UPDATE: God of War Ragnarok won Best Audio Design at The Game Awards 2022!
The Game Awards 2022 is approaching and a lot of gamers are looking forward to seeing which titles are going to be the winners of the night. Already, there are a lot of predictions that a battle will take place between Elden Ring and God of War: Ragnarok to see which of those two titans will be crowned Game of the Year, but there are also 30 other categories at The Game Awards, so there are plenty of other prizes to be won.
Namely, there's the award for Best Audio Design, which celebrates the best in-game audio and sound design. This award is separate from the Best Score and Music category, as rather than celebrate the OST of a recent release, the Best Audio Design award is looking at how a game sounds on a technical level. For example, accurate and realistic gun sound effects won't be listened to outside of playing a game, but they do make the experience of a title that much more immersive. Five games are up for the Best Audio Design award, with each offering some great technical sound.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
As one of the most iconic shooter franchises in the world, Call of Duty can't afford to get its sound design wrong, and for the latest release in the franchise it has done a great job in creating realistic audio. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 might be a remake of a 2009 title, but it offers a vast improvement when it comes to sound design of the original game, giving fans an immersive experience based on real research done.
From small arms to tank fire, the developers working on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 have taken the time to research every sound they'd need for the game, and it shows. Apart from its sound design, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has been praised for realism in other regards, in particular its Amsterdam mission was seen as having a level of fidelity that stood out even to those who aren't big fans of the franchise.
Elden Ring
Moving from a game that aimed to bring an audio experience that mimicked real life, to one that is incredibly separate from reality, Elden Ring's audio design still stands out from other titles that released in 2022. With over hundreds of weapons and armor sets in Elden Ring, to give each sword, buckler, and breastplate its own feel through sound is a big achievement. While not every weapon does have its own set of sound effects, it is clear to hear the differences between a straight sword and even a curved sword, for example.
Moreover, there are the sounds of Elden Ring's spells, which make each incantation or legendary cast feel different and effective. Moving from the sound effects around the player, a lot of the bosses in Elden Ring also have some great audio design attached to them, which only adds to the feeling that the player is taking on an impossible foe. The audio used for the dragons in particular gives them a sense of realism even in a fantasy world.
God of War: Ragnarok
Since its release, plenty of praise has been sent the way of God of War: Ragnarok. Whether reviewers are in love with its combat, story, or puzzles, there seems to be plenty to enjoy in Kratos' latest outing. However, something that manages to immerse players even further in the realms of Norse mythology is God of War: Ragnarok's sound design, which always manages to match either the events of the world or whatever Kratos is doing.
From the whistling of one of Atreus' arrows to the satisfying clunk of the Leviathan Axe as it smacks right into an enemy's head, there are plenty of satisfying sounds in God of War: Ragnarok. A lot of this great audio can even be experienced in the first hour or so of playing, as the initial skirmish between Kratos and Thor really feel like two gods are battling it out on-screen, with the epic noises of the Leviathan Axe clashing with Mjolnir helping out greatly.
Gran Turismo 7
Returning to the realm of realism, Gran Turismo 7 launched fairly early on in 2022, but racing fans aren't soon to forget the latest entry in Sony's well-known franchise. With over 400 cars available to drive and plenty more tracks to enjoy, Gran Turismo 7 was enjoyed by both critics and fans when it launched, despite some gripes about its microtransactions and the need to always be logged in even when playing solo.
The sound design in Gran Turismo 7 is a clear step forwards for the 25-year-old franchise, as it reaches impressive levels of immersion. There are unique effects tied to the different exhaust types a car can use, for example, which shows a great level of attention to detail. Considering a racing game won last year's Best Audio Design category, it might be the case that Gran Turismo 7 picks up a big win this time around.
Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Forbidden West builds upon the excellent example set by its predecessor in many ways. It takes Aloy to a new region filled with biomes that hadn't been explored before in the Horizon universe, as well as continuing the path she began in the first game. However, Horizon Forbidden West also has some great sound design that helps Guerrilla Games' post-apocalyptic world feel that much more alive.
From the futuristic sounds of the machines in Horizon Forbidden West to the crunching of the snow players will hear as Aloy dashes through the game's mountainous regions, there are plenty of immersive effects in the open-world title. In combat as well, the sounds of arrows plinking off against a Thunderjaw's armor, or hearing the satisfying noise of a component being knocked off a machine help keep the player engaged in these fights of primitive versus advanced technology.
Final Prediction
Even with Elden Ring and God of War: Ragnarok set to likely dominate most of The Game Awards, that doesn't mean they will take home every award possible, and there are categories that they do not shine in as the best of 2022. So, it seems that rather than either of this year's biggest titans taking home the award, a more likely prediction could very well be Horizon Forbidden West.
As mentioned, Horizon Forbidden West has a lot to accomplish in its sound design, as it has to immerse the player both in the wild world the earth has become while also ensuring that the futuristic machines feel like they could have existed in the old world. This pressure only seems to have formed a diamond within Guerrilla Games' sequel, though, as it should not be forgotten that Horizon Forbidden West was incredibly well-reviewed as well following its release, even winning a Game of the Year award.