Astro Bot named 'Game of the Year' for 2024

Astro Bot, a 3D platformer for PlayStation 5, claimed the 'Game of the Year' title at The Game Awards 2024, beating out strong contenders such as Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio. The award was presented by Swen Vincke, director of last year's winner, Baldur's Gate 3, who shared how receiving the award had a profound impact on his life. Nicolas Doucet, President of Team Asobi, the studio behind Astro Bot, accepted the award on behalf of the team, thanking PlayStation and the developers for their support in bringing the game to fruition. Doucet also reflected on how Nintendo's Super Mario Bros inspired his early interest in gaming and credited PlayStation's 30-year legacy for shaping the gameplay seen in Astro Bot.

Released in 2024, Astro Bot was developed by Team Asobi and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation 5. As a sequel to Astro's Playroom (2020), the game celebrates PlayStation's 30th anniversary, where players guide Astro Bot through various levels using the DualSense controller, employing abilities like jumping, hovering, and spin-attacking. The game has been widely praised by critics and has reportedly reached 1.5 million sales as of November 2024. Astro Bot was one of the night's biggest winners, taking home four awards, including 'Best Game Direction', 'Best Family Game', and 'Best Action/Adventure Game'.

Other significant winners included Metaphor: ReFantazio, which triumphed in three major categories: 'Best Narrative', 'Best Art Direction', and 'Best RPG'. Balatro won 'Best Indie' and 'Best Debut Indie Game'. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was honored for its music with the 'Best Score and Music' award. Senua's Saga: Hellblade II won 'Best Audio Design', while Melina Juergens received 'Best Performance' for her role in the game.

This year's Game Awards also featured several major announcements and trailers, including new reveals for The Witcher 4, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Okami 2, and Naughty Dog's Intergalactic. The esports scene was recognized as well, with League of Legends winning 'Best Esports Game', T1 being named 'Best Esports Team', and Lee Sang-hyeok (Faker) winning 'Best Esports Athlete'. Grand Theft Auto VI was once again awarded 'Most Anticipated Game'.