The onslaught of new game releases has slowed to a trickle, meaning the time is suitable for the big annual awards ceremony of video games. And Baldurs Gate III took home the top honor at The Game Awards 2023, held early Friday in Los Angeles. The Dungeons & Dragons-based sprawling RPG, which was strongly revered by both fans and critics alike, beat out the likes of Alan Wake II, Resident Evil 4 Remake, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Super Mario Bros Wonder to win Game of the Year. It also won Best RPG, Multiplayer, and Players’ Choice. Belgian developer Larian’s Labor of Love also picked up Best Community Support and, most notably, Best Performance for actor Neil Newbon’s portrayal of companion Asterion.
The awards show featured a handful of new trailers and other teases, including an Arkane Studios announcement for its licensed Marvel Blade game, a third-person action-adventure set to debut this spring. The show’s other major news was that The Last of Us TV series won Best Adaptation. In contrast, Cyberpunk 2077 won the Most Anticipated Game award, and puzzler Cocoon was named Game of the Year in the Independent category.
Timothee Chalamet, who recently starred in Hideo Kojima’s The Phantom Manor, opened the ceremony with a short film about his experience playing the game and its impact on his life. The Wonka star also reveals he’s a gamer in his personal life, with his YouTube channel ModdedController360 celebrating painted gaming controllers gaining his attention recently.
Microsoft was out in force this year, winning many trophies in its console categories. It was clear that Xbox’s strategy to keep up with Sony’s massive esports push was working.
However, there were a few surprises in store. Starfield, Bethesda’s much-hyped DnD mega-launch, only snagged a single nomination, losing to Baldur’s Gate 3.
That reflects the general feeling that it’s too early for 2023’s GOTY race: It was a good year but not a great one for games.
As usual, the awards weren’t without controversy. The biggest headline was that Marvel’s Spider-Man, nominated for seven trophies, went home empty-handed. That’s more a reflection of the highly stacked nominee pool than the quality of the title itself, but it was still odd. You can check out all the winners in full in our gallery below. And be sure to check back in next week for our recap of the entire event. Thanks for reading!
