The nominations for The Game Awards are out, and unsurprisingly Nintendo has fared pretty well. The Big N has often played a prominent role in the event over recent years, and this year is in the running for a broad range of awards.
The announcements are in the video below, and we've also picked out the relevant Nintendo categories.
Best Audio Design
- Destiny 2
- Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
- Resident Evil: Biohazard
- Super Mario Odyssey
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Best Score / Music
- Cuphead
- Destiny 2
- Nier: Automata
- Persona 5
- Super Mario Odyssey
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Best Art Direction
- Cuphead
- Destiny 2
- Horizon: Zero Dawn
- Persona 5
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Best Multiplayer
- Call of Duty: WW2
- Destiny 2
- Fortnite
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
- Splatoon 2
Best Action / Adventure
- Assassin's Creed: Origins
- Horizon: Zero Dawn
- Super Mario Odyssey
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Best eSports Game
- Counterstrike: Global Offensive
- Dota 2
- League of Legends
- Overwatch
- Rocket League
Best Sports / Racing Game
Best Strategy Game
- Halo Wars 2
- Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
- Total War: Warhammer II
- Tooth and Tail
- XCOM 2: War of the Chosen
Best Family Game
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
- Sonic Mania
- Splatoon 2
- Super Mario Odyssey
Best Fighting Game
- ARMS
- Injustice 2
- Marvel Vs. Capcom Infinite
- Nidhogg II
- Tekken 7
Best Handheld Game
- Ever Oasis
- Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
- Metroid: Samus Returns
- Monster Hunter Stories
- Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World
Best Mobile Game
- Fire Emblem Heroes
- Hidden Folks
- Monumental Valley II
- Old Man's Journey
- Super Mario Run
Best Game Direction
- Horizon: Zero Dawn
- Resident Evil: Biohazard
- Super Mario Odyssey
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Game of the Year
- Horizon: Zero Dawn
- Persona 5
- PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
- Super Mario Odyssey
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
That's a hugely impressive set of nominations for Nintendo and also third-parties on Switch and 3DS. Some of the categories are particularly juicy, with both Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild having good opportunities to win multiple awards.
We'll be live streaming and blogging the full event on 7th December - let us know what you think of the nominations in the comments below.
Comments 105
Nintendo for the win!!
PUBG snubbing Nier or Cuphead for a GOTY nomination is baffling to me.
Still, glad Nintendo is back in the spotlight in full force. 2017 really has a lot of fantastic games
I'm going to be so pissed if PUBG wins GOTY.
Nintendo didn't have a lot last year, so it's amazing to see them in nearly every category this year! This is awesome!
Stellar year for Nintendo on both a commercial and critical level!
The Wii U era already feels like the distant past.
PUBG for GOTY! Let's make it happen!
@-Green- Let's not and say we didn't.
Already voted for Zelda earlier today. Unfortunately I can't vote for Mario till I play it and that's not happening for another 6 weeks or so.
I think they need to saw the award in half and give it to Mario and Link.
Game Awards screws up again. It should be best continuing eSports game and or best eSports Newcomer.
But hey I'll be here to watch it with you guys.
Wow, can't believe Nintendo has the majority of the game awards now.
Voting for BotW on the GOTY category since NieR didn't make it
I frankly don't care who wins since this year had already been spectacular.
Damn, Nintendo getting nearly every nomination in the Family Game and Handheld Game categories!
Switch games should qualify for the handheld category - that way BotW could win the best game and best handheld game categories.
@GrailUK But momma told me never to lie mister.
@-Green- Hey you have to vote what you think is right of course Erm, I think I'm going to go for Odyssey. The game is just perfect. (Oh my God I'm sorry BotW...I still love you too!)
Pretty awesome
Best Handheld Game
Ever Oasis
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Metroid: Samus Returns
Monster Hunter Stories
Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World
Wasn't there something once called a Vista/Vita or something like that?
I'm calling it in: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey tied for Game of the Year.
@TheLobster Overwatch won last year and it had Uncharted 4 as a competitor...so yeah, that's a possibility unfortunately
@-Green- keep dreaming kiddo..that game is garbage
For me, Zelda BotW sweeps the board, apart from soundtrack and art direction, where it's pipped by Cuphead. Odyssey wins best family game, and Mario + Rabbids gets best strategy. Love Splatoon 2 for the multiplayer, personally, but I think Battlegrounds will have the category sewn up.
