Earlier this month , The Game Awards give out statues to the best video games of 2024 , fromAstro BottoBalatro . There ’s a catch , though . Since the show air in former December , no game released after previous November in a given year is eligible for awards that year . They can compete in the 2025 show , but that requires voters to recall what ’s eligible . This twelvemonth , December 2023 game likeSonic Dream Team , Avatar : frontier of Pandora , andArizona Sunshine 2were all shut out ( that last one is especially odd , asArizona Sunshine Remakegot a Best VR nominating address alternatively ) .
While 2025 ’s show is a a full year away , the jury already has its workforce full . This December has been an unexpectedly wild one for game . We produce one of the unspoilt teaser games of the class inLok Digital , a successful former access launch forPath of Exile 2 , and a much welcome console port of Apple Arcade hitFantasian . On top of all that , though , we ’ve receive what already sense like some serious Game Awards contenders in a variety of family — include Game of the Year .
Whether you require to start view the awards raceway right smart too early or are just looking for a large game to playact right now , these are some of December ’s full games . Do n’t forget them in 12 months !
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
For Your Consideration : Game of the Year , Best Action / Adventure Game , Best Performance ( Troy Baker , Marios Gavrilis )
It ’s very rarified for a plot released in December to get a Game Awards nomination the next year . Nintendo pulled that effort off withSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate , but it ’s a difficult task . If all goes well , Xbox could pull it off withIndiana Jones and the Great Circle . Machinegames ’ later is the swelled surprise of 2024 , delivering a faithful ode to Indy that combines Uncharted and Dishonored . Even if the Game of the Year race ends up being too tight for it to make the cut , you’re able to gestate it to be a front - runner in Best Action / Adventure Game and Best Performance , where Troy Baker already feel like a shoo - in ( though for my money , Marios Gavrilis deserves a spot already for his excellent take on Emmerich Voss ) .
Infinity Nikki
For Your Consideration : Best Action / Adventure , Best Mobile Game , Best Score / Soundtrack
With over 20 million players in its first workweek , Infinity Nikkiis already a smasher . The open - world dress - up plot is genuinely one of a kind , fulfilling the pipe dream of a big - budget Barbie game . While it may have a elusive clip breaking into a Game of the Year field of study , Infold Games has a groovy shot at a few awarding this sentence next class . Best Action / Adventure feels within reaching , as does Best Score / Soundtrack weigh its infective opening credits theme . More realistically , you may likely expect to see it competing in Best Mobile Game next year . While its available on PS5 and PC , that ’s the political platform that ’s really helping it become a phenomenon . If Infold Games manage its post - launch reenforcement right , it could even garner nominations for Best Ongoing Game and Best Community Support too .
Monument Valley 3
For Your considerateness : Best Mobile Game , Best Score / Soundtrack
Despite its quiet launch this month , Monument Valley 3should already be a no - brainer for the Game Awards panel . It ’s a stiff new entry in one of the best mobile serial of all time , so why would n’t it get a nominating address for that ? In a consummate world , its fantastic scotch would also merit some praise . There ’s a bit of a abrasive reality to this one , though : Netflix Games has never gotten its due at The Game Awards . Fantastic games likePoinpyandArranger : A Role - Puzzling Adventuretend to get shut out entirely in favor of middling free - to - frolic game that are easier to get at . Hopefully , that ’s not the example this class , but Netflix will demand to put in some attempt if it want to keep this one on voters ’ radar .
Marvel Rivals
For Your Consideration : Best Multiplayer Game
Marvel Rivalsmay just be Overwatch with comic book of account Hero of Alexandria , but that premiss has already catapulted it to achiever . Netease ’s superhero triggerman successfully rekindle the thrill of Blizzard ’s team - based shooter while work in some originative novel fibre ability ( see the beloved Jeff the Land Shark as an example ) . All of that should make it a an obvious pickaxe for Best Multiplayer Game next year , barricade a barrage of excellent games . LikeInfinity Nikki , it could work that one nomination into three , as Best Ongoing Game and Best Community Support are on the board . We ’ll just have to wait and see if it can earn either farsighted term .
Alien: Rogue Incursion
For Your condition : Best VR / AR Game
Best VR / AR Game is one of The Game Awards ’ most disappointing family year after year . While it always produces a worthy victor , the listing of nominees tend to be dominated by VR variant of exist games rather than all original ones . Hopefully , that can exchange in 2025 as there already are a few games that could fit the bank bill . WhileSkydance’sBehemothdidn’t quite live up to the hype , Alien : Rogue Incursionis a tightly constructed VR taw with some great scares . It might just be the best Alien plot sinceIsolation , which should give it a chance of competing next year .
AntonBlast
For Your Consideration : Best Independent Game
Best Independent Game is always the hardest field to portend as its nominees almost always come out of left field . We already have a possibly contender , though : AntonBlast . The energetic ode to Wario Land certainly has a visual sense , and it perfects it with cockamamie visuals , animations , and sound . It ’s an aesthetic explosion , but one that ’s already resonating with thespian . In fact , it ’s currently the20th best review secret plan of 2024per Metacritic . That set it ahead ofNeva , one of the secret plan nominated for Best Independent Game at this year ’s Game Awards . It ’ll just need to uphold strong Good Book of sassing next year to verify its at the top of voters ’ intellect come November .
Naiad
For Your circumstance : Games for Impact
Naiadmay have swum under the radar due to its surprise launching during a officious calendar week , but the indie plot could have a shot at one accolade next year . The minimalist adventure game state a heartfelt news report about a river spirit sworn to protect the environment , and that kind of premise is usually a smashing fit for the Games for Impact family . Though that ’s likely the only pip it could realistically take , Naiadis an esthetically gorgeous game that should get a probability at Best Art Direction and Best Sound Design too . It in all probability wo n’t considering that those categories tend to be reserved for swelled - budget spectacles , but it ’s not unprecedented . Nevanabbed a surprising Best Art Direction nod at this yr ’s show , so there ’s a piddling hope forNaiadthere .
