
- Dredge
- Sea of Stars – WINNER
- Viewfinder
Best Debut Indie Game
For the best debut game created by a new independent studio.
- Cocoon – WINNER
- Dredge
- Pizza Tower
- Venba
- Viewfinder
Best Mobile Game
For the best game playable on a mobile device.
- Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis
- Honkai: Star Rail – WINNER
- Hello Kitty Island Adventure
- Monster Hunter Now
- Terra Nil
Best Community Support
Recognizing a game for outstanding community support, transparency and responsiveness, inclusive of social media activity and game updates/patches.
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Destiny 2
- Final Fantasy 16
- No Man’s Sky
Best VR/AR Game
For the best game experience playable in virtual or augmented reality, irrespective of platform.
- Gran Turismo 7
- Humanity
- Horizon: Call of the Mountain
- Resident Evil Village – WINNER
- Synapse
Innovation in Accessibility
Recognizing software and/or hardware that is pushing the medium forward by adding features, technology and content to help games be played and enjoyed by an even wider audience.
- Diablo 4
- Forza Motorsport – WINNER
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Street Fighter 6
Best Action Game
For the best game in the action genre focused primarily on combat.
- Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon – WINNER
- Dead Island 2
- Ghostrunner 2
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Remnant 2
Best Action/Adventure Game
For the best action/adventure game, combining combat with traversal and puzzle solving.
- Alan Wake 2
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Resident Evil 4
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – WINNER
Best RPG
For the best game designed with rich player character customization and progression, including massively multiplayer experiences.
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
- Final Fantasy 16
- Lies of P
- Sea of Stars
- Starfield
Best Fighting Game
For the best game designed primarily around head-to-head combat.
- God of Rock
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
- Pocket Bravery
- Street Fighter 6 – WINNER
Best Family Game
For the best game appropriate for family play, irrespective of genre or platform.
- Disney Illusion Island
- Party Animals
- Pikmin 4
- Sonic Superstars
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder – WINNER
Best Sports/Racing Game
For the best traditional and non-traditional sports and racing game.
- EA Sports FC 24
- F1 23
- Forza Motorsport – WINNER
- Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged
- The Crew Motofest
Best SIM/Strategy Game
Best game focused on real time or turn-based simulation or strategy gameplay, irrespective of platform.
- Advanced Wars 1+” Re-Boot Camp
- Cities: Skylines 2
- Company of Heroes 3
- Fire Emblem Engage
- Pikmin 4 – WINNER
Best Multiplayer Game
For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences, irrespective of game genre or platform.
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
- Diablo 4
- Party Animals
- Street Fighter 6
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Content Creator of the Year
For a streamer or content creator who has made an important and positive impact on the community in 2021.
- IronMouse – WINNER
- PeopleMakeGames
- Quackity
- Spreen
- SypherPK
Best Esports Athlete
The esports athlete judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021, irrespective of game.
- Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok – WINNER
- Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
- Max “Demon1” Mazanov
- Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez
- Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk
- Phillip ”ImperialHal” Dosen
Best Esports Coach
The Esports coach judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021.
- Christine “potter” Chi – WINNER
- Danny “zonic” Sorensen
- Jordan “Gunba” Graham
- Remy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam
- Yoon “Homme” Sung-young
Best Esports Event
Recognizing an event (across single or multiple days) that delivered a best-of-class experience for participants and the broadcast audience.
- 2023 League of Legends World Championship – WINNER
- Blast.tv Paris Major 2023
- EVO 2023
- The International Dota 2 Championships 2023
- VALORANT Champions 2023
Best Esports Game
For the game that has delivered the best overall esports experience to players (inclusive of tournaments, community support and content updates), irrespective of genre or platform.
- Counter-Strike 2
- Dota 2
- Leage of Legends
- PUBG Mobile
- Valorant – WINNER
Best Esports Team
Recognizing a specific esports team (not the full organization) judged the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021.
- Evil Geniuses
- Fnatic
- Gaimin Gladiators
- JD Gaming – WINNER
- Team Vitality
Most Anticipated Game
Recognizing an announced game that has demonstrably illustrated potential to push the gaming medium forward.
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – WINNER
- Hades 2
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
- Star Wars Outlaws
- Tekken 8
Best Adaptation
Celebrating game-inspired projects across entertainment including TV, movies, comics, and more.
- Castlevania: Nocturne
- Gran Turismo
- The Last of Us – WINNER
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie
- Twisted Metal
Players’ Voice
This category is 100% voted on by fans for their favorite game of 2023.
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Genshin Impact
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
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