u/Jaded-Zombie-3052

https://preview.redd.it/hnd7mux6cssh1.png?width=1366&format=png&auto=webp&s=067c1ee2b6d978af2dc35daa48bb626d05165e1a

Been a while since I updated these, so I'm showing them off here :)

Grand Theft Auto VI
I don't like calling something a lock when it hasn't even released yet, but I find it hard to imagine a universe where this doesn't win, let alone misses the nomination. It's one of the most highly anticipated releases ever, it looks like a fantastic game, and I highly doubt its getting delayed anymore than it already has. This is going to be the buzziest game of the year I doubt they'll wanna miss a chance to award Rockstar here.

Resident Evil: Requiem
Originally had this lower because of all the buzz PRAGMATA was getting, combined with being an early year release which hurt Split Fiction last year. Despite this, it seems to have kept its position as the CAPCOM frontrunner and feels super buzzy in performance and narrative categories. It's also got a great metacritic (89) score which really helps in a jury filled with game journalists.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Nintendo is having a killer year and this to me feels like their most obvious pick, its a remake of what is considered one of the best games of all time (99 MC), and is also probably going to get a huge marketing push given that its the big in-house flagship title (FE and Pokopia are externally developed). It feels like a great showcase of the Switch 2's capabilities and Zelda has generally performed extremely well at TGA.

007 First Light
Originally had this in 6th place and I am so glad I stuck with it. Now that Wolverine seems to have fallen off as a contender, the 'blockbuster movie game' slot TGA usually loves to fill is wide open. It's very well received (87 MC) and feels very cinematic, something I think will be much appreciated in an awards show modelled after the Oscars. Patrick Gibson is a surefire nominee for performance and 007 also overperformed at the Golden Joystick nominations, tying for the most nominations and placing it above contenders like RE Requiem. Given that GTA and OOT aren't eligible at GJ, I think there's a very real chance that it could win the first GOTY award of the season and get a huge boost in prestige.

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
Nintendo is having an amazing year, and tbh I'd be more suprised if they didn't get at least 2 titles in this year. Its being critically praised and has a really good critic reviews (89 MC). This game would also fill in that RPG/JRPG slot which surprisingly doesn't seem to have a lot of strong contenders this year (something that feels really weird to say after the E33 KCD2 year).

Big Walk
There's almost always at least one indie game in contention for the big award each year, and this one has some of the best critic reviews of the year (91 MC). I was originally torn between this and Mina (both critcally acclaimed indie titles from beloved developers) but the Golden Joysticks almost completely blanked the latter in spite of its critical acclaim, while Big Walk tied with 007 for the most nominations of the ceremony. House House also scooped up some GOTY nominations for Untitled Goose Game at some of the other ceremonies, and have already proven themselves capable of breaking into the awards conversation.

--

Other titles to look out for...
- Control Resonant
- Dispatch (Technically eligible I think?)
- Pokemon Pokopia
- Mina The Hollower
- PRAGMATA
- Phantom Blade Zero
- Forza Horizon 6
- Saros
- Mixtape
- Mewgenics

https://preview.redd.it/hnd7mux6cssh1.png?width=1366&format=png&auto=webp&s=067c1ee2b6d978af2dc35daa48bb626d05165e1a

Been a while since I updated these, so I'm showing them off here :)

Grand Theft Auto VI
I don't like calling something a lock when it hasn't even released yet, but I find it hard to imagine a universe where this doesn't win, let alone misses the nomination. It's one of the most highly anticipated releases ever, it looks like a fantastic game, and I highly doubt its getting delayed anymore than it already has. This is going to be the buzziest game of the year I doubt they'll wanna miss a chance to award Rockstar here.

Resident Evil: Requiem
Originally had this lower because of all the buzz PRAGMATA was getting, combined with being an early year release which hurt Split Fiction last year. Despite this, it seems to have kept its position as the CAPCOM frontrunner and feels super buzzy in performance and narrative categories. It's also got a great metacritic (89) score which really helps in a jury filled with game journalists.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Nintendo is having a killer year and this to me feels like their most obvious pick, its a remake of what is considered one of the best games of all time (99 MC), and is also probably going to get a huge marketing push given that its the big in-house flagship title (FE and Pokopia are externally developed). It feels like a great showcase of the Switch 2's capabilities and Zelda has generally performed extremely well at TGA.

007 First Light
Originally had this in 6th place and I am so glad I stuck with it. Now that Wolverine seems to have fallen off as a contender, the 'blockbuster movie game' slot TGA usually loves to fill is wide open. It's very well received (87 MC) and feels very cinematic, something I think will be much appreciated in an awards show modelled after the Oscars. Patrick Gibson is a surefire nominee for performance and 007 also overperformed at the Golden Joystick nominations, tying for the most nominations and placing it above contenders like RE Requiem. Given that GTA and OOT aren't eligible at GJ, I think there's a very real chance that it could win the first GOTY award of the season and get a huge boost in prestige.

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
Nintendo is having an amazing year, and tbh I'd be more suprised if they didn't get at least 2 titles in this year. Its being critically praised and has a really good critic reviews (89 MC). This game would also fill in that RPG/JRPG slot which surprisingly doesn't seem to have a lot of strong contenders this year (something that feels really weird to say after the E33 KCD2 year).

Big Walk
There's almost always at least one indie game in contention for the big award each year, and this one has some of the best critic reviews of the year (91 MC). I was originally torn between this and Mina (both critcally acclaimed indie titles from beloved developers) but the Golden Joysticks almost completely blanked the latter in spite of its critical acclaim, while Big Walk tied with 007 for the most nominations of the ceremony. House House also scooped up some GOTY nominations for Untitled Goose Game at some of the other ceremonies, and have already proven themselves capable of breaking into the awards conversation.

--

Other titles to look out for...
- Control Resonant
- Dispatch (Technically eligible I think?)
- Pokemon Pokopia
- Mina The Hollower
- PRAGMATA
- Phantom Blade Zero
- Forza Horizon 6
- Saros
- Mixtape
- Mewgenics