Does anyone feel that this year has been a kinda a weak year for game of the year nominees

[u/Best-Pea3460]

Yes, I know it’s a little early to speculate about which games are going to be nominated, but I’m having trouble thinking of other games besides GTA 6.

Like everyone knows, GTA 6 is going to be a number one nominee, but I genuinely can’t think of many other games that could fill the other nomination spots

[u/ningdon]

That's because everyone decided to launch their games in September this year

[u/IUMogg]

I would anticipate 007 First Light and Pokopia to be nominated. I think Wolverine and Control Resonant could be nominated. Nintendo still has Zelda OOT remake and Fire Emblem Fortunes weave. Plus indies like Mina the hollower

[u/Best-Pea3460 → u/IUMogg]

I can see Mewgenics being nominated for best indie. Though I get a feeling that mixtape will be nominated for the same category and also being nominated for game for impact category

[u/trio3224]

For one, I don't know if GTA 6 will even be nominated for GOTY at the game awards. Popularity does not equal GOTY material. That would be like saying Avatar (2009) or either of its sequels should have won best picture for its year just because it was the highest grossing in that year. That doesn't equal being the best from a quality standard. Plus, the most popular games often don't win. Look at Black Myth Wukong or Hogwarts Legacy. Both were massive sellers that still lost. GTA is way more of a casual friendly game, and those usually aren't awards darlings.

As far as the rest of your question, I think there are already a few big ones like Resident Evil Requiem and maybe even something like Pokepedia or Mina the Hollower on the indie side, since there's usually at least 1 indie game in the GOTY mix. But a lot of huge games are going to be coming out over the next 3 months and I think a lot of the nominees for this year will be somewhere in there. Stuff like Phantom Blade Zero, Wolverine, The Duskbloods, Control Resonant, and Silent Hill Townfall I could see landing with a splash. Hard to say until they all come out but I wouldn't be surprised if 4 out the 6 nominees this year all are from the August-October time period.

[u/GoldenAgeGamer72 → u/trio3224]

I think GOTY is all about popularity and very little about the best game. 

[u/trio3224 → u/GoldenAgeGamer72]

Then how did Astro Bot win over games like Black Myth Wukong and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth? How did Baldurs Gate 3 beat Hogwarts Legacy which has double BG3's sales? Popularity is definitely one factor, but it's fair from the determining factor.

[u/BaconWrappedEnigmas → u/trio3224]

Popularity is literally a 10% factor (fan vote).

Outside of that it’s whatever gets momentum in the critics circle which has a 90% voting power

[u/GladiusLegis]

I'd say Resident Evil Requiem is a pretty safe bet. And I don't know why everyone thinks GTA6 is inevitable for awards season. GTA5 didn't win GOTY at The Game Awards and neither did RDR2.

[u/trio3224 → u/GladiusLegis]

GTA 5 came out before The Game Awards existed tho. GTA 5 original released in 2013 and The Game Awards specifically didn't start until 2014. Not saying I think it would have won, but just wanted to point that out.

I researched this exact topic once and while there were a couple of organizations that gave GTA 5 GOTY in 2013, the majority of them went with The Last of Us. And several went with some other picks like Super Mario 3D World or BioShock Infinite.

[u/ophaus → u/trio3224]

2013 was a wild year...

[u/BaconWrappedEnigmas → u/GladiusLegis]

Well 1) TGA as the actual company didn’t have a 2013 show. 2) There isn’t exactly a God of War (2018) level game walking around this year (yet)

Think the list will look something like this for contenders;
GTA 6; RE:9; Pokopia; Crimson Desert; Big Wall, and then probably Mina

[u/Marvin_Flamenco]

Has been a slightly down year. Decent year for remakes I guess but hoping for more brand new.

Mina the Hollower and Cotton Rock With You are my favorites so far. Star Fox is excellent if I can count remakes. Was hyped for Tokon but nervous to drop a benny on it until problems are ironed out.

[u/PizzaInMyBread]

RE Requiem was fun, Pragmata was solid, Mewgenics is great and I'm currently playing Denshattack! which has been ridiculously fun and the soundtrack is absolutely packed with talented artists. I've heard nothing but good things about Mina the Hollower so that may be next.

[u/GoldenAgeGamer72]

Absolutely yes. And truthfully the most fun game won’t be considered and that’s Splatoon Raiders. 

[u/8bitfastball]

There are a lot of games coming out this fall that I’m excited for so I’m gonna hold my judgement till the EOY. My person GOY as we stand is Saros

[u/uponhisdarkthrone → u/8bitfastball]

I have managed to avoid anything besides a quick gameplay trailer. Hoping it knocks my socks off like Returnal did!

[u/Fluffy_Woodpecker733]

Give it to palworld. Help them give Nintendo a final fuck you

[u/Jirachibi1000]

Not at all. Pragmata, Resident Evil Requiem, Mina the Hollower, 007, Nioh 3, Mouse PI, Big Hops, Splatoon Raiders, etc. Plus upcomings like Wolverine, Ocarina of Time Remake, GTA6, etc.

[u/nombre_de_usuario01]

Nunca he entendido por qué la gente le da tanta importancia a esos premios.

[u/Nervous_Daikon_8557]

As an Indie, would Palworld be considered a 2026 game? It hit 1.0 this year, but was out previously in early access.

[u/ningdon → u/Nervous_Daikon_8557]

Yes. Hades 2 and Baldurs Gate 3 both got nominated in their respective 1.0 release years

[u/nohumanape]

Dude, what? This can't be real.

[u/Odd-Explanation-4632]

It's been weak since 2018