It’s that time of year again. The Game of the Year nominees have been announced, and as if on cue, every gamer with a keyboard nearby has taken to the internet to voice their opinion. The topics of discussion are always different, but the divisive nature of the conversations remains a constant.

We’ve already been subjected to such lines of questioning as ‘How the heck does a DLC get nominated’ and ‘How can a decades-old story be nominated for best narrative?’

All fair questions, and we aren’t about to go spouting any definitive answers right now. But, what we are going to do, is give our opinions on who deserves to take the W.

The Dualshockers staff have all had their say, and ahead of the awards ceremony, we are going to give you a rundown of our collective picks, and who knows, we might just predict the results in a few weeks’ time. Only time will tell.

1 Game of the Year

Metaphor Re:Fantazio

Let’s get the big one out of the way early. Dualshockers pick, and prediction for GOTY in 2024 is Metaphor: ReFantazio. It was a close-run thing with fellow JRPG stalwart Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, but on this occasion, the new ATLUS IP won out.

It’s easy to see why, as Metaphor essentially takes the Persona formula and tweaks it ever slightly to offer a more traditional fantasy RPG with a job/archetype system, a world abundant with magic and dragons, and a rebellious plot against the monarchy that fuels the action at each and every turn.

It changes enough to stand on its own two feet but maintains the same level of style that Persona offers with slick animations, excellent turn-based combat, and a roster of characters you can get to know through bonds.

It’s essentially ATLUS offering a Persona game that caters to the JRPG purists out there, and it works a treat. It’s our game of the year, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see this franchise in a future GOTY line-up in the near future.

2 Best Game Direction

Black Myth: Wukong

We move on to Game Direction, the category that rewards the game with the most innovative and unique game design, and considering most of the games listed are more of the same from existing franchises, there were really only two logical choices, and when weighing up Balatro and Black Myth Wukong, the latter snagged the win.

Black Myth Wukong deserves a lot of credit for taking an age-old story in the form of Journey to the West and crafting a fantastical adventure that brings life to that tale.

From the incredible semi-open world design to the staggering production value on offer, every chapter of this rich narrative feels like a larger-than-life treat for players.

Not to mention, the game walks the tightrope between Souls-Like and Hack-and-Slasher expertly, offering a game that is much less punishing than a Souls game, but equally, one that demands near-perfection and mechanical mastery.

It’s a magical, frenetic, and enthralling adventure, and most importantly, it feels like something we have never seen before. Making it the perfect fit for this award.

Systems

Released August 20, 2024

Developer(s) Game Science

Publisher(s) Game Science

Engine Unreal Engine 5

ESRB M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Violence

How Long To Beat 39 hours

PS Plus Availability N/A

Steam Deck Compatibility Unknown

OpenCritic Rating Strong

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3 Best Ongoing Game

Helldivers 2

In yet another call with just one vote separating the winners, we have decided that the best ongoing live-service game of the bunch this year is Helldivers 2.

It’s well documented on Dualshockers that this game has seen some lofty heights and devastating lows, but despite this concurrent player count rollercoaster, Helldivers remains a very popular title and one that deserves a lot of praise.

The developer/fan relationship may have taken a hit this year, but what can’t be disputed is how engaging and unique the PvE format this game offers is.

Being able to hop in with your squad and fight back against the seemingly never-ending horde of Terminids in the name of super-democracy is an absolute blast. Quite literally, as this is about the most bombastic combat you’ll likely witness in gaming today.

It’s a game that is still trying to mend its reputation and claw back its tight grip on the market it established in February. But, when we look at everything Helldivers 2 has given us, you can’t help but nod and say, this one deserves its flowers.

Systems

Franchise Helldivers

Released February 8, 2024

Developer(s) Arrowhead Game Studios

Publisher(s) Sony

Multiplayer Online Co-Op

Engine bitsquid

ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence

Metascore 83

Platforms That Support Crossplay PC & PS5

Number of Players 1-4

PS Plus Availability N/A

OpenCritic Rating Strong

Cross-Platform Play PC & PS5

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4 Best Art Direction

Metaphor: ReFantazio

When a new flagship ATLUS game hits the digital shelves, you can pretty much guarantee that this award is heading their way, and according to the DS staff, that seems to be the case this year, too.

Again, it is easy to see why, as while the game does rely on a slightly dated engine, it hardly ever proves to be an issue thanks to the beauty of the world you inhabit, the slick nature of the animations and action, and those menus. You just have to love those incredibly designed menus.

Related

Best Games Like Metaphor ReFantazio

From Persona 5 Royal to Fire Emblem Three Houses, these titles are great picks for Metaphor ReFantazio fans.

Undoubtedly, a few of the other options available offer higher fidelity and hyperrealistic visuals. But sometimes, no matter how amazing your game looks, it’s the game that shoots for style points that wins the day.

5 Best Mobile Game

Balatro

Speaking as someone who had their free time ripped away from them courtesy of Balatro’s addictive and innovative gameplay loop, knowing that this game is available on mobile is a danger to every gamer’s productivity. But, rest assured, I am here for it.

