The Game Awards is over and done with, leaving an empty theater in Los Angeles and plenty of happy game developers placing pointy statuettes on their mantels. To that end, Larian Studios and its massively successful RPG Baldur’s Gate 3 was the big winner of the night, taking home the prize for game of the year, player’s choice, best multiplayer game and more.
Remedy’s Alan Wake 2 was also on fire, winning best game direction, best narrative and best art direction, among others. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom paraglided away with the statue for best action/adventure and the RPG Sea of Stars won for best indie game, with Cocoon being awarded best debut indie game.
Okay. Now that the actual awards are out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff. The main reason people watch The Game Awards is for reveals and trailers, and this year didn’t disappoint. There were over a dozen announcements, and here are the best and brightest of the bunch.
Light No Fire
Boy oh boy, a new title from Hello Games, the makers of a little-known space sim called No Man’s Sky. The studio has which has been in development for five years. Light No Fire, another three-word monosyllabic game name, is being billed as the “the first real open world” title, a lofty promise that Hello may be able to pull off. The world is allegedly the same size as Earth, with secrets and mysteries around every corner. It’s also multiplayer, which is neat. Who knows when this one will come out, but it looks gorgeous.
Jurassic Park: Survival
It’s been a couple of years since a new Jurassic Park game, and more than that for a proper adventure title. Jurassic Park: Survival actually takes place of the first film, and looks to feature plenty of stealthy action as you hide from hungry dinos. There’s no release date, but it’s launching on Xbox X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC.
OD
Did you think Hideo Kojima would be spending all of his time on Death Stranding 2? Heck no. The legendary developer has also been OD, previously called Overdose. It’s described as something “no one has ever experienced or seen before,” which is entirely possible, given Kojima’s pedigree. Filmmaker Jordan Peele is also on board, as are actors Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer and Udo Kier. Details are scant, as it’s a Kojima joint, but the game will release for Xbox X/S and PC at some point.
Marvel’s Blade
That’s right. Everyone’s favorite vampire hunter is getting his own video game. Even better? It’s the talented team behind Deathloop and Dishonored 2. Sure, the dev also made Redfall, but maybe Arkane can take some of the best parts of that vampire shooter and translate it to Marvel’s hero. There’s no release date and no announced platforms for this one.
Exodus
This is the first game from Archetype Entertainment, a studio staffed by former developers from Bioware, Naughty Dog and other AAA developers. Exodus is a sci-fi RPG that deals with the notion that time passes more slowly to those experiencing high-velocity space travel. It looks cinematic and gorgeous, with a major emphasis on player choice. Exodus has no release date, but it’s in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Capcom is busy working on a Monster Hunter Wilds is a direct followup to Monster Hunter World and it looks to feature all of the big, bad beasties you can shake a sharpened stick at. It’s on the way to PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, with more information coming this summer.
Windblown
Motion Twin, the developer of Dead Cells, is back with another roguelike. Windblown release that promises “a whole new level of speed to the action rogue-like genre.” It’s also not a sidescroller, which is a definitive break from the Dead Cells formula. Windblown launches in 2024 for PC, though consoles are likely to follow.
Big Walk
Looking to relax? House House, the developer behind Untitled Goose Game, has got you covered. Big Walk is, well, a with plenty of secrets to uncover. Cooperation is a major part of the game as you and your friends work to explore the wilderness. Big Walk is slated to arrive on Steam and the Epic Game Store in 2025.
No Rest for the Wicked
No Rest for the Wicked is the the team behind Ori and the Blind Forest and its sequel. It’s a top-down action RPG, departing from Ori’s metroidvania roots, set during the middle ages. The graphics are stunning, which is no surprise considering the developer. It’s due to hit early access on Steam in the first quarter of 2024, and will eventually launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Pony Island 2: Panda Circus
Indie developer Daniel Mullins made a name for himself with Inscryption and the original Pony Island. Now he’s back with Pony Island 2: Panda Circus, a game that’s not actually about ponies. The trailer is weird and creepy, as one would expect, with sudden shifts from a 3D adventure to a 2D point-and-click and back again. Voice actor SungWon “ProZD” Cho is also on board. The game may not be released until 2026, so put on your waiting cap.
Sega Embraces its Roots
Sega dropped a trailer for not just one game, but based on classic IPs. You can look forward to forthcoming reboots of Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage and Shinobi. Wait, that’s not all. There’s also Space Channel 5 and Panzer Dragoon. Everything old is new again. But, where’s Seaman?
Final Fantasy XVI and God of War Ragnarok Get DLC
The DLC faeries were good to us this year. There’s a God of War Ragnarok update bringing a new roguelite game mode to Sony’s hit adventure. We also for the first Final Fantasy XVI DLC. Echoes of the Fallen, set before the base game’s final battle, is available now, with a second DLC planned for next year. To that end, Square Enix dropped a trailer for next year’s installment, The Rising Tide.
Everything Else
Those were the biggest announcements, but not all of them. The Game Awards also saw a Supermassive’s Dead by Daylight spinoff, The Casting of Frank Stone. There for a remake of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and one for Thrasher, by the makers of Thumper. Finally, we got an Ubisoft’s Skull and Bones, February 16, and a on Xbox systems.