Lots of amazing games up there.
I'm ok with Horizon: Zero Dawn, Persona 5, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild getting GOTY. All were good times. A bit amazed Nier not there.
H:ZD expansion is amazing
@dumedum Breath of the Wild clearly should be best handheld game!
Great year for Ntinedo and the Switch, surely Zelda has to win something. As great as Mario was I still prefer Galaxy. I might have been more awed by Mario if I hadn't just played Zelda first.
Soon would be a good time for a Nintendo Direct though. Here's the category list for:
Most Anticipated Game
TLoU2
Spiderman
God of War
Monster Hunter World
RDR2
The first 3 of those I'm pretty sure are PS4 exclusives, the last 2 are PS4 and Xbox (don't know about PC). Having a great 2017 will only mean so much once 2018 rolls around and people start asking - What have you done for me lately?
Good luck to Zelda, Mario and the rest, I'll be watching, then I'll be waiting.
@Spoony_Tech What website do I go to, to vote?
Split votes with Mario and Zelda may be a real problem for them winning in a couple categories unfortunately.
Still, the showing here is very impressive.
Family category is crazy. Arms nominated is a little surprising, too. The Nintendo teams must be beaming.
Breath of the Wild is EVERYWHERE. It should definitely win GOTY at least. That's all I need to satisfy me. That's what it deserves. GOTY, no less.
Thanks for all the people who mentioned PUBG. I keep seeing it everywhere but much like DOTA2 before it had no idea what it was.
Actually I still don't know what Dota 2 is, but it seems too old to be on this list.
My best gues
Best Audio Design
Resident Evil: Biohazard
Best Score / Music
Super Mario Odyssey
Best Art Direction
Cuphead
Best Multiplayer
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
Best Action / Adventure
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Best eSports Game
Dota 2
Best Sports / Racing Game
FIFA 18
Best Strategy Game
Total War: Warhammer II
Best Family Game
Super Mario Odyssey
Best Fighting Game
Injustice 2
Best Handheld Game
Metroid: Samus Returns
Best Mobile Game
Fire Emblem Heroes
Best Game Direction
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Game of the Year
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
@Malcrash Nier maybe, but I don't think Cuphead deserves to be on a GOTY list alongside all those other contenders.
If Odyssey or BotW don’t win GOTY then we’ll know this is fixed.
I cant decide between ZBotW or Odyssey.... they were both great games! But I feel that Zelda will win because that game was just... so beautiful and amazing. (Granted I don't know the other games because I never played them, but I've heard that they were good)
@rjejr - I googled PUBG and still am not really sure what or why it belongs on the list?
Definitely time for a Direct.....but probably happen mid January.....seems to be their new schedule. The most anticipated might have a Switch game on it if we knew anything about 2018 let alone past 2018, other then Yoshi and Kirby? Then again how many of the most anticipated will actually make 2018?
Lol! It is official now, Nintendo vs Nintendo for GotY!!!
So who is winning? BotW or Odyssey?
I noticed that they did away with the "Developer/Studio of the Year" award, presumably because there would literally be no contest this year.
I feel Disgusted for Almost Every single of Best Category, I HATE Those stupid nsfw games and Lousy Boring sports (football, realistic racing, etc). They DON'T deserve for any appreciation, just only CONDEMN from me.
But, these category are Amazing for me :
1. Best Family Games
BRAVOOO...!!!
All Nintendo Family games nominated !
2. Best Handheld Games
Good Job ! Once again Nintendo games nominated.
I pray for Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey win the award.
While I highly enjoyed both BotW and Odyssey, I would personally rank Horizon above both. Doubt that it will end up that way though. But all in all a great year for gaming thats for sure!!
Zelda gets my vote, but I honestly expect PUBG to win GOTY for the sole reason that it's become a massive phenomenon
Best score/music for BotW? The music, or lack thereof, was a far cry from past games and was barely there.
@MarcelRguez Nier not being nominated is a travesty.
I'll be the lone fool standing to give an ovation to Super Mario Run. So maligned, so fantastic, so many, many hours played . . . . .
how is mario kart 8 deluxe not up for best racing
I'm still hoping for Breath of the Wild to win GOTY. That said, Super Mario Odyssey is amazing...but given that BOTW was such a HUGE change for the Zelda series, I really want it to win GOTY!
