On December 9, 2021, The Game Awards will once again provide the gaming community a glimpse into the future of video games and reveal the best titles of the year. Since 2014, the annual awards ceremony has recognized the best video game titles in both PC and console. Although the result can be sometimes disappointing, having a grand event tailored specifically for the hobby we love and honoring the talents behind is a spectacle that is worth the hype.
All You Need to Know About The Game Awards 2021
The prestigious award ceremony has recently unveiled 107 nominees in 30 categories for this year’s event. As the voting begins, two titles are leading the race for the coveted Game of the Year Award. But before we reveal the two leading titles, let us take a quick look at the notable details connected to the recent reveal.
One of which is that the recently merged Xbox Games Studios and Bethesda is this year’s most-nominated publisher, with 20 nominations across the board. Trailing behind with 11 nominations is Sony Interactive Entertainment, followed by Electronic Arts and Square Enix with 10. With that said, it seems that there is a huge possibility that Xbox Games Studios and Bethesda will dominate this year’s event.
Going back to the nominees, they also teased the community by revealing the top two contenders for the Game of the Year award. The two titles are Arcane Studios/Bethesda’s Deathloop and Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. As per the announcement, both titles boast the most nominations, with Deathloop being nominated for in eight categories. The categories are as follows: Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Audio Design, and Best Performance.
On the other hand, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart got six nominations. The game is nominated for Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Audio Design, Best Action/Adventure, and Innovation in Accessibility. With that said, it’s safe to say both games will end the year with an award or two.
Check out the complete list of nominees for each category below.
Game of the Year
There are five nominees for this year’s Game of the Year Award. The first nominee is Hazelight Studios and EA’s “It Takes Two.” Next on the list is Mercury Steam and Nintendo’s “Metroid Dread,” followed by Capcom’s “Resident Evil Village.” “Psychonauts 2” from Double Fine and Xbox Game Studios and “Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart” from Insomniac Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment are also nominated.
Best Game Direction
Five lucky nominees were chosen for the Best Game Direction award. The first nominee is from Arkane Studios and Bethesda’s “Deathloop.” Then, there’s “Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart” from Insomniac Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment. Next on the list is “Returnal” from Housemarque and Sony Interactive Entertainment. Also included in the nominees are “Psychonauts 2” from Double Fine and Xbox Game Studios and “It Takes 2” from Hazelight Studios and Electronic Arts.
Best Narrative
Five nominees also vie for the Best Narrative award. The nominees include “It Takes Two” from Hazelight Studios and Electronic Arts, “Deathloop” from Arkane Studios and Bethesda, and “Psychonauts 2” from Double Fine and Xbox Game Studios. “Life is Strange: True Colors” from Deck Nine and SQUARE ENIX and “Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy” from Eidos Montreal and SQUARE ENIX are also included in the list.
Best Action/Adventure
There are five major contenders for the Best Action/Adventure award. These are “Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy” from Eidos Montreal and SQUARE ENIX, “Metroid Dread” from Mercury Steam and Nintendo, and “Psychonauts 2” from Double Fine and Xbox Game Studios. Other nominees also include “Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart” from Insomniac Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment and “Resident Evil Village” from Capcom.
Most Anticipated
Five nominees that vie for the Most Anticipated award include “Elden Ring” from FromSoftware and Bandai Namco, “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” sequel from Nintendo, and “Horizon Forbidden West” from Guerilla Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment. Also nominated are “God of War Ragnarök” from Sony Santa Monica and Sony Interactive Entertainment and “Starfield” from Bethesda Game Studios and Bethesda.
Best Ongoing
The Best Ongoing award has five nominees. These are “Apex Legends” from Respawn and Electronic Arts, “FINAL FANTASY XIV Online” from SQUARE ENIX, “Call of Duty: Warzone” from Infinity Ward, Raven, and Activision, “Genshin Impact” from miHoYo, and “Fortnite” from Epic Games.
Best Indie
Five nominees that vie for the Best Indie award are “12 Minutes” from Luis Antonio and Annapurna Interactive, “Kena: Bridge of Spirits” from Ember Lab, “Death’s Door” from Acid Nerve and Devolver Digital, “Loop Hero” from Four Quarters and Devolver Digital, and “Inscryption” from Daniel Mullins Games and Devolver Digital.
Best Debut Indie
The five nominees that compete for the Best Debut Indie award are “Valheim” from Iron Gate and Coffee Stain, “Kena: Bridge of Spirits” from Ember Lab, “The Artful Escape” from Beethoven & Dinosaur and Annapurna, “Sable” from Shedworks and Raw Fury, and “The Forgotten City” from Modern Storyteller and Dear Villagers.
Best Art Direction
The nominees for the Best Art Direction award are “Deathloop” from Arkane Studios and Bethesda, “Kena: Bridge of Spirits” from Ember Lab, “Psychonauts 2” from Double Fine and Xbox Game Studios, “Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart” from Insomniac Games and Sony Interactive Studios, and “The Artful Escape” from Beethoven and Dinosaur and Annapurna.
Best Score & Music
Five nominees are also vying for the Best Score and Music Award. The nominees are “Cyberpunk 2077” by composers Marcin Przybylowicz and Piotr T. Adamczyk, “NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139” by composer Keiichi Okabe, “Deathloop” by composer Tom Salta, “The Artful Escape” by composers Johnny Galvatron and Josh Abrahams, and “Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy” by composer Richard Jacques.
