The Game Awards 2024: The Big Snub and Notable Surprises

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Snubbed by Game Awards 2024 Nominations

The 2024 Game Awards nominations have been revealed, and while the list is mostly filled with predictable choices for the year’s top games, one title stands out for its striking absence: Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Despite being a high-profile release from BioWare, the game was snubbed in most major categories, securing just one nomination for Innovation in Accessibility, a category determined by a specialist jury.

Given Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s pedigree as a narrative-driven blockbuster in a beloved series, its omission from categories like Game of the Year, Best Narrative, and Best Performance has raised eyebrows. After all, its predecessor, Dragon Age: Inquisition, won Game of the Year at the inaugural Game Awards in 2014, making this year’s exclusion all the more surprising.

The game's reception has been mixed, with a Metacritic score of 82, which may have been a factor in its lack of Game of the Year consideration. However, its failure to secure nominations in areas less dependent on reviews, like Best Narrative or Best Performance, is particularly telling. BioWare’s games are known for their strong character writing and performances, making these omissions especially noteworthy.

Additionally, The Veilguard missed out on a spot in the Best Role-Playing Game category, despite being a major release in a year packed with exceptional competition. Titles like Metaphor: ReFantazio, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth filled the five slots, leaving little room for The Veilguard, despite its strong ties to the RPG genre.

Other Notable Snubs and Surprises

While Dragon Age: The Veilguard stands as the most glaring omission, there are a few other notable snubs and surprises in this year’s nominations:

EA Sports College Football 25: Despite receiving a warm reception from fans, EA Sports College Football 25 did not secure a nomination in the Sports/Racing Game category. This is surprising given the game’s strong reviews and the fact that sports games are typically well-represented at The Game Awards. The absence may be due to the broad international jury makeup, which may not have the same attachment to American football.

Sim/Strategy Games: Two fan-favorite games, Satisfactory and Tactical Breach Wizards, were notably absent from the Sim/Strategy Game category. Both games have garnered passionate fan bases and high review scores, and could have easily replaced the Age of Mythology remake, which made the cut. However, this was a highly competitive category, so the omissions may not be too surprising.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom: Many were hoping to see The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom nominated for its outstanding music. With Tears of the Kingdom receiving multiple nods, it was disappointing to see this specific entry overlooked for its musical achievements.

Surprising Nominations: Hellblade 2, Black Myth: Wukong, and More

While there were a few snubs, there were also some surprising inclusions in this year’s nominations:

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2: Perhaps the most unexpected nomination of all was for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, a game that has remained largely under the radar since its May release. It secured four nominations, including a spot in the coveted Game of the Year category. This is a notable comeback for the game, which had been largely absent from mainstream gaming discourse following its launch.

Shadow of the Erdtree DLC: In a groundbreaking move, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, the game’s major DLC expansion, received four nominations, including Game of the Year. This is unprecedented, as DLC expansions are rarely considered for such a prestigious category. Its strong showing highlights the lasting impact of Elden Ring and its ongoing influence on the gaming landscape.

Black Myth: Wukong: Despite a relatively lukewarm critical reception, Black Myth: Wukong managed to secure a nomination for Game of the Year, which stands in contrast to its mixed reviews. This inclusion underscores the complexity of the nomination process and suggests that Black Myth: Wukong may have won over jurors in ways not immediately reflected in critical scores.

Balatro: The one-man indie project Balatro, a unique card game, earned five nominations, which is a remarkable achievement for such a small-scale endeavor. The recognition of Balatro in multiple categories speaks to the growing influence of indie games and the increasing diversity of game types nominated for prestigious awards.

The Indie Scene and Category Diversity

As always, the indie game categories are highly competitive, and not all passionate fan bases could be pleased. However, with 15 games nominated across Independent Game, Debut Indie Game, and Games for Impact, the range of choices reflects the richness of the indie gaming scene this year. Nominations for Arco and 1000xResist, though deeper cuts, demonstrate the jury’s willingness to recognize a wide array of indie experiences, even if some fans feel their favorites were overlooked.

In Conclusion: The 2024 Game Awards Are as Competitive as Ever

While Dragon Age: The Veilguard's snub is undoubtedly the biggest story of the 2024 Game Awards nominations, the list is otherwise full of exciting surprises and fierce competition. With Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, Shadow of the Erdtree, and Black Myth: Wukong making waves, the stage is set for what promises to be an exciting awards season. However, for BioWare and Dragon Age fans, the lack of recognition for The Veilguard will surely sting, as the studio faces increased pressure to regain its former glory.