I honestly believe that Super Mario Odyssey is the best game of the year but I think Zelda will win. It's a more "worthy" game.
@IceClimbers many of the voting press don't cover PC games (at least as much). I expect Zelda to win it.
Best performance should've included that game journo who got stuck on the cuphead tutorial.
The best family game category is a clean sweep for Switch.
But Doomed! It has no games... Dead on arrival...
@westman98 no contest indeed
Odd that Pokemon Sun/Moon were not nominated either this year or last for best handheld game.
I get the impression that they fell between the cracks.
Impressive it's a vast difference to a couple years back where they were lucky to have 1 or two nominated games across all categories.
Not a bad year for the Wii U! Nominations in six categories!
I fear this is the last year for the Best Handheld Game category, and I hope Ever Oasis wins.
@Ralizah That's totally true. I can't buy/play all the games on the eshop. At this point in the WiiU life, I was at a loss over and over again. In fact I think some of the Nintendo news sites gained a lot of popularity during that time, from everyone constantly checking to see if anything was on the horizon.
How does a game still in beta, PUBGS, get nominated for GOTY?
Did I miss it or there is no BEST RPG category in this award show.
@GC-161 western bias.
@Si2k78 In 2017 Japanese RPG games beat the crap out of Western RPG's... So I guess it was time to ignore RPG games again.
@GC-161 yup. I agree.
@Si2k78 @GC-161 There is a best RPG category. South Park, FFXV, Persona 5, Nier Automata, and Divinity Original Sin 2 were nominated
@dumedum "Wasn't there something once called a Vista/Vita or something like that?"
An awesome system undone by a supremely stupid company.
Best Audio:
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Haven't played the game, but knowing what I know, this game probably deserves it.
Best Score:
Don't really know, but I'd put money on Cuphead, Nier, or P5.
Best Art Direction:
Cuphead or Horizon, I'd be somewhat surprised if BotW actually won here.
Best Multiplayer:
It's going to be PUBG.
Best Action/Adventure:
Horizon, Odyssey, or BotW
This one's going to be ugly, that's for sure.
Best eSports Game:
No real clue, but I expect it to be either League or Overwatch.
Best Sports/Racing:
Don't know, don't care.
Best Strategy:
I'd guess XCOM 2: War of the Chosen, but Total War: Warhammer II might have a chance.
Best Family Game:
MK8D
Best Fighting Game:
Tekken?
Best Handheld:
Probably Metroid.
Best Mobile:
Don't know, but maybe Monument Valley 2.
Best Game Direction:
I feel like BotW or RE7 should have the biggest chance, but I really don't know.
GOTY:
Nope, no idea.
@IceClimbers Oh I see. This article only mentioned the categories relevant to Nintendo games.
Its all good then.
I can’t choose between Mario and Zelda. No way. I’m going to my toddler for advice
@Mr_Zurkon My man
@Si2k78 and that is the only reason I don't think it deserve to be nominated. It hasn't even come out yet.
It’s been a really good year for gamers of all stripes and systems.
It’s fab to see Nintendo doing so well in particular.
I wonder if the gaming audience is growing ?
Go Ninty!
Breath of the Wild has got to be the GotY for most people.
PUBG isn't even a complete game at the moment. Why is it a GOTY contender?
Games should be judged by their design, presentation, and gameplay, not by sales or concurrent playerbase.
Movies don't get Best Picture nominations at the Oscars just because of high box office receipts. Television shows don't get Best Picture nomination at the Emmys just because of high viewership.
I know PUBG is massive, but I have a bit of a problem with an early access title potentially winning game of the year. I have feeling that Mario and Zelda will split the vote and PUBG will win. Also PUBG is the more popular game so that seems to be how these awards go.
I think Mario Odyssey and BotW will get a fair number of awards but PUBG wins overall.
Impressive nominations, overall. Nintendo is pretty much guaranteed the handheld category.
@KIRO Of course its growing.
Mobile gaming is getting bigger and bigger each year.
As phones become more powerful, that market will just grow even more.
Honestly I'm more excited for a new CrowbCat video that'll come out of this, rather the award ceremony itself.
I Played and finished Super Mario Odyssey and its Great but for me Zelda will be GOTY!!!
Zelda for goty for me. Best game I've ever played. I dread the day i finish it.
@Muddy_4_Ever Was the Vita nominated for something?
What category?
