The Game Awards 2023 nominations have just been dropped, giving us a sneak peek into the top-notch games and creators of the year across various categories. The gaming community is buzzing with excitement as we gear up for the 10th annual Game Awards, set to go live from the Peacock Theater in L.A. on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023.

Topping the charts with eight nods each, Remedy Entertainment’s “Alan Wake 2” and Larian Studios’ “Baldur’s Gate 3” are going head-to-head for the Game of the Year title. They’re not alone in the race; heavyweight contenders like Insomniac Games’ “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2,”Capcom’s “Resident Evil 4,”Nintendo’s “Super Mario Bros. Wonder,” and another gem from Nintendo, “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,” are all in the mix.

Game Awards 2023 nominations
Game Awards 2023 nominations for the best game of the year have 6 amazing candidates (Image credit)

Now, let’s dive into the games that racked up nominations more than twice:

GamesNominations
Alan Wake 28 (Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Audio Design, Best Performance, Best Action/Adventure Game)
Baldur’s Gate 36 (Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best RPG, Best Fighting Game, Best Multiplayer, Best Community Support)
Marvel’s Spider-Man 25 (Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Action/Adventure Game, Best Audio Design, Best Multiplayer)
Super Mario Bros. Wonder5 (Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Multiplayer)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom5 (Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Action/Adventure Game)
Hi-Fi Rush4 (Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Audio Design, Best Action Game)
Resident Evil 43 (Game of the Year, Best Audio Design, Best Action/Adventure Game)
Final Fantasy XVI3 (Best Narrative, Best Score and Music, Best RPG)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for the Best Adaptation

Checking out the Best Adaptation category, a new addition from last year, we’ve got films and series inspired by beloved games battling it out for the top spot. The lineup is solid with “Castlevania: Nocturne” (Netflix),“Gran Turismo” (Sony Pictures),“The Last of Us” (HBO),“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (Illumination/Universal Pictures), and “Twisted Metal” (Peacock) all in the running. Let’s see which one takes the crown!

Which is the best publisher this year?

In the battle of the publishers, Nintendo takes the lead with a whopping 15 nominations, making them the heavyweight champ this year. Right on their tail, we’ve got Sony Interactive Entertainment/PlayStation boasting 13 nods, Xbox (including Bethesda and Blizzard) with a solid 10, and Epic Games scoring nine. It’s a clear showcase of the top-notch and varied games these industry giants are bringing to the table. Let the showdown begin!

All Game Awards 2023 nominations

Here is the comprehensive list of all nominees that GOTY announced:

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Game of the Year

  • Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games Publishing)
  • Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games/SIE)
  • Resident Evil 4 (Capcom)
  • Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Game Direction

  • Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games Publishing)
  • Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2(Insomniac Games/SIE)
  • Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Adaptation

  • Castlevania: Nocturne (Powerhouse Animation/Netflix)
  • Gran Turismo (PlayStation Productions/Sony Pictures)
  • The Last of Us (PlayStation Productions/HBO)
  • The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Illumination/Nintendo/Universal Pictures)
  • Twisted Metal (PlayStation Productions/Peacock)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Narrative

  • Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games Publishing)
  • Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
  • Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (CD Projekt Red)
  • Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix)
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games/SIE)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Art Direction

  • Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games Publishing)
  • Hi-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks/Bethesda Softworks)
  • Lies of P (Round8 Studio/Neowiz Games)
  • Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Score and Music

  • Alan Wake 2, Composer Petri Alanko (Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games Publishing)
  • Baldur’s Gate 3, Composer Borislav Slavov (Larian Studios)
  • Final Fantasy XVI, Composer Masayoshi Soken (Square Enix)
  • Hi-Fi Rush, Audio Director Shuichi Kobori (Tango Gameworks/Bethesda Softworks)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Composed by Nintendo Sound Team (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Audio Design

  • Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games Publishing)
  • Dead Space (Motive Studio/EA)
  • Hi-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks/Bethesda Softworks)
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games/SIE)
  • Resident Evil 4 (Capcom)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Performance