Balatro is a game format that was always destined to head to mobile devices thanks to the lack of time-critical decisions, the simplistic visuals and inputs, and of course, the addictive gameplay that suits short gameplay sessions perfectly.

It’s just the perfect game to take with you on the go to fill some time on a long commute, or to play as you stall for time in the bathroom until the end of your shift.

It’s not often we have a mobile game amongst the GOTY nominees, and that speaks volumes about this poker roguelike’s quality. It’s the ultimate ‘Numbers go brrr’ game, and we reckon it will win this category at a canter.

6 Best Narrative

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Surprise, Surprise. It seems that Metaphor has sewn up the best narrative category, beating out some brilliant narrative-driven epics. But, yet again, you can’t help but feel it’s warranted.

Much like other ATLUS titles, Metaphor is a slow burn that takes its time sewing the seeds in the early hours of the game. Establishing lore, giving you a sense of the grand world you find yourself in, and deepening your bond with the core characters, all before you even set foot in the game’s opening dungeon.

This decision, along with many others, culminates in ensuring that Metaphor’s storyline is one of the best fantasy JRPG offerings of this modern era.

With plenty of twists and turns, monumental battles, and heartbreaking moments, Metaphor is every bit as narratively polished as any game this year has blessed us with. And, in our eyes, it’s just that one step above the competition.

7 Best Music and Score

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth

Metaphor may have stolen the show to this point, but it’s time for Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth to get its moment in the spotlight because, without such stiff JRPG competition, it would have likely cleaned up.

However, when it comes to musical offerings in video games, to go up against Nobuo Uematsu is a pretty foolish endeavor, as you’re always fighting a losing battle.

Yet again, Nobuo Uematsu has crafted an iconic Final Fantasy soundtrack with some standout tracks like No Promises To Keep, among many, many others. Serving as the sweet melodies that accompany you on this middle portion of the FFVII modern trilogy.

Uematsu is someone who manages to craft fantasy soundscapes with such ease, and we feel that this award is a formality waiting to happen.

Systems

Released February 29, 2024

Engine Unreal Engine 4

ESRB Teen (T)

Number of Players 1

How Long To Beat 40 Hours

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8 Best Video Game Adaption

Fallout

We have had quite a few strong video game adaptions this year and, admittedly, some absolute stinkers in equal measure. But of all those listed, the standout by some distance is Fallout.

I admit, I was pretty skeptical that this Amazon original would be able to do the rich lore and gritty atmosphere of Fallout justice. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that this series absolutely nailed it.

Offering a wonderful blend of new ideas alongside loving nods to the source material, the Fallout adaption is proof that gaming adaptions can be done well, and can offer fan service in abundance while doing it.

With a second series in the works, we can’t wait to see what the future of the series has in store. But we do know one thing based on the closing scenes. We are heading to New Vegas!

9 Best Multiplayer

Helldivers 2

To avoid repeating myself too much, in a year with pretty by-the-books multiplayer options occupying the spaces this year, the obvious choice is Helldivers 2.

Obviously, you have tried and tested models of Call of Duty’s boots-on-the-ground multiplayer, and Mario’s buddies are returning for another board game adjacent to Mario Party Romp. But in terms of pure innovation, Helldivers 2 takes the cake.

It’s a non-competitive cooperative experience that gives everyone a clear, common, and ludicrous goal to achieve.

And as Helldivers 2 fans will know, the community have a habit of beating the odds and rising to the occasion. So, in short, Helldivers wins this one by a landslide, even with its troubles this year.

10 Best Independent Game

Balatro

While I have to admit that I’m personally a little sad to see the amazing Metroidbrainia, Animal Well, miss out on the Dualshockers popular vote, you can’t deny that Balatro is a worthy winner of best indie of the year.

It’s a game that caters to casual players, offering low-stakes, easy-breezy gameplay. But, thanks to the depth of systems, the variety of Jokers, and tactical meta-builds on offer, the game offers oodles of replayability and challenge for anyone who seeks it out.

It’s essentially a game that keeps on giving, providing hundreds of hours of fun with a gameplay loop that somehow never gets old. I would love to see new Jokers in the future, but as it is right now, it’s a stroke of genius and well worth checking out if you haven’t already.

11 Most Anticipated

Grand Theft Auto VI

Who saw this one coming, eh?

Yes, obviously, Grand Theft Auto VI won this category, and so it should, as after over a decade of rumors, leaks, and endless GTA Online updates, everyone has reached a fever pitch, and we need a new GTA game in our lives.

We want to go to Rockstar’s zany re-imagining of Miami and catch some rays or shoot some alligators, depending on what mood we are in.

We are obviously excited to see Kojima’s next wonderfully weird title and see the follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima, but in the grand scheme of things, there is only one winner here.

12 Best RPG

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

In a shocking turn of events, when voting under the umbrella of best RPG, the DS staff have decided that Metaphor may be the Game of the Year, but from an RPG purist standpoint, Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC reigns supreme. Which, when you think about it, is a pretty fair shout.

Shadow of the Erdtree offers the same level of polish and quality that Elden Ring did back in 2021, offering a wealth of challenging bosses, terrific lore to uncover, a series of locations that reward exploration tenfold, and of course, with the addition of more items and weapons, the possibility for new builds expanded exponentially.

