The standard suspects have been out in power in the Game Developers Choice Awards 2024 nominees, with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur’s Gate 3 main the method with seven nominees apiece. However there have been additionally some huge surprises in the Game of the Year class, with Alan Wake 2 lacking out in favor of Dave the Diver and Dredge.
As a substitute, Alan Wake 2 acquired the nod as an honorable point out in the record of finalists, that are voted on by recreation builders all through the business. Treatment’s sequel wasn’t totally shut out although, incomes nods in classes together with Finest Narrative and Finest Visible Artwork. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Tears of the Kingdom, COCOON, and Baldur’s Gate 3 rounded out the relaxation of the Game of the Year nominees.
As for Dave the Diver, it is received reward for its distinctive combine of deep sea exploration and shopkeeping. In our assessment we referred to as it “healthful, splendidly advanced, and delightfully onerous to place down.”
The Game Developers Choice Awards are held yearly throughout the Game Developer’s Convention, which takes place in San Francisco in March. Final yr’s awards noticed Elden Ring take dwelling the huge prize, with God of Struggle Ragnarok additionally receiving a lot of recognition.
Take a look at the full record of nominees beneath. For extra, take a look at the full record of IGN Awards during which we picked our personal winners, and keep tuned as awards season continues.
BEST AUDIO
Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
Hello-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks / Bethesda Softworks)
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Video games / Sony Interactive Leisure)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo)
Venba (Visai Video games)
Honorable Mentions: COCOON (Geometric Interactive / Annapurna Interactive), Diablo IV (Blizzard
Leisure), Remaining Fantasy XVI (Sq. Enix), Hogwarts Legacy (Avalanche Software program / Portkey
Video games), Humanity (tha ltd. and Improve / Improve)
BEST DEBUT
COCOON (Geometric Interactive / Annapurna Interactive)
Dave the Diver (Mintrocket)
Dredge (Black Salt Video games / Team17)
Venba (Visai Video games)
Viewfinder (Unhappy Owl Studios / Thunderful Publishing)
Honorable Mentions: BattleBit Remastered (SgtOkiDoki, Vilaskis, and TheLiquidHorse / SgtOkiDoki),
Celebration Animals (Recreate Video games / Supply Expertise), Pizza Tower (Tour De Pizza), Planet of Lana
(Wishfully Studios / Thunderful), Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical (Summerfall Studios / Humble
Video games)
BEST DESIGN
Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
COCOON (Geometric Interactive / Annapurna Interactive)
Dredge (Black Salt Video games / Team17)
Hello-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks / Bethesda Softworks)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo)
Honorable Mentions: Dave the Diver (Mintrocket), Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Video games / Sony Interactive Leisure), Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio), Road Fighter 6 (Capcom), Tremendous Mario Bros. Surprise (Nintendo)
INNOVATION AWARD
Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
COCOON (Geometric Interactive / Annapurna Interactive)
Hello-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks / Bethesda Softworks)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo)
The Making of Karateka (Digital Eclipse)
Honorable Mentions: Dave the Diver (Mintrocket), Dredge (Black Salt Video games / Team17), Marvel’s
Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Video games / Sony Interactive Leisure), Starfield (Bethesda Game Studios /
Bethesda Softworks), Viewfinder (Unhappy Owl Studios / Thunderful Publishing)
BEST NARRATIVE
Alan Wake II (Treatment Leisure / Epic Video games)
Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Video games / Sony Interactive Leisure)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo)
Venba (Visai Video games)
Honorable Mentions: Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (CD Projekt), Dredge (Black Salt Video games /
Team17), Goodbye Volcano Excessive (KO_OP), Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores (Guerrilla Video games /
Sony Interactive Leisure), Starfield (Bethesda Game Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD
A House for the Unbound (Mojiken Studio / Toge Productions)
Murderer’s Creed Mirage (Ubisoft Bordeaux / Ubisoft)
Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
Terra Nil (Free Lives / Devolver Digital)
Venba (Visai Video games)
Honorable Mentions: Goodbye Volcano Excessive (KO_OP), Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores
(Guerrilla Video games / Sony Interactive Leisure), Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Video games / Sony
Interactive Leisure), Tchia (Awaceb / Kepler Interactive), Thirsty Suitors (Outerloop Video games /
Annapurna Interactive)
BEST TECHNOLOGY
Alan Wake II (Treatment Leisure / Epic Video games)
Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Video games / Sony Interactive Leisure)
Starfield (Bethesda Game Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo)
Honorable Mentions: COCOON (Geometric Interactive / Annapurna Interactive), Cyberpunk 2077:
Phantom Liberty (CD Projekt), Diablo IV (Blizzard Leisure), Remaining Fantasy XVI (Sq. Enix),
Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores (Guerrilla Video games / Sony Interactive Leisure)
BEST VISUAL ART
Alan Wake II (Treatment Leisure / Epic Video games)
COCOON (Geometric Interactive / Annapurna Interactive)
Remaining Fantasy XVI (Sq. Enix)
Hello-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks / Bethesda Softworks)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo)
Honorable Mentions: Diablo IV (Blizzard Leisure), Dredge (Black Salt Video games / Team17),
Lies of P (Neowiz Video games and Round8 Studio / Neowiz Video games), Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio), Tremendous
Mario Bros. Surprise (Nintendo)
GAME OF THE YEAR
Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
COCOON (Geometric Interactive / Annapurna Interactive)
Dave the Diver (Mintrocket)
Dredge (Black Salt Video games / Team17)
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Video games / Sony Interactive Leisure)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo)
Honorable Mentions: Alan Wake II (Treatment Leisure / Epic Video games), Diablo IV (Blizzard
Leisure), Remaining Fantasy XVI (Sq. Enix), Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio), Starfield (Bethesda
Game Studios / Bethesda Softworks), Tremendous Mario Bros. Surprise (Nintendo)
Kat Bailey is IGN’s Information Director in addition to co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Ship her a DM at @the_katbot.