From Nintendo’s triumphant follow-up to Breath of the Wild to the sizzling pink perfection of Barbie and a lot extra, 2023 has been a landmark yr for video games and leisure. Certainly, IGN has labeled 16 video games, films and TV reveals a masterpiece over the previous 12 months, with numerous extra worthy of your time and cash. Admittedly, it’s additionally been a yr of polar opposites, and Cranium Island: Rise of Kong wasn’t the solely stinker to obtain a nasty rating (I’m you, Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey). The video games trade suffered an enormous variety of lay-offs too, and Hollywood strikes put launch calendars on maintain as screenwriters and actors fought for higher working situations.
So whereas 2023 had its low factors, we wished to shine a highlight on its successes and give recognition to every thing that introduced us pleasure, whether or not it was two hours of pure escapism in a film theatre, being transported to a different world for an expertise like no different, or a second that made us step again and gasp, “Holy fuck…”
IGN’s Twenty Questions – Guess the sport!
As such, IGN Awards launches subsequent week, a five-day celebration of the finest video games, films, TV, anime, comics… All the pieces IGN, such as you, is enthusiastic about. In fact, as 2023 attracts to a detailed you’ll see a lot of awards lists popping up, however the IGN Awards aren’t distracted by what’s popping out subsequent yr and past. We’ve made positive that the record of awards classes is streamlined and centered, as a result of we all know you’ve solely bought a lot spare time. We’ve made positive each award counts and is devoted to one thing that you simply care about.
2023’s IGN Awards will due to this fact look a bit of totally different in comparison with final yr. For starters, it’s now not referred to as IGN’s Best of – we wished a reputation that higher mirrored the grandeur the winners deserve. That mentioned, it’s 100% nonetheless a celebration of the better of every thing that IGN covers. We’ll nonetheless be crowning the finest sport and film of the yr, together with different returning classes similar to role-playing sport, TV collection, anime present, and extra. However we’ve additionally launched new classes like Best Horror Sport, Best Soulslike and Best Open-World Sport, to replicate how gaming tendencies have modified over the previous few years.
Elsewhere, we’ve requested the podcasting groups of Past, Unlocked and NVC to respectively decide the finest PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo video games of the yr, as a result of nobody is aware of these consoles and video games higher than the individuals who speak passionately about them week in, week out.
Lastly, whereas we’re exceptionally happy with all the winners chosen by IGN’s editorial group, we additionally wish to know what have been your favourites of 2023. Due to this fact you’ll discover a ballot alongside every award, which incorporates the identical shortlist of nominees the IGN group picked from. Vote for the one you preferred most in every class and we’ll showcase your winners at the finish of subsequent week.
So be a part of us from Monday and all through the week to see in case your picks of the better of 2023 are topped the winners. I’m definitely wanting ahead to sharing our selections, however greater than that I can’t wait to see what moments made you shout “Holy fuck!” this yr!
Alex Simmons is IGN’s Options Director. Comply with him on X / Twitter.