The Golden Joystick Awards hosted at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, London, is now in its 42nd year, taken center stage on November 21, 2024. Marking another milestone in the gaming industry. A celebration of creative excellence the event brought together developers, performers, and fans to honor the best of gaming.
Hosted by Ben Starr, renowned for his work as Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy XVI, the awards night was not merely about accolades given to the developers and the people that breathed life into their creations. It became a platform for reflection on the industry’s achievements and ongoing challenges.
A Year Defined by Innovation and Artistic Growth
2024 has been a year of technological leaps and boundless creativity in gaming. This was clear in the breadth of nominees at the Golden Joystick Awards ranging from blockbuster hits to rising indie darlings. The ceremony highlighted the medium’s evolution into an art-form capable of tackling complex narratives, fostering global communities, and pushing the boundaries of visual and interactive design.
At the heart of the evening was a powerful recognition of gaming’s ability to bring people together, whether through multiplayer experiences like Helldivers 2, storytelling epics like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, or indie experiments such as Balatro. This diversity in offerings displayed gaming’s ever-expanding audience from casual players to devoted enthusiasts.
Game of the Year: Black Myth: Wukong
The star of the evening was Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong, which clinched the top honor. Ultimate Game of the Year. The action RPG captivated audiences worldwide with its blend of traditional Chinese folklore and innovative game design. Its win highlighted the growing global reach of games inspired by non-Western cultures, offering players a new lens through which to experience interactive storytelling.
Feng Ji, CEO of Game Science, accepted the award via a pre-recorded message, teasing upcoming surprises for fans. This announcement added excitement for the game’s future with speculation swirling about DLCs or expanded narratives. The title also won Best Visual Design, solidifying Black Myth: Wukong’s reputation as a visual masterpiece that set new industry benchmarks.
Dominance of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
One of the night’s biggest winners was Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, continuing Square Enix’s legacy of remaking iconic titles. The game earned accolades for Best Storytelling and Best Soundtrack, a testament to its ability to weave emotional depth into a beloved universe. Voice actors Cody Christian (Cloud Strife) and Briana White (Aerith Gainsborough) were celebrated for their performances, taking home awards for Best Lead Performer and Best Supporting Performer, respectively.
These wins highlighted the increasing importance of voice acting in bringing characters to life. However, some critics raised concerns about the wider treatment of voice actors in the industry, particularly about pay and recognition considering the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike by voice actors hoping to protect their jobs from AI replacements. Calling for stronger industry standards and union protections were amplified in response to these discussions.
Indie Games Take the Spotlight
This year was also a banner year for indie games. Balatro, a deck-building rogue-like won Best Indie Game and the Breakthrough Award illustrating the creative prowess of smaller studios. Another Crab’s Treasure, with its charming self-published journey, was also recognized as Best Indie Game – Self-Published.
These titles underscore the rising influence of independent developers, who often push the boundaries of innovation unencumbered by the constraints of major publishers.
Yet, the indie space is not without its challenges. Financial constraints, limited marketing budgets, and increasing competition make it difficult for many independent studios to break through. While awards like these provide visibility, industry insiders emphasize’s the need for more systemic support such as funding initiatives and better distribution platforms.
Multiplayer Games and Co-op Innovation
Helldivers 2 appeared as a multiplayer juggernaut, winning Best Multiplayer Game, Console Game of the Year, and Best Game Trailer. Developed by Arrowhead Game Studios. The title’s tactical gameplay and cooperative mechanics resonated strongly with players, setting a new standard for team-based experiences.
However, the multiplayer genre also faces its share of hurdles, including server reliability, toxic online behavior, and balancing monetization models with fair play according to the players wishes. These issues, while not addressed during the ceremony, remain critical topics in ongoing discussions about the future of multiplayer gaming.
Technological Triumphs and Accessibility Concerns
This year’s Golden Joystick Awards spotlighted technological innovations in gaming from the lifelike animations of Black Myth: Wukong to the transformative potential of new hardware like the Steam Deck OLED which won Best Gaming Hardware at the awards. The growing integration of AI and photorealistic graphics has opened new avenues for immersive storytelling and gameplay.
Yet, these advancements come with a price. As games and hardware become more advanced, they also become less accessible to lower-income players. Critics pointed out the widening gap between high-budget AAA games and their affordability, calling for scalable experiences that cater to broader audiences. This conversation is particularly relevant as gaming continues to expand its global reach.
The Legacy of Long-Lasting Titles
The Still Playing Awards highlighted games that have sustained their popularity over years. Minecraft took the honor for PC/console while Honkai: Star Rail claimed the mobile award. These games exemplify the importance of consistent updates, community engagement, and robust live-service models.
However, the live-service approach is not without controversy. Games reliant on micro-transactions and “pay-to-win” mechanics often alienate parts of their player base. Fueling debates about fairness and ethical monetization practices. These concerns underscore the need for a more balanced approach to player engagement and profitability.
Adapting Games for the Screen
The Best Game Adaptation award, given to Amazon’s Fallout series, which underscored gaming’s growing influence on other entertainment mediums. The show succeeded in capturing the bleak yet hopeful tone of its source material, earning acclaim from fans and critics alike.
Despite this success, the adaptation space stays fraught with challenges. Many game-based films and series do not resonate with their intended audience often due to creative missteps or lack of fidelity to the source material as seen with Henry Cavill’s argument with The Witcher’s writer that led to him leaving the show. This inconsistency has sparked debates about how best to translate gaming experiences into other formats without losing their essence.
Fans Upset Surrounding the Awards
While the Golden Joystick Awards celebrated many achievements, it was not without its share of criticism. With many fans feeling the event was lackluster as compared to previous years, especially compared to 2011 when iconic games such as Skyrim and Batman: Arkham City got released. Fans already knew Black Myth: Wukong would perform extremely well as Game of the Year but could not help but feel 2024 was a lackluster year for gaming releases with Black Myth: Wukong’s only minor challengers being Astro Bot and the indie game Balatro.
Some viewers even went to X (formerly twitter) and Reddit to express outrage that the expansion, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erd Tree, got nominated for Game of the Year. Instead of getting a new category for game expansions to win rewards to not overshadow newer releases. Could the Game Awards amend this for next year and years to come with the hinted expansions coming to games such as Black Myth: Wukong?
Looking to the Future
As the Golden Joystick Awards wrapped up, anticipation for 2025 was palpable. Grand Theft Auto 6, named Most Wanted Game, epitomizes the excitement surrounding next year’s releases. Other upcoming titles such as Monster Hunter Wilds, along with teased expansions for Black Myth: Wukong and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth promise to keep the industry moving forward.
The 2024 Golden Joystick Awards showed both the strengths and growing pains of an industry in constant evolution. From celebrating creative achievements to grappling with accessibility and fairness, the event offered a comprehensive snapshot of where gaming stands today and where it is headed tomorrow. As the gaming world prepares for another year of innovation and challenges, the lessons of this year will undoubtedly shape the future of this dynamic medium.
