The outcomes are in, and the champions of this year’s Golden Joystick Awards have been officially declared. The 41st annual ceremony unfolded today at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, UK, recognizing achievements across 23 categories.
Notably, Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3 clinched the spotlight, securing six distinctions, including the prestigious Ultimate Game of the Year Award. Surpassing 19 competitors, including Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, this acclaimed role-playing game emerged victorious.
Baldur’s Gate 3 also claimed titles for Best Storytelling, Best Visual Design, Best Game Community, Best Supporting Performer (awarded to Astarion actor Neil Newbon), and PC Game of the Year. Furthermore, Larian Studios, the game’s developer, was honored as Studio of the Year for its exceptional contributions.
In a different realm, Hello Games’ enduring No Man’s Sky received the Still Playing award, while CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty earned recognition as the Best Game Expansion, also securing the Best Game Trailer accolade.
Sabotage Studios’ visually stunning pixel-art RPG, Sea of Stars, clinched the Best Indie Game, and the partnership between Guerrilla Games and Firesprite resulted in Horizon Call of the Mountain winning the Best VR Game. PlayStation’s PSVR 2 was lauded as the Best Gaming Hardware for its strides in virtual reality.
Square Enix’s Final Fantasy series excelled with three victories: Final Fantasy 16 claimed Best Audio, Ben Starr, portraying Clive Rosfield, received the Best Lead Performer award, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was honored as the Most Wanted Game.
NetherRealm Studio’s Mortal Kombat 1 secured the Best Multiplayer Game accolade, while Riot Games’ Valorant earned the Streamers’ Choice Award. Geometric Interactive’s inaugural release, the inventive puzzle-adventure Cocoon, received the Breakthrough Award. Remedy Entertainment’s Alan Wake 2 was recognized with the Critics’ Choice Award in the survival horror genre.
To cap it off, Nintendo Game of the Year was bestowed upon The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Resident Evil 4 claimed PlayStation Game of the Year, and Starfield clinched Xbox Game of the Year.