Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Leads Nintendo's Nominations At The Game Awards 2022

It most likely won't win this GOTY, but I'm still rooting for XC3, my personal GOTY 2022.

I was actually surprised to see Xenoblade 3 nominated as GOTY. Unfortunately don't see it having a chance to win as its going up against Elden Ring, God of War and Horizon. But just seeing it nominated is incredible.

Also love how Family is all Nintendo games, but 1.

Xenoblade has no chance of winning GOTY, sadly. The awards come down to a popularity contest for 99% of categories, hence why it won't win GOTY and likely not the RPG category either since elden ring is there.

It absolutely SHOULD win the best music category, none of the other nominees even come close to the scope and quality having had a listen through their OSTs for a while today. At the very least we get to hear some xenoblade music in the GOTY medley (and possibly the more general medley they usually do), so that is more than a win in my books.

While the chances of XC3 winning are SUPER silm, I'm just glad that it finally, finally got nominated for GOTY. Heck, if it manages to win at least in one of the other categories it'll make the pain sting less.

Pokemon Arceus should also be nominated for laziest game. I mean it was good but my wife who doesn't play a ton of games kept committing on his different aspects were just lazy. Though, we did enjoy the game all things considered. But best? As for XC3 beating other games, I'm not sure. But definitely one of, if not, the best Switch game this year.

I really hope Splatoon 3 wins best multiplayer game. All the other options except for maybe TMNT don't even come close.

Wish XC3 could win, glad it got nominated at all though after XC2 didn't get anything.
Totk should take home anticipated hopefully.
Love how Mario + Rabbids is in family because of it's graphics even though its a 1p shooter and tactical game lol

Shouldn't you list all the nominees in your chart & not just the ones available on Switch?

Sure, absolutely highlight the ones that are available due to this being a Nintendo centric site, but it feels a bit disingenuous to not list the others in the overall breakdown (if this was the only site someone visited they may genuinely believe that some categories may only have one or two noms, lol).

EDIT: It appears the article has been edited now, thanks!

Xenoblade chronicles 3 is the GOTY, You're all thinking it.

Ehh, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 was too much of a personal disappointment for me to root for it, but it'd be nice for a change. The series at least deserves the recognition, even if the game wasn't my thing.

@rawzeku Outside of slow years for Nintendo, its almost always is all Nintendo games. They just put the one Non-Nintendo game in there to keep up the pretense that it isn't just the best Nintendo game category. I will admit that it is still a bit funny, though.

I'm conflicted about the worst game in one of my favorite series getting nominated for goty lmao

Let's goooo! I've got 200 hours in XC3 and still enjoying it! It's definitely my personal game of the year! It has some tough competition for GOTY and Best RPG but I think XC3 winning best soundtrack isn't too far-fetched!

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has a slim chance of winning the Game of the Year just because of its gameplay. Maybe the Best Sound and Music and Best Role Playing, but Game of the Year is a really high standard (but it also ignores the huge amount of pain that the developers sat through).

Best Family still fails at justifying its criteria by making it a Nintendo-centric category. You can't play Mario + Rabbids or Splatoon with your family.

Best Score and Music nominees further reinforces the fact that there is a bias towards orchestral, dramatic music. We do not get enough nominations for other styles of music, especially upbeat.

I think I will be genuinely upset of Tears of the Kingdom loses Most Anticipated Game a third time.

My game of the year is Mario+Rabbids Sparks of Hope.

I’d recommend it to y’all. Loving it!

I also love how Nintendo has so many different types of games with a score 8+. They’re a very well-rounded publisher.

About time Xenoblade is finally getting recognition for the game awards after 2 and DE got squat. Side note Nintendo games have gotten nominated more times than you think and won once so nothing is impossible.

2017: Breath of the wild won with Mario Odyssey nominated
2019: Smash Brothers Ultimate was nominated won best fighting game
2020: Animal Crossing New Horizons nominated won best family game
2021: Metroid Dread nominated won best action adventure game.

Okay also, how on earth did Harry Mcentire not get a nomination??? Easily best performance of maybe all XC games in general.

God of War Ragnarok being a GOTY nominee even though the game has only been out for...checks notes...5 days should make anyone doubt the validity of these awards, if it had any to begin with.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 AND Triangle Strategy getting some recognition. I'm down. They probably won't win anything, but it's nice that they're at least getting the opportunity to prove themselves.

XC3 was easily my favorite release this year. Monoltih Soft knocked it out of the park and created one of their all-time best games.

Regardless of who wins, in my heart, I have my own GOTY Awards.

And the victor was already decided: Xenoblade 3.

