The 2023 ComicBook.com Golden Issue Awards Nominees for Gaming
12/14/2023 10:00 am EST
Game of the Year
In past years, it's been a lot easier to select an overall Game of the Year, but that was not the case in 2023. Just getting the list down to five candidates was a tall task, given the sheer quality of releases we saw in 2023! This list could have just as easily been a top 10, but here are our candidates for overall Game of the Year.
- Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment)
- Baldur's Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo)
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games)
- Resident Evil 4 (Capcom)
Best Ongoing Game
While many games offer a finite experience, many others last for years, offering a steady stream of content and updates to keep players coming back. Ongoing games have become a major part of the video game industry over the years, though not every developer has as much success keeping players invested. Our nominees this year are mostly comprised of games that have been going for several years now, as well as one game that made its way to more platforms in 2023 after launching last year.
- Final Fantasy 14 (Square Enix)
- Fortnite (Epic Games)
- Overwatch 2 (Blizzard Entertainment)
- Rocket League (Psyonix)
- Vampire Survivors (Luca Galante)
Best Multiplayer Game
Some people prefer to experience a video game on their own, while others have more fun with a group of people. Whether it's in-person or online, 2023 offered great multiplayer games that spanned several different genres. Fighting games, RPGs, and asymmetric horror options all released this year, giving players a number of high-quality options. Here are our top 5 nominees for best multiplayer game.
- Diablo 4 (Blizzard Entertainment)
- Mortal Kombat 1 (NetherRealm Studios)
- Party Animals (Recreate Games)
- Street Fighter 6 (Capcom)
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (Sumo Nottingham)
Best Narrative-Driven Game
Some developers put a bigger focus on gameplay versus story, while others strive to tell a compelling narrative. Several games released this year offered storylines that kept players engrossed, and gave them an incentive to reach the conclusion. Here are our nominees for the best narrative-driven game for 2023:
- Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment)
- Baldur's Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Respawn Entertainment)
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games)
- Resident Evil 4 (Capcom)
Best Tabletop Game
The majority of our categories this year relate to video games, but tabletop games also had a big year in 2023. Star Wars Villainous was our pick for Best Tabletop Game of 2022, and it will be interesting to see what game comes away with a win this year. Here are our five nominees for the best tabletop games of 2023:
- Disney Lorcana
- Freelancers
- Frosthaven
- Sky Team
- Ticket to Ride: Legacy
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