Best Audio Design
Five nominees will also be competing for the Best Audio Design award. And the nominees for this award are “Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart” from Insomniac Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment, “Forza Horizon 5” from Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios, “Deathloop” from Arkane Studios and Bethesda, “Returnal” from Housemarque and Sony Interactive Entertainment, and “Resident Evil Village” from Capcom.
Other Categories in The Game Awards 2021
Here is the list of nominees for other categories in The Game Awards 2021:
Best Performance
- Maggie Robertson as Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village
- Erika Mori as Alex Chen in Life is Strange: True Colors
- Giancarlo Esposito as Anton Castillo in Far Cry 6
- Ozioma Akagha as Julianna Blake in Deathloop
- Jason E. Kelley as Colt Vahn in Deathloop
Games for Impact
- Before Your Eyes from GoodbyeWorld Games and Skybound Games
- No Longer Home from Humble Grove, Hana Lee, Cel Davison, Adrienne Lombardo, Eli Rainsberry, and Fellow Traveler
- Boyfriend Dungeon from Kitfox Games
- Chicory from Greg Lobanow, Alexis dean-Jones, Lena Raine, Madeline Berger, A Shell in the Pit and Finji
- Life is Strange: True Colors from Deck Nine and SQUARE ENIX
Best Community Support
- Apex Legends from Respawn and Electronic Arts
- FINAL FANTASY XIV Online from SQUARE ENIX
- Destiny 2 from Bungie
- No Man’s Sky from Hello Games
- Fortnite from Epic Games
Best VR/AR
- Hitman 3 from IO Interactive
- I Expect You To Die 2 from Schell Games
- Resident Evil 4 Armature Studio, Capcom, and Oculus Studios
- Sniper Elite VR from Coatsink, Just Add Water, and Rebellion Developments
- Lone Echo II from Ready at Dawn and Oculus Studios
Best Action
- Back 4 Blood from Turtle Rock and WB Games
- Returnal from Housemarque and Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Deathloop from Arkane Studios and Bethesda
- Chivalry II from Torn Banner Studios and Tripwire Interactive
- Far Cry 6 from Ubisoft Toronto and Ubisoft
Best Role Playing
- Monster Hunter Rise from Capcom
- Cyberpunk 2077 from CD Projekt Red
- Scarlet Nexus from Bandai Namco
- Tales of Arise from Bandai Namco
- Shin Megami Tensei V from Atlus and Sega
Best Fighting
- Melty Blood: Type Lumina from French-Bread and Delightworks
- Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles from CyberConnect2 and Sega
- Guilty Gear -Strive- from Arc System Works
- Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl from Ludosity, Fair Play Labs and GameMill
- Virtual Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown from Sega
Best Family
- It Takes Two from Hazelight Studios and Electronic Arts
- New Pokémon Snap from Bandai Namco, The Pokémon Company, and Nintendo
- Mario Party Superstars from NDcube and Nintendo
- WarioWare: Get It Together! from Intelligent Systems and Nintendo
- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury from Nintendo
Best Sports/Racing
- F1 2021 from Codemasters and Electronic Arts Sports
- Hot Wheels Unleashed from Milestone
- FIFA 22 from EA Vancouver and Electronic Arts Sports
- Riders Republic from Ubisoft Annecy and Ubisoft
- Forza Horizon 5 from Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios
Best Sim/Strategy
- Age of Empires IV from Relic Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios
- Inscryption from Daniel Mullins Games and Devolver
- Evil Genius 2: World Domination from Rebellion Developments
- Microsoft Flight Simulator from Asobo Studio and Xbox Game Studios
- Humankind from Amplitude Studios and Sega
Best Multiplayer
- Back 4 Blood from Turtle Rock and WB Games
- Monster Hunter Rise from Capcom
- It Takes Two from Hazelight Studios and Electronic Arts
- New World from Amazon Games
- Knockout City from Velan Studios and Electronic Arts
- Valheim from Iron Gate Studio and Coffee Stain
Innovation in Accessibility
- Far Cry 6 from Ubisoft Toronto and Ubisoft
- The Vale: Shadow of the Crown from Creative Bytes Studios and Falling Squirrel
- Forza Horizon 5 from Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart from Insomniac Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy from Eidos Montreal and SQUARE ENIX
Content Creator of the Year
- Gaules
- Fuslie
- Ibai
- TheGrefg
- Dream
Best Esports Athlete
- Chris “Simp” Lehr
- Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev
- Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov
- Heo “ShowMaker” Su
- Tyson “TenZ” Ngo
Best Esports Team
- DWG KIA – League of Legends
- Atlanta FaZe – Call of Duty
- Sentinels – Valorant
- Natus Vincere – Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- Team Spirit – Defense of the Ancients 2
Best Esports Game
- Call of Duty from Activision
- Defense of the Ancients 2 from Valve
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive from Valve
- Valorant from Riot Games
- League of Legends from Riot Games
Best Esports Coach
- Andrii “B1ad3” Horodenskyi
- Airat “Silent” Gaziev
- Kim “kkOma” Jeong-gyun
- James “Crowder” Crowder
- Andrey “ENGH” Sholokhov
Best Esports Event
- The International 2021
- PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2020
- 2021 League of Legends World Championship
- PGL Major Stockholm 2021
- Valorant Champions Tour: Stage 2 Masters
Best Mobile Game
- League of Legends: Wild Rift from Riot Games
- Genshin Impact from miHoYo
- Pokémon Unite
- Fantasian from Mistwalker
- Marvel Future Revolution
Final Thoughts
There are 30 awards in total for The Game Awards 2021. We will find out who will be the winners of each of these awards on December 9, 2021, which will be streamed live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite games and creators!