  • Ben Starr, Final Fantasy XVI
  • Cameron Monaghan, STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor
  • Idris Elba, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
  • Melanie Liburd, Alan Wake 2
  • Neil Newbon, Baldur’s Gate 3
  • Yuri Lowenthal, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Innovation in Accessibility

  • Diablo IV (Blizzard Entertainment)
  • Forza Motorsport (Turn 10 Studios/Xbox Game Studios)
  • Hi-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks/Bethesda Softworks)
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games/SIE)
  • Mortal Kombat 1 (NetherRealm Studios/WB Games)
  • Street Fighter 6 (Capcom)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Games for Impact

  • A Space for the Unbound (Mojiken Studio/Toge Productions/Chorus)
  • Chants of Sennaar (Rundisc/Focus Entertainment)
  • Goodbye Volcano High (KO_OP)
  • Tchia (Awaceb/Kepler Interactive)
  • Terra Nil (Free Lives/Devolver Digital/Netflix)
  • Venba (Visai Games)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Ongoing Game

  • Apex Legends (Respawn Entertainment/EA)
  • Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt Red)
  • Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)
  • Fortnite (Epic Games)
  • Genshin Impact (HoYoverse)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Community Support

  • Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
  • Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt Red)
  • Destiny 2 (Bungie)
  • Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)
  • No Man’s Sky (Hello Games)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Independent Game

  • Cocoon (Geometric Interactive/Annapurna Interactive)
  • Dave the Diver (MINTROCKET)
  • Dredge (Black Salt Games/Team 17)
  • Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio)
  • Viewfinder (Sad Owl Studios/Thunderful Publishing)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Debut Indie Game

  • Cocoon (Geometric Interactive/Annapurna Interactive)
  • Dredge (Black Salt Games/Team 17)
  • Pizza Tower (Tour de Pizza)
  • Venba (Visai Games)
  • Viewfinder (Sad Owl Studios/Thunderful Publishing)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Mobile Game

  • Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis (Applibot/Square Enix)
  • Honkai: Star Rail (HoYoverse)
  • Hello Kitty Island Adventure (Sunblink Entertainment)
  • Monster Hunter Now (Niantic/Capcom)
  • Terra Nil (Free Lives/Devolver/Netflix)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best VR/AR Game

  • Gran Turismo 7 (Polyphony Digital/SIE)
  • Humanity (tha LTD/Enhance Games)
  • Horizon Call of the Mountain (Guerrilla Games/Firesprite/SIE)
  • Resident Evil Village VR Mode (Capcom)
  • Synapse (nDreams)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Action Game

  • Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco)
  • Dead Island 2 (Dambuster Studios/Deep Silver)
  • Ghostrunner 2 (One More Level/505 Games)
  • Hi-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks/Bethesda Softworks)
  • Remnant 2 (Gunfire Games/Gearbox Publishing)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Action/Adventure Game

  • Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment/Epic Games Publishing)
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games/SIE)
  • Resident Evil 4 (Capcom)
  • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Respawn Entertainment/EA)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best RPG

  • Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
  • Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix)
  • Lies of P (Round8 Studio/Neowiz Games)
  • Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio)
  • Starfield (Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Fighting Game

  • God of Rock (Modus Studios Brazil/Modus Games)
  • Mortal Kombat 1 (NetherRealm Studios/WB Games)
  • Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 (Ludosity/Fair Play Labs/GameMill Entertainment)
  • Pocket Bravery (Statera Studio/PQube)
  • Street Fighter 6 (Capcom)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Family Game

  • Disney Illusion Island (Dlala Studios/Disney)
  • Party Animals (Recreate Games)
  • Pikmin 4 (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
  • Sonic Superstars (Arzest/Sonic Team/Sega)
  • Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Sim/Strategy Game

  • Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (WayForward/Nintendo)
  • Cities: Skylines II (Colossal Order/Paradox Interactive)
  • Company of Heroes 3 (Relic Entertainment/Sega)
  • Fire Emblem Engage (Intelligent Systems/Nintendo)
  • Pikmin 4 (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Sports/Racing

