Golden Joystick Awards 2024 Was a Big Showing for Indie Games

The Golden Joystick Awards 2024: Indie Games Shine Bright

The Golden Joystick Awards, celebrating gaming excellence since 1983, returns on November 21st, 2024, for its 42nd year. This year's awards, recognizing games released between November 11th, 2023, and October 4th, 2024, showcase a significant rise in indie game recognition, with titles like Balatro and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes receiving multiple nominations.

A new category, "Best Indie Game - Self Published," highlights the growing importance of self-developed and self-published indie titles. This award specifically acknowledges developers lacking the backing of larger publishers, expanding the definition of "indie" games and recognizing titles in underserved markets.

The 19 award categories include:

Key Nominee Categories:

• Best Soundtrack: A Highland Song, Astro Bot, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Hauntii, Silent Hill 2, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
• Best Indie Game: Animal Well, Arco, Balatro, Beyond Galaxyland, Conscript, Indika, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Thank Goodness You’re Here!, The Plucky Squire, Ultros
• Best Indie Game - Self Published: Arctic Eggs, Another Crab’s Treasure, Crow Country, Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, I Am Your Beast, Little Kitty, Big City, Riven, Tactical Breach Wizards, Tiny Glade, UFO 50
• Console Game of the Year: Astro Bot, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Helldivers 2, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• PC Game of the Year: Animal Well, Balatro, Frostpunk 2, Satisfactory, Tactical Breach Wizards, UFO 50

(A complete list of nominees across all categories can be found on the official Golden Joystick Awards website.)

Voting and Controversy:

Fan voting is now open, with nominees selected by a jury including representatives from major gaming publications. Voting runs until November 8th, 2024. A separate "Ultimate Game of the Year" category will be announced later. The omission of titles like Black Myth: Wukong, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Space Marine 2 from the initial Game of the Year nominations has sparked significant online debate and criticism. The Golden Joystick Awards organization has responded, clarifying that the Ultimate Game of the Year shortlist is yet to be revealed.

Voting participants receive a free ebook.