Normally, it would currently be a little too early to be discussing end-of-year awards in the gaming industry. That’s still true, for the most part. Many games launch in the fall season, and they have to be considered. What’s more, it has to be before a certain cut-off date at most award ceremonies, which has negatively impacted several games in the past. Many will be specifically watching The Game Awards to see what is named GOTY there.
But, for many players, that decision may seem already set. Elden Ring’s popularity is no secret, and it’s worth mentioning that FromSoft also won Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2019 with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. If this proves to be the case, then FromSoftware would be the first developer to win at this specific award ceremony twice. Two Sony first-party games are named among the winners, but one is Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us 2 and the other is Santa Monica’s God of War.
While it may seem like a closed deal to some, the fact of the matter is that this year could shape up to provide the biggest and bloodiest battle for the title yet. That’s not to suggest the Game of the Year winner has ever been clear-cut going into it or that there isn’t competition year after year, but 2022 has a ton of big AAA games with a lot of pedigree among them, potentially coming out.
The Game Awards: Elden Ring, God of War: Ragnarok, Starfield, Final Fantasy 16, Hogwarts Legacy
There are two major caveats to this, and the first is whether these major games do release. The gaming industry has seemingly seen an uptick of delays over the past two years, but in part, that may be why this year has so many big contenders. The second is that these games could flop. A golden rule in the industry is that anything can fall short of its hype, no matter the developer. On the assumption they do release this year and on the assumption that these titles are as fantastic as fans want them to be, it’s going to be a tough battle.
Elden Ring is already out, and there’s little doubt that the time bodes well for it. It’s only likely that Elden Ring grows even more on its fans with this headway. Meanwhile, next to nothing is known about Starfield, but Bethesda titles tend to be seminal moments in the industry. If it has the same impact as Skyrim, there’s likely enough time between November 11 and the cutoff date for Starfield to cinch the Game of the Year Award.
God of War: Ragnarok is another title that could easily be a Game of the Year contender. As aforementioned, God of War took the win in 2018 and the entire franchise (as well as developer Santa Monica) holds a special place in many fans’ hearts. If it delivers on the same high notes as the first game, it could potentially give Elden Ring or Starfield a run for its money.
The other two franchises are less certain. Final Fantasy 16 doesn’t have a release date or a release window, but the producer did recently comment that Final Fantasy 16’s development is essentially done. This sort of language makes a 2022 release seem possible, and there are already high hopes for it. The Final Fantasy franchise is beloved by fans, and if Final Fantasy 16 lives up to their expectations, it too could easily be in the running.
And then there’s Hogwarts Legacy. It feels harder to rule out a delay for it, or at the very least, this could easily be an early December game that misses the cutoff date. But, should Hogwarts Legacy fulfill the Harry Potter RPG dream fans have wanted for years, it’s hard not to put it in the hat. In a battle with such IPs—Elden Ring, Starfield, God of War, Final Fantasy, and Hogwarts Legacy—it doesn’t seem like it will be an easy decision. Even if it’s only the first three that release this year, that only makes it marginally easier.
The Game Awards: Dark Horse Candidates
Yet, if there’s anything that’s also true about the industry, it’s that anything can succeed. Anything flops, anything flies. Not many would have believed that It Takes Two won last year, but it did. There are many Dark Horse candidates that could be brought up for Game of the Year, simply based on what has been shown or proven by history thus far.
These are even more speculative than the aforementioned games, but Horizon Forbidden West, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Forspoken, Avatar: The Frontiers of Pandora, Bayonetta 3, Sifu, Rogue Legacy 2, any number of less-known AAA games or indie games, or something that hasn't even been revealed yet could swoop right in.
What’s clear is this year’s potential. The battle for six nominees seems like it could be tough, but then choosing one of out those may be near impossible. If anything, fans can reasonably expect a close race for Game of the Year at The Game Awards.
The Game Awards will likely take place sometime in December.