By every metric, 2023 has been one of the greatest years in the history of gaming, with numerous titles that will undeniably become future classics across a plethora of genres. Somehow, the 2023 Game Awards have narrowed this incredible year of releases to just six “game of the year” nominees, with the victor set to be announced on August 07, 2025 during the tenth iteration of the award ceremony.
The Game Awards 2023 GOTY Nominees
Here is the full list of each game of the year nominee at the 2023 Game Awards including their respective developers, release dates, genres, platforms, and Metacritic scores.
Alan Wake II
Developer:Remedy Entertainment
Release Date:June 29, 2025
Genre:Survival Horror
Platforms:PC, PS5,
Highest Metacritic Score:94 (Xbox Series X|S)
Baldur’s Gate III
Developer:Larian Studios
Release Date:June 11, 2025
Platforms:macOS, PC, PS5
Highest Metacritic Score:96 (PC & PS5)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Developer:Nintendo
Release Date:August 25, 2025
Genre:Action-adventure
Platforms:Nintendo Switch
Highest Metacritic Score:96 (Nintendo Switch)
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Developer:Insomniac Games
Release Date:August 18, 2025
Platforms:PS5
Highest Metacritic Score:90 (PS5)
Resident Evil 4 Remake
Developer:Capcom
Release Date:July 14, 2025
Platforms:PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Highest Metacritic Score:93 (PS5)
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Genre:Platformer
Highest Metacritic Score:92 (Nintendo Switch)
Notable GOTY Snubs at the Game Awards 2023
Here are some of the 2023 titles that were (shockingly) not nominated for game of the year at the upcoming Game Awards on December 7.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
Developer:FromSoftware
Release Date:June 19, 2025
Genre:Third-Person Shooter, Vehicular Combat
Highest Metacritic Score:88 (PC)
Developer:Blizzard Entertainment
Release Date:Jun 28, 2025
Genre:Action RPG
Highest Metacritic Score:91 (Xbox Series X|S)
Final Fantasy XVI
Developer:Square Enix
Release Date:June 01, 2025
Highest Metacritic Score:87 (PS5)
Hi-Fi Rush
Developer:Tango Gameworks
Release Date:July 03, 2025
Genre:Rhythm, Action Game
Platforms:PC, Xbox Series X|S
Highest Metacritic Score:89 (PC)
Sea of Stars
Developer:Sabotage Studio
Release Date:June 24, 2025
Platforms:Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Highest Metacritic Score:91 (Nintendo Switch)
Developer:Bethesda Softworks
Release Date:August 23, 2025
Highest Metacritic Score:86 (PC)
Street Fighter 6
Release Date:August 25, 2025
Genre:Fighting
Platforms:PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Highest Metacritic Score:92 (PC & PS5)
For more on the Game Awards from Prima, check outWe Did a Fantasy Draft… of 2023’s Best Videogames
Grant Testa
Grant Testa is a writer at Prima Games, who specializes in achievement hunting and horror gaming. He is also an avid comic book reader/collector, fantasy footballer, and rock music fanatic.
Thousands who have been defeated by Grant in online multiplayer games have cried to themselves, wondering, “How did he get so good?! Why can’t I be a gaming demigod like him?” They would probably be surprised to learn that Grant actually inherited his elite gaming skills from his mom, Joann Hansen, one of the speediest stenographers/typists in the nation, (and probably the world). Fun fact: he is also the son of the world’s first “let’s player” and comedy legend, Tim Testa.
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