Runners-up include Splatoon 3 and Tactics Ogre Reborn. Haven't gotten a chance to try Ragnarok, but I'm sure it'll be a blast. Just not Xenoblade 3 levels of good to me.

I would be happy with XC3, Stray, & Kirby winning anything, given they're what I played this year out of all the nominees. Oh, I played SW LEGO: Skywalker Saga as well, but it's up against Kirby in it's only nomination & while I enjoyed it I think Kirby was the better game.

I really hope XC3 wins at least something. In my opinion, it deserves all three it has been nominated for, but then again, I don't have PS or XBOX so I haven't experienced the other games and am unable to say if I'd feel differently if I'd played them. It'll be an uphill battle against games like Elden Ring.

Very surprised Kirby and the Forgotten Land didn’t make Game of the Year, but cat walk sim did.

Still congrats to all the games. I’m hoping Horizon wins big and Mario + Rabbids wins in Best Strategy

@westman98 journalists and critics have had it for weeks. Don't be petty.

I doubt I'll watch the awards at all this year. The year before last wasn't worth my time, and the times I randomly tuned in last year weren't much better.

XC3 is my personal GOTY, but I don't think it'll win in that category. I do hope it takes some awards, however.

Here is hoping XC3 win the Best RPG award of the year at least, especially when Live A Live is a remake, Triangle Strategy is a little too niche, LOA as being half baked, and Elden Ring for being too “big” for the category.

But then they may have slotted Elden Ring for Best RPG as a consolation award for not winning Best GOTY, which will go to God of War or Horizons.

I still don't take this award show too seriously (I mean they have to jam pack it with announcements to get people to watch it ) but good to see them acknowledge Xenoblade 3. Also best RPG is all Switch exclusives except for ER, you love to see it.

@alexybubble I wouldn’t say Best Family represents the best Nintendo/Nintendo related game, as XC3, and Bayonetta aren’t on the list for being too mature 😉

If Shredder's Revenge wins best action game, I will be a happy gamer. Kirby and The Skywalker Saga deserve the best family award.

I went from loving this game, to dreading the thought of ever playing it again. Too much of it felt like a chore. The side quest 'discussing' with endless cutscenes without any substance, is what kind of ruined the experience for me. At least 10 of those 200 hours were spent skipping dialogue.
"Gee, that lady sure seemed upset about her drunk husband who went missing"

Is there no expansion category for Cuphead and Monster Hunter. Spent all summer on those lovely DLCs.

@Cheez I'm kind of surprised to see a Pokémon game included. Even though that's likely because the release timing helped, it's still a pretty great, not perfect game that only people that know nothing of game development or are projecting super hard would call lazy. I still expect any of the other nominees to get the award.

I'm surprised Xenoblade 3 didn't get nominated for best narrative considering characters and story are what JRPG's excel at.

Maybe it's Xenoblade bias but I feel this is one of the most fair and deserving list for The Game Awards nominations. Although I think Elden Ring should have been in the Action/Adventure category instead of RPG. What even constitutes an "RPG" these days?

I have 210+ hours in XC3, it is my GOTY. Followed by Triangle Strategy and PLA although that one gets repetitive soon.

As much as I want XC3 to win GOTY, the sad thing is unless it's a Final Fantasy game or a Persona game this beloved franchise will never get it's day (or year). But at least they got a nomination so congrats to Monolith for that accomplishment!

I hope their next big game could knock it out of the park.

Xc3 is my goty on switch , a plague tale requiem is my goty on Xbox , but I had so much fun with xc3 and played over 100hrs so for me it wins over all the other games and platforms, proof that the little switch can still beat the big consoles with excellent software and developers dedication.

Well Helena Taylor (Bayonetta) won the award for being the Best Biggest Liar of 2022 right behind Phil Harrison (Stadia), Yuji Naka (Balan Wonderworld), and Tommy Tallarico (Intellivision Amico)?

Got my votes in for Xenoblade 3 and Zelda. I've done my part.

I'm surprised it was nominated but it's a welcome one to me.
It makes me really happy that this series is getting the recognition is deserves.

I can't wait to zip through all this nonsense and get to the only reason anyone watches. The announcements!

As much as I love XC3, it's not gonna win. I predict that Eldin Ring will take the GOTY this year. Nintendo isn't dudebro-y enough to be taken seriously at these events 😜

BUT. I'm pretty casual and only buy a couple new games a year for the single platform that I own, so my opinions on GOTY award discussions aren't like super valid or informed.

elden ring and god of war ragnarok battle it out for game of the year everyone else is a spectator..

@westman98 it is better in every way then the last game which won game of the year in 2018..

Surprised to not see Sparks of Hope on soundtracks. Ah well.