  • EA Sports FC 24 (EA Vancouver/EA Romania/EA Sports)
  • F1 23 (Codemasters/EA Sports)
  • Forza Motorsport (Turn 10 Studios/Xbox Game Studios)
  • Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged (Milestone)
  • The Crew Motorfest (Ubisoft Ivory Tower/Ubisoft)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Multiplayer Presented by Discord

  • Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
  • Diablo IV (Blizzard Entertainment)
  • Party Animals (Recreate Games)
  • Street Fighter 6 (Capcom)
  • Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Most Anticipated Game

  • Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)
  • Hades II (Supergiant Games)
  • Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega)
  • Star Wars Outlaws (Massive Entertainment/Ubisoft)
  • Tekken 8 (Bandai Namco/Arika)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Content Creator of the Year

  • IronMouse
  • PeopleMakeGames
  • Quackity
  • Spreen
  • SypherPK

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Esports Game

  • Counter-Strike 2 (Valve)
  • Dota 2 (Valve)
  • League of Legends (Riot Games)
  • PUBG Mobile (LightSpeed Studios/Tencent Games)
  • Valorant (Riot Games)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Esports Athlete

  • Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok (League of Legends)
  • Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut (CS:GO)
  • Max “Demon1” Mazanov (Valorant)
  • Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez (Call of Duty)
  • Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk (League of Legends)
  • Phillip ”ImperialHal” Dosen (Apex Legends)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Esports Team

  • Evil Geniuses (Valorant)
  • Fnatic (Valorant)
  • Gaimin Gladiators (Dota 2)
  • JD Gaming (League of Legends)
  • Team Vitality (Counter-Strike)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Esports Coach

  • Christine “potter” Chi (Evil Geniuses – Valorant)
  • Danny “zonic” Sorensen (Team Falcons – Counter-Strike)
  • Jordan “Gunba” Graham (Florida Mayhem – Overwatch)
  • Remy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam (Team Vitality – Counter-Strike)
  • Yoon “Homme” Sung-young (JD Gaming – League of Legends)

Game Awards 2023 nominations for Best Esports Event

  • 2023 League of Legends World Championship
  • Blast.tv Paris Major 2023
  • EVO 2023
  • The International Dota 2 Championships 2023
  • Valorant Champions 2023

Diverse Game Awards 2023 nominations

The 2023 Game Awards spotlight gaming excellence with a diverse lineup of 112 nominees covering games, individuals, teams, and events across various genres and platforms. The nominations are the outcome of a meticulous selection process, involving a global jury composed of individuals from over 100 media publications and influencer outlets.

How to vote for the Game Awards 2023 nominations?

Wondering how to get in on the action? Well, leading up to the big event, fans get the chance to throw their support behind their favorites in all categories until Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. PT. You can cast your votes online at thegameawards.com, and for the second year running, fans can also jump into the excitement via the Game Awards’ official Discord server. It’s not just about voting; fans can join a live watch party on Dec. 7, react to the winners in real-time, and soak in the gaming celebration. Let the countdown to the gaming extravaganza begin!

Game Awards 2023 nominations
Voting for your favorite game is quite easy through the Game Awards website (Image credit)

The best night for gamers is approaching

Get ready for the big night! Geoff Keighley and Kimmie Kim are at the helm as executive producers, with LeRoy Bennett bringing the creative touch and Richard Preuss directing—the Game Awards 2023 is gearing up for a night to remember. Against the Peacock Theater’s vibrant backdrop, this event is not just about announcing winners. Brace yourself for premieres, trailers, live music, and celebrity appearances.

As the gaming community eagerly ticks off the days, the Game Awards 2023 is set to be a celebration of creativity, innovation, and remarkable gaming accomplishments. Mark your calendar for the grand spectacle on Dec. 7, 2023, and get ready to witness the unveiling of the industry’s best and brightest. It’s going to be epic!

Game Awards 2023 nominations
Gamers are in high anticipation for the 10th annual Game Awards event (Image credit)

Meanwhile, if by any chance, you’re wondering which game we’ll cast our votes on, look no further than Baldur’s Gate 3.

Featured image credit: Game Awards