Game Developers Choice Awards 2024 Winners have arrived and they honored the best of the best in the world of video games from 2023 and Baldur’s Gate 3 walked away with Game of the Year.

This year’s show had 12 awards and the winners were chosen by industry professionals from around the world. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur’s Gate 3 led the way going into the show with seven nominations each, and Baldur’s Gate 3 won the night with four wins. Alongside Game of the Year, Baldur’s Gate 3 took home Best Narrative, Best Design, and the Audience Award. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, on the other hand, won both the Innovation Award and Best Technology.

Game Developers Choice Awards 2024 Winners

Venba was the only other game to win multiple awards as it secured Best Debut and the Social Impact Award. Other winners included Hi-Fi Rush for Best Audio and Alan Wake 2 for Best Visual Art.

This year’s Game Developers Choice Awards also honored Fawzi Mesmar with the Ambassador Award and Yoko Shimomura with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Mesmar has worked at major game companies for over 20 years and helped develop games in such franchises as Battlefield, Candy Crush, Mario Rabbids, Star Wars, and Persona.

The Full List Game Developers Choice Awards 2024 Winners

Best Audio:

The Best Audio Award celebrates games that orchestrate auditory bliss. Here are the nominees:

Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios): The haunting melodies and atmospheric soundscape of this epic RPG transported players to a richly detailed fantasy realm.
Hi-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks / Bethesda Softworks): An adrenaline-pumping audio experience that elevates the thrill of high-speed races.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment): Swing through New York City with a symphony of web-slinging sounds.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo): From serene forest whispers to epic battles, this game’s audio was a masterpiece.
Venba (Visai Games): A culinary journey with flavors that resonated through sound.

Honorable Mentions:

• Cocoon (Geometric Interactive / Annapurna Interactive): Minimalist yet impactful audio design.
  Diablo IV (Blizzard Entertainment): Dark and foreboding tones.
  Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix): An orchestral score that stirred emotions.
  Hogwarts Legacy (Avalanche Software / Portkey Games): Magical sounds of wizardry.
  Humanity (the ltd. and Enhance / Enhance): A symphony of humanity’s struggles.

Best Debut: Rising Stars

• The Best Debut category celebrates fresh talent. Here are the standout newcomers:
• Cocoon (Geometric Interactive / Annapurna Interactive): A delicate narrative around memory and identity.
• Dave the Diver (Mintrocket): Whimsical underwater adventures and sunken treasures.
• Dredge (Black Salt Games / Team17): Post-apocalyptic odyssey with weighty choices.
• Venba (Visai Games): A culinary tale steeped in family and culture.
• Viewfinder (Sad Owl Studios / Thunderful Publishing): A visual feast of discovery.

Honorable Mentions:

• BattleBit Remastered (SgtOkiDoki, Vilaskis, and TheLiquidHorse / SgtOkiDoki): Retro-inspired battles.
  Party Animals (Recreate Games / Source Technology): Furry chaos in multiplayer.
  Pizza Tower: A cheesy platformer.
  Planet of Lana (Wishfully Studios / Thunderful): A hand-painted adventure.
  Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical (Summerfall Studios / Humble Games): A harmonious blend of music and storytelling.

Best Design: Crafting Worlds

The Best Design Award honors meticulous craftsmanship. The winner is:

• Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios): From character customization to environmental details, every pixel was meticulously placed. The city of Baldur’s Gate itself became a character—a living, breathing entity with secrets lurking in its cobblestone streets.

Honorable Mentions:

• Dave the Diver (Mintrocket): Whimsical underwater exploration.
  Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment): Swinging through New York City never felt this exhilarating.
  Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio): A celestial RPG adventure.
  Street Fighter 6 (Capcom): Iconic fighters clash once more.
  Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo): A whimsical reimagination.

Innovation Award:

• The Innovation Award celebrates groundbreaking ideas. The nominees are:
• Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios): Pushing RPG boundaries.
• Cocoon (Geometric Interactive / Annapurna Interactive): Metamorphic storytelling.
• Hi-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks / Bethesda Softworks): Sonic speed.
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo): Multidimensional puzzles.
• The Making of Karateka (Digital Eclipse): A Retrospective Journey.

