Why Golden Joysticks’ Game of the Year Winner Could Foreshadow TGA

At this year’s Golden Joystick Awards, Black Myth: Wukong took the coveted title of Ultimate Game of the Year, cementing the action-adventure title as a fan-favorite. While Black Myth: Wukong has received high praise from both gamers and critics alike, it is still incredibly unclear whether the game is worthy of Game of the Year status at the upcoming Game Awards or not. A few of the GOTY nominees this year have ignited a lot of discussion, especially when it comes to the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC and Black Myth: Wukong.

While a DLC being nominated for GOTY is controversial enough, Black Myth: Wukong being a contender has also sparked some controversy, as it is the lowest-rated game to ever be nominated in the category. The game still holds strong ratings overall, but its nomination has still sparked a lot of discourse on whether it deserves the spot or not. Debate aside, its Golden Joystick win could very well be foreshadowing which game takes home the title of GOTY.

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Black Myth: Wukong’s Golden Joystick Victory Could Set the Stage For a Game Awards Surprise

A History of Overlapping Winners

The Golden Joystick Awards has been around a lot longer than The Game Awards’ humble 10-year anniversary, but both boast being two incredibly important events for the industry. While the two ceremonies don’t always have the same winners for their respective GOTY awards, there has been a solid history of overlap. Black Myth: Wukong winning Golden Joystick’s Ultimate Game of the Year is no small feat, and it could very well inform the outcome of The Game Awards’ decision.

Golden Joystick and The Game Awards’ Big Winners Since 2014

While it isn’t an exact science, and there have been plenty of deviations, the Golden Joystick Awards and The Game Awards share a considerable number of the same winners. With the past two years having the same winners with Elden Ring and Baldur’s Gate 3, there may be the genesis of a pattern forming. However, there is one key difference between the two awards ceremonies that will be the ultimate deciding factor in which title reigns victorious at The Game Awards.

The Biggest Difference Between The Game Awards and Golden Joystick is Significant

Black Myth: Wukong’s Golden Joystick Win Hinged On a Key Voting Approach

When it comes to voting in The Game Awards, there is far more of an emphasis on the response from critics. The Golden Joystick Awards are 100% voted on by fans, and The Game Awards don’t have the same type of open voting system. Since Black Myth: Wukong has lower reviews than its competitors, the action-adventure title may ultimately have less of a chance at winning GOTY. If the awards are putting more weight on critical reception, then Astro Bot may be the most likely choice.

Of course, there is no official way to know. The nominations for The Game Awards held several big surprises, and it’s still likely that the ceremony itself could be just as discourse-inducing. As the event draws closer, it will be fascinating to see how Black Myth: Wukong holds up against its competitors.

Systems

Released

August 20, 2024

Developer(s)

Game Science

Publisher(s)

Game Science

Engine

Unreal Engine 5

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Violence

How Long To Beat

39 hours

Steam Deck Compatibility

Unknown

PS Plus Availability

N/A

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

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