It’s an RPG with a lot more depth of systems when compared to Metaphor in truth, as it feels like a more accessible version of Persona by all accounts. So, for that reason, I see why Shadow of the Erdtree has won out here.

13 Best Action/Adventure

Astro Bot

I was genuinely afraid that I wouldn’t get the chance to gush over Astro Bot, but thankfully, the team has come through, predicting this one will take home the action/adventure category.

Astro Bot truly is the new champion paving the way for the return of the mascot platformer. Sure, it’s mainly doing so with the help of a lot of nostalgia, but you have to give credit where it’s due. This is about as polished as a platformer can get.

The movement is slick and seamless, the power-ups are cathartic and satisfying, the level design is clever and varied, and the graphical detail on show is something to behold.

Essentially, if you liked the tech demo that was Astro’s Playroom, this is more of the same, but bigger and better. Which, in our eyes, is a recipe for success.

Systems

Released September 6, 2024

Developer(s) Team Asobi

Engine Proprietary Engine

ESRB E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence

PS Plus Availability N/A

OpenCritic Rating Mighty

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14 Best Action

Black Myth: Wukong

When it comes to all-out action, it was a landslide victory for the monkey king in the Dualshockers camp. Which really should come as no surprise.

Black Myth: Wukong is a game that succeeds on a lot of fronts in terms of visual excellence, world design, narrative, and even light RPG elements. However, the standout feature is the combat.

The game offers a format that is a stone’s throw away from an all-out boss rush, and the game is better for it. It forces the player to analyze and adapt their approach for each and every opponent, and one false move could be your downfall.

It’s this constant pursuit of perfection that makes the action of Black Myth: Wukong so engaging, and why we see it as a worthy winner of this category.

15 Best Fighting Game

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero

While I can’t pretend to be a huge fighting game fan, as I was one of those scrubby guys who spammed crouch kicks and hoped for the best. Even I couldn’t escape the immense hype around the latest Dragon Ball fighter.

This one felt like the spiritual successor to Budokai Tenkaichi 3, giving players a wealth of characters to unlock and master, loads of story beats to play through to evoke nostalgia for the anime we know and love.

Plus, the game implements a series of unique systems to make fights as bombastic and action-packed as possible.

The hype has died down significantly since launch, but even still, this one had all eyes on it for quite some time, and as a fighting game, that’s an achievement worthy of this accolade.

16 Best Accessibility

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

When it comes to accessibility in gaming, we are getting closer to the ultimate goal of making games available for as many people as humanly possible through inclusive design, and while all games listed were worthy winners this year, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is our pick of the bunch.

While too divisive to be nominated for any other award, credit has to go to Bioware for implementing a wonderful accessibility toolkit to help everyone and anyone enjoy their new RPG.

With robust subtitle options, a fully customizable HUD, colorblind functionality, great input re-mapping options, and so much more, the game provides an excellent set of options to make sure all players can get the most out of this fantasy epic.

17 Best Family Game

Astro Bot

For the record, my vote was The Plucky Squire, thanks to its wholesome, kid-friendly vibes. But if you’re looking for immense quality, along with those wholesome vibes, it’s hard to argue against Astro Bot.

The game provides a jaunty and jovial tone throughout the entire run, offering a wealth of worlds with silly animations and easy-to-picking-up mechanics that even little kids could easily grasp with little to no adult input.

Like the mascot platformers that came before and effectively raised me as a child, Astro Bot is one of hopefully a slew of new platformers to come that will do the same for this generation, too.

And while I’m definitely too old for all this stuff, I’ll be playing each and every one of them, happy as a clam.

18 Best Sim/Strategy Game

Unicorn Overlord & Frostpunk 2

We almost made it to the end of this list without a tie. Almost.

Despite ample votes, the DS staff were unable to decide between the two clear frontrunners for this award, Frostpunk 2 and Unicorn Overlord.

Unicorn Overlord is yet another homerun from ATLUS this year, offering a much more tactical RPG for players to enjoy, whereas Frostpunk 2 is a sequel offering expanded and refined gameplay akin to the celebrated original title.

I understand the stalemate here, as both are incredible games that are just oozing class and quality.

If it were my choice alone, I would probably say that Frostpunk 2 just edges it, as it offers a much more gritty and unforgiving experience, but you guys feel free to draw your own conclusions.

19 Best Sports/Racing Game

WWE 2K24

Our final entry sees us head to the wacky world of world wrestling entertainment, and fresh off the back of the Vince McMahon documentary, it seems that the DS crew has the most love for this year’s WWE title.

To give credit where it’s due, this is the first WWE game in a while that feels like a refined and enjoyable experience, and considering that we had all but expected the series to die back in 2019 after the comically bad WWE 2K20, this is a sparkling return to form.

The in-ring action feels fluid and satisfying, and the story beats when playing through campaigns is enjoyable and slapstick, as you would want and expect. Plus, with the addition of Wrestlemania Showcase matches, this really feels like a love letter to the fans.

It seems that wrestling is back in vogue, and by extension, so are wrestling games.

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