Honorable Mentions:

• Dave the Diver (Mintrocket): Underwater innovation.
  Dredge (Black Salt Games / Team17): Post-apocalyptic choices.
  Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment): Web-slinging mechanics.
  Starfield (Bethesda Game Studios / Bethesda Softworks): Interstellar exploration.
  Viewfinder (Sad Owl Studios / Thunderful Publishing): A lens into the unknown.

Best Narrative:

The Best Narrative category celebrates games that weave unforgettable tales. Here are the contenders:

• Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios): A saga of gods, mortals, and forbidden magic. Every dialogue choice reverberates through the realms.
• Cocoon (Geometric Interactive / Annapurna Interactive): A memory unraveling—a poignant exploration of identity and loss.
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment): Peter Parker’s dual life, love, and responsibility.
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo): A symphony of lore, ancient prophecies, and tearful destinies.
• Venba (Visai Games): A culinary memoir seasoned with family secrets and flavors.

Honorable Mentions:

• Dave the Diver (Mintrocket): Beneath the waves, whispers of forgotten civilizations.
  Dredge (Black Salt Games / Team17): Post-apocalyptic diaries etched in digital ink.
  Hogwarts Legacy (Avalanche Software / Portkey Games): Spells, friendships, and the echoes of Hogwarts.
  Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio): Constellations tell tales of cosmic guardians.
  Venba (Visai Games): A mother’s recipes, a daughter’s memories.

Social Impact Award:

Beyond entertainment, games can spark change. The nominees for the Social Impact Award are:

• Cocoon (Geometric Interactive / Annapurna Interactive): A mirror reflecting mental health struggles.
• Dredge (Black Salt Games / Team17): Environmental allegory—rising tides and dwindling hope.
• Hogwarts Legacy (Avalanche Software / Portkey Games): Inclusion, diversity, and magical acceptance.
• Venba (Visai Games): Cultural preservation through cuisine.
• Viewfinder (Sad Owl Studios / Thunderful Publishing): A lens on empathy and human connection.

Honorable Mentions:

• Humanity (the ltd. and Enhance / Enhance): A crowd’s collective journey.
  Planet of Lana (Wishfully Studios / Thunderful): Nature’s plea for harmony.
  Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical (Summerfall Studios / Humble Games): Notes of unity and discord.

Best Visual Art:

The Best Visual Art award celebrates aesthetics that linger in our minds. The winner is:

• Venba (Visai Games): Hand-painted textures, vibrant colors, and culinary nostalgia. Every frame is a feast.

Honorable Mentions:

• Cocoon (Geometric Interactive / Annapurna Interactive): Minimalist elegance.
  Diablo IV (Blizzard Entertainment): Dark, brooding landscapes.
  Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio): Celestial vistas.
  Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo): Whimsical nostalgia.

Game of the Year:

• The grand finale—the coveted Game of the Year title goes to:
• Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios): A magnum opus that transcends screens and seeps into our souls.

Best Technology:

The Best Technology award celebrates games that redefine what’s possible. Here are the contenders:

• Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios): Not content with mere polygons, Larian Studios wove a tapestry of dynamic lighting, physics simulations, and procedural generation. The seamless transition from dank dungeons to sun-kissed forests was a testament to their technical prowess.
• Diablo IV (Blizzard Entertainment): Hellish landscapes rendered with devilish detail. The infernal flames flickered, and the shadows whispered secrets.
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment): Swing physics that made Spidey’s acrobatics feel tangible. The New York skyline was more than a backdrop; it was a playground.
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo): AI-driven NPCs that reacted to weather, time, and player actions. The Hyrule of old breathed anew.
• Starfield (Bethesda Game Studios / Bethesda Softworks): Interstellar exploration with procedural planets, cosmic anomalies, and a universe waiting to be discovered.

Honorable Mentions:

• Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt Red): Despite its tumultuous launch, the sprawling Night City was a technical marvel.
  Hogwarts Legacy (Avalanche Software / Portkey Games): The magical castle, shifting staircases, and spellcasting—all powered by enchanting tech.
  Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio): Pixel art that defied resolution limits, shimmering like constellations.
  Viewfinder (Sad Owl Studios / Thunderful Publishing): A lens into the unknown, where procedural storytelling met visual elegance.
  Venba (Visai Games): Culinary realism—the sizzle of spices, the simmer of memories.