Best handheld that was sent to die, category?
Good. I look forward to heard what awards Nintendo picks up. Nice to see it getting some recognition. I tend to be bitter in my thinking the the rest of the industry hates Nintendo regardless of what they do or make.
Lets be honest, Metroid Prime 4 should be on the games we cant wait to play. At least Xenoblade Chronichles 2 should make the list =)
I would be torn between Horizon Zero Dawn and Breath of the Wild. Both have been my favorite games to play this year.
Just having 2 Nintendo games in the GotY nominee section is an honor in itself
GO VOTE
http://thegameawards.com/awards/
Did you guys notice that Golf Story got a nomination for "Best Debut Indie Game"?
It has some stiff competition though...Slime Rancher, Hollow Knight, Mr. Shifty. Not to mention Cuphead.
Why the heck was Sonic Mania not nominated for Best Score?
The handheld nominations are a joke!
Where's Odyssey, Zelda, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2, DOOM, and L.A. Noire?
got a feeling nintendo could sweep most of those nominations.
1 2 Switch crying in the background
Good job,Nintendo!
@Natzore The difference between Overwatch and PUBG. Overwatch was a finished product. PUBG is not,it's an early access technical mess that got popular.
I worry that having both Zelda and Mario as GOTY nominees will split the Nintendo fans' vote, allowing that dumpster fire PUBG to win.
Also, why not have Switch games in the "Best Handheld Games" category, too?
Best Handheld Games category = 3DS category. Why not just named it Best 3DS games of the year category? We all know Metroid is going to win.
No worries, Super Bomberman R. You are the Best Multiplayer Game of the year, in my book.
I wonder how many people will be set off if neither BOTW nor SMO wins Game of the Year?
Go Zelda go!
PubG is probably going to win Game of the Year, which annoys me to no end but it is what it is. I still expect Mario and Zelda to get an award or two. Both deserve some recognition.
Woah... Ever Oasis got nominated? Nice job!
@Gerbwmu "Then again how many of the most anticipated will actually make 2018?"
Well to be fair, the awards website only says after Dec 7, 2017, not 2018.
Most Anticipated Game
Awarded to an upcoming game that has shown significant ambition and promise. Title must be announced and scheduled for release after December 7, 2017.
Still waiting on Pikmin 4. It was nearly complete in Sept 2015, that's over 2 years ago. Metroid 4 has had more exposure.
I think SSB4D and SMM2 are coming, but Nintendo really needs some dated games for early 2018. Lost Sphere is January but that's about it for dated Switch games in all of 2018. And I dont' really see Kirby or Yoshi as big exciting system sellers.
So the sooner in Dec we get an ND the better. Once XC2 releases Dec 1st the Switch calendar is a barren.
Once again, great games like "Xenoblade Chronicles 2" and "Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon" are getting snubbed just because their release dates are too close to the end of the calendar year. These video game awards really need to be pushed back.
Now watch as Nintendo is inevitably robbed of their rightful GOTY award yet again.
The GOTY award has always been rigged in favor of more mature, or otherwise non-Nintendo, franchises.
Luckily we have two nominations this time around, but we're far from winning.
I’m hoping you guys with more diverse experience can help me. I don’t own a PS4 or an XBONE and I don’t play games on my PC. I just play on my Switch. To me it seems like a no brainer that Zelda will get game of the year with a chance that it could be Mario, but am I wrong? Is there a legitimate chance that it will be one of those other games?
Too bad Xenoblade Chronicles 2 wasn't out in time. We don't yet know how good it will be and so it has legitimately zero chance to win. I liked X a lot, but Breath of the Wild is only my second favorite all time game. Xenoblade Chronicles on the Wii is my all time favorite game which is why it's too bad these nominations were made before the actual end of the year. I'm hoping somehow 2 will be better than X and the original.
It'll be interesting to see what happens to the "Best Handheld Game" category in the future, when the 3DS is gone. They'll either have to remove it, or it becomes the "Best Switch Game" category.
I know right now it's basically the "Best 3DS Game" category, but they're getting away with it on the pretense that the 3DS had a competitor at one time.
@AlphaElite I assumed Switch games were going to be in there until I read it.
@Anti-Matter I’m with you- I loathe Fifa, call of crap and the endless games like them. My 14 year old son doesn’t understand the games I play.
Tumbleseed should be nominated and winning best music. Fact.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...