I would like more awards like an inverse of best adaptations as in best adaptation of a media series in a video game just so we can get some good liscened games again.

Along with best remake and best compilation.

Triangle Strategy misses out on a nomination in the strategy category… Shame it has to go up against the likes of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 in the RPG class. Going to be a touch sell, that one, but glad it has at least been nominated. Wonderful game

The Switch has had a nice solid, varied year so I don’t need an awards ceremony to tell me if it’s worthy or not.

Let’s be honest, God Of War 2 was already game of the year without anyone playing it to find out it was any good or not. It’ll be a 3 hour Playstation love fest only interjected by ‘Influencers’ and thinly veiled adverts for Hollywood and mobile games.

@UltimateOtaku91 I see what you did there XD

This game doesn't exactly push the medium forward, but I think its great that a JRPG can get nominated for GOTY in 2022.

I think this is about the level of recognition I want Xenoblade to get. I doubt it's actually going to win any awards, but for it to get more mainstream appeal, I feel like it would have to give up some of the niche elements that I like.

@Isaix did you re read my comment with his voice 😂

I was really hoping for Kirby to get a GOTY year nomination and recognition for that AWESOME soundtrack but alas.

I beat Elden Ring but didn't like it as much as Sekiro so not really emotionally invested in the rest. Only voted in the family category. Gonna skip these awards mostly.

I don't expect Xenoblade 3 to win all of the nominations it got or GOTY but I hope it does.

Kirby deserves family game and ideally, Splatoon 3 will get the multiplayer award.

As it should. XC3 is my personal GOTY, closely behind Elden Ring and Forbidden West.

Also, I'm SO glad FFXIV is being recognized. That game is an absolute masterpiece and by far the best MMO to have ever graced this planet.

Have no interest in the new GOW, as I found the gameplay in 2018's version so boring, I couldn't finish it.

Found Eldin ring boring too. Won't list why, because it seems people take out a ptichfork over it.

Recently finished A Plague Tale, and the boring gameplay made the game seem longer than it should have been. The plot beats got ridiculously predictable midway with a cliche ending. Though there is one section that made me chuckle.

Didn't enjoy the first Horizon as much so no need to get the second.

I guess overall the open world theme is just boring to me. It's always the same stale gameplay loop with them.

That’s a lot of noms. I nommed pancakes and an omelet today and it was glorious. If elden ring were food it’d probably be extremely spicy and poisonous. I’d still nom it though. I ended up making trades for Ragnarok, got it for free plus walked off with $23 extra credit because the values were boosted by 40%. I haven’t started Ragnarok yet but I am now intrigued about its accessibility options, my hands are pretty busted these days. I find it odd Forbidden West isn’t nommed for that.

"Also, Resident Evil 4. Can't wait to play that 20-year-old game for the first time, eh?"

Anyone playing it for the first time will be lucky.

Apart from that, couldn't care less about these awards. All that matters to me is if I enjoy a game or not.

Elden Ring should win GotY, but wouldn’t be surprised if they gave it to GoW, but those two games are likely to clean house with all the categories they're in.

I also wouldn’t be surprised if LEGO Star Wars won family game.
Thought it’d be a fight between Pokémon and Xenoblade for RPG, but Elden Ring is counted as an RPG, instead of an Action/Adventure game. Sure ER is an RPG of sorts, but not the same as the rest in that category.
But surely Bayonetta 3 will get the win for Action game.

But stranger things have happened, like “It Takes 2” winning GotY, which was ridiculous. Either way, I’m mostly watch for the announcements. Maybe we’ll finally see Metroid Prime? But I’m not holding my breath.

That's a lot of noms. Nom nom.

It definitely won't win GOTY or Best RPG, but I'm glad to see Xenoblade 3 nominated for those categories. It's my personal game of the generation, let alone game of the year. After 2 was snubbed by TGA, it's great to see 3 get this much recognition. It deserves all three of the awards it's up for, and I hope it at least gets best music!

@Dissident
You're right, I forgot about that.

(Though I'm pretty sure like 20% of the votes for these awards come from audience votes on the TGA website, and general audiences indeed have only had the game for under a week.)

Not to say that Ragnarok doesn't deserve GOTY nevertheless, but nominating games that literally just released will never not be a bit ridiculous. There is a reason why other awards like the Oscar's or Grammys are held the year after and not in December.

I’d give it to XC3, just edging out Neon White. Both massive surprises for me, thought Neon White looked cool and would be decent but didn’t expect to love it as much as I did and I didn’t even care about Xenoblade as franchise before getting into 3.

I would bet Ragnarok on getting GOTY though.

