The Game Of The Year Award presented at The Game Awards is the most prestigious accolade for a video game in modern time. The ceremony is usually held on December by host Geoff Keighley. We are halfway through 2023 and at this point in time, we can speculate certain games to be worthy of the accolade. Take a look at the Top 5 GOTY Contenders so far this 2023.
Possible GOTY Contenders this 2023
5. Resident Evil 4 Remake
It is not every day that a remake comes out and surpasses the original. Resident Evil 4 remake proved to be one of those rare gems. Capcom did a commendable job regarding the classic action-horror from 2005. Along with graphical overhaul that rivals modern day games, the janky controls were also revamped for a smooth gameplay experience.
The RE 4 remake also features some new narrative elements and additional characters that improve upon the original counterpart while staying true to it. You can feel the immersion as a player the moment you set foot on the Spanish village of Valdelobos as Leon.
Since it is a remake, the chances of getting the prestigious GOTY accolade are low for this one. However, that does not stop its loyal fans from rallying behind the game and supporting it.
4. Final Fantasy 16
Gamers have been eagerly waiting for this action JRPG, after the last instalment was released back in 2016. The game will feature high-octane battles and a compelling storyline with satisfying fast paced combat. Final Fantasy 16 can cater to both single player and multiplayer audience as it supports both. We will likely see over the top gameplay elements with intense large-scale bosses like the series is known for.
The game is set for a release date of 22nd June 2023, a date very close from now. What’s better is that a generous 2 and a half hour long free game demo is available right now for players to try. So if you have a PlayStation 5, you should try it from the PlayStation Store.
Additionally, the progress of the demo carries over upon purchase of the full game. Despite the fact that it is a PlayStation 5 exclusive (for now), Final Fantasy 16 is a worthy contender for the GOTY award.
3. Marvel’s Spider Man 2
The 12 minute long gameplay demo at the end of PlayStation Showcase 2023 have left the fans buzzing about the third instalment to Insomniac’s Spider Man series.
- The promo showcases new adversary, Kraven the Hunter as one of the many antagonists within the game.
- In this one, Peter dones a symbiote suit and pairs up with Miles Morales to accomplish certain missions. You can seamlessly switch between the two characters for certain sections of the game.
- The trailer also displayed new stealth mechanics and brand new powers as part of the player’s arsenal. Adding to the fact of Venom’s presence within the game, it only heightens expectations.
- Oh! And this time Spidey’s playground is lot bigger as newer areas of New York are added to the map.
The game will release on fall of 2023 exclusively on PlayStation 5. Looking at the caliber of its previous installments, Marvel’s Spider Man 2 should be high on the list of GOTY award contenders.
2. Starfield
Starfield is a game 25 years in the making. According to Todd Howard, we did not have the technology until now to turn it into reality. It is basically cited as Skyrim in space. With remarks like that, expectations are sky high, especially when we consider the pedigree behind the development of this game.
It is an RPG set in outer space where you can explore over a thousand different planets. The devs assure that each planet is going to feel vastly different from the other one, thanks to the procedural generation in action.
Players can also switch between third-person and first-person perspective accordingly. Xbox and Bethesda is providing heavy coverage regarding Starfield as seen from the Starfield Direct.
From the showcase we can confirm that the game is definitely shaping up to be a GOTY material. The game releases on the September 6, 2023 for Microsoft Windows and Xbox Series X/S.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Just when people thought nothing could top Link’s journey from Breath of the Wild, its sequel successfully delivered an experience as compelling as the last one.
It takes everything from its predecessor and expands upon it. Along with that, Tears of the Kingdom introduces new creative gameplay mechanics where the players can craft automations and weapons by making use of the elements found in its surroundings.
It is impressive what can be done even with a limited hardware like the Switch. The game managed to cramp 100+ hours of content that includes exploring, crafting, upgrading and progressing of the storyline.
The open world is filled with exciting interactions that won’t let a player feel bored as compared to other sandbox games that feels repetitive after a while.
Tears of the Kingdom, in our opinion, has the highest potential of taking the GOTY award home. Achieving this feat would mark a legendary achievement where two games in a series would win this particular accolade in the history of The Game Awards.
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