The Game Awards is over and done with, leaving an empty theater in Los Angeles and plenty of happy game developers placing pointy statuettes on their mantels. To that end, Larian Studios and its massively successful RPG Baldur’s Gate 3 was the big winner of the night, taking home the prize for game of the year, player’s choice, best multiplayer game and more.
Remedy’s Alan Wake 2 was also on fire, winning best game direction, best narrative and best art direction, among others. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom paraglided away with the statue for best action/adventure and the RPG Sea of Stars won for best indie game, with Cocoon being awarded best debut indie game.
Okay. Now that the actual awards are out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff. The main reason people watch The Game Awards is for reveals and trailers, and this year didn’t disappoint. There were over a dozen announcements, and here are the best and brightest of the bunch.
Light No Fire
Boy oh boy, a new title from Hello Games, the makers of a little-known space sim called No Man’s Sky. The studio has which has been in development for five years. Light No Fire, another three-word monosyllabic game name, is being billed as the “the first real open world” title, a lofty promise that Hello may be able to pull off. The world is allegedly the same size as Earth, with secrets and mysteries around every corner. It’s also multiplayer, which is neat. Who knows when this one will come out, but it looks gorgeous.
Jurassic Park: Survival
It’s been a couple of years since a new Jurassic Park game, and more than that for a proper adventure title. Jurassic Park: Survival actually takes place of the first film, and looks to feature plenty of stealthy action as you hide from hungry dinos. There’s no release date, but it’s launching on Xbox X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC.
OD
Did you think Hideo Kojima would be spending all of his time on Death Stranding 2? Heck no. The legendary developer has also been OD, previously called Overdose. It’s described as something “no one has ever experienced or seen before,” which is entirely possible, given Kojima’s pedigree. Filmmaker Jordan Peele is also on board, as are actors Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer and Udo Kier. Details are scant, as it’s a Kojima joint, but the game will release for Xbox X/S and PC at some point.
Marvel’s Blade
That’s right. Everyone’s favorite vampire hunter is getting his own video game. Even better? It’s the talented team behind Deathloop and Dishonored 2. Sure, the dev also made Redfall, but maybe Arkane can take some of the best parts of that vampire shooter and translate it to Marvel’s hero. There’s no release date and no announced platforms for this one.
Exodus
This is the first game from Archetype Entertainment, a studio staffed by former developers from Bioware, Naughty Dog and other AAA developers. Exodus is a sci-fi RPG that deals with the notion that time passes more slowly to those experiencing high-velocity space travel. It looks cinematic and gorgeous, with a major emphasis on player choice. Exodus has no release date, but it’s in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Capcom is busy working on a Monster Hunter Wilds is a direct followup to Monster Hunter World and it looks to feature all of the big, bad beasties you can shake a sharpened stick at. It’s on the way to PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, with more information coming this summer.
Windblown
Motion Twin, the developer of Dead Cells, is back with another roguelike. Windblown release that promises “a whole new level of speed to the action rogue-like genre.” It’s also not a sidescroller, which is a definitive break from the Dead Cells formula. Windblown launches in 2024 for PC, though consoles are likely to follow.
Big Walk
Looking to relax? House House, the developer behind Untitled Goose Game, has got you covered. Big Walk is, well, a with plenty of secrets to uncover. Cooperation is a major part of the game as you and your friends work to explore the wilderness. Big Walk is slated to arrive on Steam and the Epic Game Store in 2025.
No Rest for the Wicked
No Rest for the Wicked is the the team behind Ori and the Blind Forest and its sequel. It’s a top-down action RPG, departing from Ori’s metroidvania roots, set during the middle ages. The graphics are stunning, which is no surprise considering the developer. It’s due to hit early access on Steam in the first quarter of 2024, and will eventually launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Pony Island 2: Panda Circus
Indie developer Daniel Mullins made a name for himself with Inscryption and the original Pony Island. Now he’s back with Pony Island 2: Panda Circus, a game that’s not actually about ponies. The trailer is weird and creepy, as one would expect, with sudden shifts from a 3D adventure to a 2D point-and-click and back again. Voice actor SungWon “ProZD” Cho is also on board. The game may not be released until 2026, so put on your waiting cap.
Sega Embraces its Roots
Sega dropped a trailer for not just one game, but based on classic IPs. You can look forward to forthcoming reboots of Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage and Shinobi. Wait, that’s not all. There’s also Space Channel 5 and Panzer Dragoon. Everything old is new again. But, where’s Seaman?
Final Fantasy XVI and God of War Ragnarok Get DLC
The DLC faeries were good to us this year. There’s a God of War Ragnarok update bringing a new roguelite game mode to Sony’s hit adventure. We also for the first Final Fantasy XVI DLC. Echoes of the Fallen, set before the base game’s final battle, is available now, with a second DLC planned for next year. To that end, Square Enix dropped a trailer for next year’s installment, The Rising Tide.
Everything Else
Those were the biggest announcements, but not all of them. The Game Awards also saw a Supermassive’s Dead by Daylight spinoff, The Casting of Frank Stone. There for a remake of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and one for Thrasher, by the makers of Thumper. Finally, we got an Ubisoft’s Skull and Bones, February 16, and a on Xbox systems.