You’ll watch for the announcements, but The Game Awards also like to reward the greatest games of the past year with flashy trophies to commemorate their quality. It’s back to being in person for 2021, and so we’ll get a few live speeches from some of the developers up for the coveted gongs. This year feels like an odd one, though: there are no obvious standout titles that are likely to scoop up all the prizes. Many games are up for multiple awards, but will they trample all over the competition? Unlikely this year.
Deathloop received the most nominations, in eight different categories. That includes Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, and Best Narrative. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart scooped up six nominees including Game of the Year, and Returnal got just three. Surprisingly, it’s not voted for Game of the Year.
Listed below are all the nominees for awards at The Game Awards 2021.
Game of the Year
- Deathloop
- It Takes Two
- Metroid Dread
- Psychonauts 2
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Resident Evil Village
Best Game Direction
- Deathloop
- It Takes Two
- Returnal
- Psychonauts 2
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Best Narrative
- Deathloop
- It Takes Two
- Life Is Strange: True Colors
- Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
- Psychonauts 2
Best Independent Game
- 12 Minutes
- Death’s Door
- Kena: Bridge of Spirits
- Inscription
- Loop Hero
Best Role Playing Game
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Monster Hunter Rise
- Scarlet Nexus
- Shin Megami Tensei V
- Tales of Arise
Best Art Direction
- Deathloop
- Kena: Bridge of Spirits
- Psychonauts 2
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- The Artful Escape
Best Score/Music
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Deathloop
- NieR Replicant
- Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
- The Artful Escape
Best Performance
- Erika Mori, Life Is Strange: True Colors
- Giancarlo Esposito, Far Cry 6
- Jason E. Kelley, Deathloop
- Maggie Robertson, Resident Evil Village
- Ozioama Akagha, Deathloop
Best Multiplayer Game
- Back 4 Blood
- It Takes Two
- Knockout City
- Monster Hunter Rise
- New World
- Valhiem
Best Ongoing Game
- Apex Legends
- Call of Duty: Warzone
- Final Fantasy XIV Online
- Fortnite
- Genshin Impact
