This week, it’s Alan Wake 2, which has released and scored an 89 on Metacritic, a tick below a 90, but a 92 if you’re looking on PC where its visuals can be maxed to their fullest.
I really liked control, mostly for the exploration and SCP file discovery. I’m not a big fps person (usually play RPGs), but obviously telekinetic battle is cool. I saw Alan Wake 1 on the switch, but I wasn’t sure if I would like it based on the preview. It’s it like mystery solving exploration or more battle?
It’s both, honestly - mystery solving during the day, but battles at night when the enemies come out. The controls are a bit hard to use because they feel dated, so I didn’t play that much of it, but the new game is supposedly a lot better in that regard.
The last spot is a toss up between Armored Core and Super Mario Bro’s: Wonder but co-op focused family games tend to not be contenders for GOTY and especially not in years with many strong options.
Personally I think BG3 will take it. It has a lot going for it, western, it’s got a touch of humor and charm which the times call for, part of a legendary franchise that hasn’t seen a new release for a decade+. And on top of that it’s a fantastic game that really is the culmination of the journey western RPGs has been undergoing since BG 2 (I say 2 because that game started the companion focus prevalent across the sub-genre and a massive focus of BG3).
Though in my opinion Tears of the Kingdom is the best game of the year. It just plays so amazingly well.
Alan Wake 2 is the game equivalent to Oscars bait so I wouldn’t be shocked if it won.
Hogwarts Legacy is great and exactly the type of game GOTY favors, but it was released early in the year and is a bit “done” now. It’s also a tad controversial. But it’s not undeserving.
FF XVI is not mainstream enough to have the wide appeal GOTY is all about. You could argue BG3 also doesn’t have the wide appeal of Hogwarts Legacy or Tears of the Kingdom and I’d agree. But that doesn’t change that FF XVI just feels further away from a win than the above games. Another year it very well could’ve won though.
And the bottom spot, Armored Core 6 is a great game. It doesn’t try to be anything else than a game. And in that regard (and that only) it’s similar to the new Mario. It doesn’t advance the medium it just delivers a great gaming experience. Also a game that could’ve won in a weaker year in my opinion.
I honestly think BG3 is pretty close to perfect when it comes to it’s own genre. That said I will never be a fan of the new style of Zelda BotW has established, but I also don’t doubt it’s a great game.
I really want to play Alan Wake 2, loved the first and it looks great.
Hogwarts Legacy surprised me. I am not a huge HP fan and I was so sure it would be a dud. But I have to say, the castle itself May just be the best level design I’ve ever seen. Even a step about DS1.
I think it’s a bit complicate than that from core gamers, as there are a couple GOTY(steam, whatever JG runs, websites), and if we are talking about what JG runs, then it’s a mix of popular vote and judge.(if anything like Oscar, they send vote to industry veterans that are member of the “society”.)
For example, I haven’t played the bottom 3 in the list simply because that’s not my type of game. I am still holding on Alan Wake 2 until the initial hype settles a bit cause the control hype got me and I actually don’t like it that much(story lore is fun, but the loot drop part are not.) I might give armored core 6 a try once it’s on sale.
I did a quick trend search, I think BG3 should take the cake.(cause it come later and “lasting” better)
Zelda from peak 68-35-20-10(per month gap)
BG3 from peak 78-48-27(we don’t have mid Nov number yet, but it should hover around 20)
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