Geoff Keighley has announced the official nominees for the Game Awards 2021, which will be streamed live on December 9, 2021. Bethesda’s Deathloop received the most nominations of any game this year with a total of 9, including a nomination for Game of the Year. Xbox/Bethesda amassed the most nominations overall with a whopping 20 noms compared to Sony Interactive Entertainment’s 11 nominations and EA/Square Enix’s 10 nominations, making it pretty clear that the partnership between the two heavy-hitting brands has almost certainly paid off.
You can watch the nomination special below, or keep scrolling for the full list of this year’s nominees. It’s important to note that Press Start were on the judging panel, so we did play a part in these games being nominated.
Here is the full list of nominees:
Recognizing a game that delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields.
Awarded for outstanding creative vision and innovation in game direction and design.
For outstanding storytelling and narrative development in a game.
For outstanding creative and/or technical achievement in artistic design and animation.
For outstanding music, inclusive of score, original song and/or licensed soundtrack.
Recognizing the best in-game audio and sound design.
Awarded to an individual for voice-over acting, motion and/or performance capture.
For a thought-provoking game with a pro-social meaning or message.
Awarded to a game for outstanding development of ongoing content that evolves the player experience over time.
For outstanding creative and technical achievement in a game made outside the traditional publisher system.
For the best game playable on a mobile device.
Recognizing a game for outstanding community support, transparency and responsiveness, inclusive of social media activity and game updates/patches.
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.
For the best game experience playable in virtual or augmented reality, irrespective of platform.
For the best game in the action genre focused primarily on combat.
For the best action/adventure game, combining combat with traversal and puzzle solving.
For the best game designed with rich player character customization and progression, including massively multiplayer experiences.
For the best game designed primarily around head-to-head combat.
For the best game appropriate for family play, irrespective of genre or platform.
Best game focused on real time or turn-based simulation or strategy gameplay, irrespective of platform.
For the best traditional and non-traditional sports and racing game.
For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences, irrespective of game genre or platform.
For a streamer or content creator who has made an important and positive impact on the community in 2021.
For the best debut game created by a new independent studio.
Recognizing an announced game that has demonstrably illustrated potential to push the gaming medium forward.
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.
The esports athlete judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021, irrespective of game.
Recognizing a specific esports team (not the full organization) judged the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021.
The esports coach judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021.
Recognizing an event (across single or multiple days) that delivered a best-of-class experience for participants and the broadcast audience.
If you want to vote for your favourite games, publishers, creators or artists above, click this handy link here to visit the official Game Awards site before the event streams live from the Microsoft Theatre next month. We’ll make sure to keep you up to date on when and where to watch The Game Awards locally, so keep an eye out for our guide closer to the event.