EDIT: Pfffft, forgot about Elden Ring. That’s winning for sure

@UltimateOtaku91 Of course, can't forget that Lanz voice XD

@westman98 I certainly agree that the timing is weird. They should hold off a couple months.

XC3 no chance because medieval games are overrated. Sorry but I never liked the genre in any form of media. Not really sure why.

not in a milion years, Xenoblade Chonicles 3 will win GOTY, the dispute for GOTY this year will be between God of War Ragnarok e Elden Ring and i doing everything to prevent Xenoblade Chonicles 3 to win this award(and everyone should do the same),God of War Ragnarok e Elden Ring is more game then Xenoblade Chonicles 3.

@Octane_st1m I wouldn’t say overrated but I’m in the same boat, I’ve never been able to get into middle ages inspired media like Game of Thrones, LotR, Skyrim etc. Really nothing about the whole setting or anything clicks with me. The only exception is Zelda, but that’s probably because of how stylised it is compared to stuff that guns for a more realistic look (The Witcher, Skyrim etc)

@KateGray Didn't FIFA 23 & NBA 2K23 also come to the Switch? I didn't see them highlighted.

This is the only year that Nintendo doesn't make ports and remakes so if none of their new games won anything then they'll probably return next year with nothing but ports and remakes. Vote wisely for what you vote determines the outcome.

Voted for all the games I've played thus far. Not expecting it, but I'd love for XC3 to win. Voted for Bayonetta 3 as best action, sparks of hope for strategy, shredders revenge for multiplayer, and a few others I'm probably forgetting.

@graviton That is true. Then again, Bayonetta 3 is only published by Nintendo, so I wouldn't say that that entirely counts. Xenoblade is a valid point, though, even if it doesn't exactly reflect the vast majority of Nintendo's output, since Fire Emblem and Xenoblade are the only two first party Nintendo franchises that really touch sophisticated topics beyond either the surface level or deep lore that have gotten a new game in the last 10 years.

Honestly surprised to see all the Xenoblade love here in the comments. From what I'd seen and heard, I always thought it was a good, but unremarkable JRPG, but perhaps I was mistaken (that, or, with this being a Nintendo site, maybe it's the only game in the GOTY Nominees they've played?). It's interesting to see, in any case.

For me, my GOTY this year is Ragnarok, with Elden Ring as a very close runner-up. Both are absolutely excellent experiences that will probably rank up there as some of the best of the decade, with Ragnarok inching Elden Ring out due to having a larger array of accessibility options.
On a related note, I do have to ask one question: How did Stray end up nominated for GOTY? No offence to the game, it's pretty good, but I feel like there are lot of other games (Rabbids, Sifu, Splatoon, etc.) that would probably be better suited (heck, I almost feel like any other game in the indie category is better suited than it). But maybe that's just me.

4 of the 5 nominees for Best RPG are on Switch. Sure, Elden Ring will win it, but Switch is still an RPG machine!

I believe that Splatoon 3 was nominated for 2 categories, best family and best multiplayer

@Link41x FIFA on Switch is a very different game, so I didn't highlight that one, but I missed NBA, thanks!

Bayonetta 3 and Forza Horizon 5 were ignored 100%.

GOW Ragnarok is not even eligible for nomination in 2022, because it released after the deadline.
Sony have stated that they hate competition, and i read on a few sites that Sony still decides the nominations at TGA.

TGA is a joke when Sony's "Stray" is nominated over Bayonetta 3 and Forza Horizon 5 on top of Ragnarok nomination which is not a GOTY contender until same time 2023.

Despite my disappointment with the game regarding the shallow, half-baked story (great gameplay, though, but also not without problems), I am happy a Xenoblade game got this recognition. It is still a quality title. If it draws more people into playing this and the earlier instalments, then that's great.

Not bad for a 5 year old console huh? This year was full of so many next-gen releases, but the Switch also recieved a ton of big games. Maybe Zelda wasn't this year, but this is the chance for Xenoblade to see if it's highest point can match the biggest games.

BTW, the best adaptation list is full of big contenders

Here is the thing, Hogwarts Legacy is the Most Anticipated Game game as the devs have been showing and releasing information on the game, while the new Zelda game we haven't heard much only gotten some trailers and no gameplay from it, not to mention every fan and such have been talking about Hogwarts Legacy, in my videos I'm pushing the Delux versions because you get three days early access to the game where you can spend those three days to enjoy the Hogwarts castle, get familiar with the locations and such, I'm also explaining why buying other copies is also helpful if you have multiple game systems from the Nintendo Switch, to Xbox Series X and the PlayStation consoles, Haunted Hogsmead quest is locked for a year but you can use the PlayStation version as your guide while waiting for the Nintendo Switch version to drop