The bestselling game of 2024 got zero Game Award nominations

As a seasoned gaming veteran with over three decades under my belt, I must say this year’s Game Awards have left me scratching my head more than solving a particularly tricky puzzle in the latest Zelda adventure. The nominees are lackluster at best, and it seems we’re comparing apples to oranges when Elden Ring DLC is up for Game of the Year.


2023 was quite a remarkable year for The Game Awards and the gaming industry as a whole, with big hits like Spider-Man 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom gracing our screens. However, compared to the blockbusters of 2023, the releases in 2024 seemed a bit more subdued. One example is Black Myth: Wukong, which holds one of the lowest ratings among this year’s Game of the Year nominees.

2021 seems to be a less impressive year for The Game Awards, with Elden Ring DLC being nominated for Game of the Year (GOTY). While Elden Ring is undeniably remarkable, there’s a question about its eligibility next year if no other games are as strong. This might become a recurring issue. If this year’s contenders were to compete against Skyrim, none of the current nominees would have much chance.

2024 could have been an exciting year to deviate from the norm and include a sports event, but that’s not usually the case. However, EA Sports College Football 25 has made its mark, being the top-selling game of the year in the U.S., outperforming all other titles, including those outside the sports genre.

As a gaming enthusiast, I can share that among the top sellers is the EA MVP Bundle, a combo of CFB 25 and Madden 25. Essentially, it’s like these two games have secured twin spots on the best-selling game list. The decade-long hiatus has definitely fueled anticipation, but let’s face it, excitement doesn’t necessarily translate into sales. By any chance, did you get a chance to dive into Duke Nukem Forever?

It’s utterly unbelievable that CFB 25 wasn’t nominated for Game of the Year in the Sports category, given it outranks every other nominee according to its Metacritic score. If we’re not evaluating the best game based on sales or reviews, then what criteria are we using?

25th edition of CFB rekindled interest in gaming among individuals who hadn’t played in ten years, leading to increased sales of Xbox consoles. Excluding it from the voting or nomination process suggests a significant flaw in the decision-making process.

It seems like a clear case of athletic prejudice. It’s tough to fathom that if an RPG or shooting game smashed sales records and achieved what College Football Game 25 has, it would be entirely overlooked in the most prestigious awards of the year.

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2024-11-22 01:28