The NextPlay Game Awards’ awards are selected by the writers at NextPlay. It’s a tight race this year, with the team at NextPlay splitting hairs to decide the recipients of these awards, and while not all award recipients were reviewed on our site, we still played and enjoyed these games in our own time.
This article will be updated daily as more awards are announced, with the prestigious Aussie Game of the Year, Indie Game of the Year, and Game of the Year being announced on December 13, 14, and 15, respectively. 2024 marked one of the biggest years for layoffs and company restructures in gaming, so in these troubling times, please join us in celebrating not only these games but the game development community as a whole.
Best Action/Adventure Game
Astro Bot
Team Asobi
“Even without the PlayStation references, delightful cameos, and iconic imagery, Astro Bot would still be considered one of the best 3D platformers ever made, but with all these lovely additions scattered throughout this charming adventure, it becomes something even more special.”
READ: Astro Bot Review — Joy Personified (In Robot Form)
Honourable mention: Stellar Blade, Black Myth Wukong
Best Horror Game
Silent Hill 2
Bloober Team
Bloober Team has elevated the Silent Hill 2 experience, taking the story we all know and love and infusing it with a new vision and masterful audio design.
Honourable mention: Still Wakes The Deep
Best RPG
Metaphor ReFantazio
Studio Zero / ATLUS
“Metaphor: ReFantazio is an incredible game, that implements many quality-of-life improvements to the Persona formula, while enhancing that experience to create an exceptional fantasy RPG.”
READ: Metaphor: ReFantazio Review — An Unforgettable Fantasy Adventure
Honourable mention: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Best Puzzle/Strategy Game
Balatro
LocalThunk
This deck-building roguelite took the gaming world by storm, offering endless hours of sustaining fun. Productivity around the world will never recover from this.
Honourable Mention: Unicorn Overlord
Best Fighting Game
Tekken 8
Bandai Namco
“Tekken 8 is worth the nine-year wait with this entry featuring epic visuals packed with a roster of franchise favourites that will have fans of the series more than satisfied.”
READ: Tekken 8 Review — A Knockout Achievement
Honourable mention: DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO
Best Sports/Racing Game
TopSpin 2K25
Hangar 13
“The TopSpin franchise has been spoiled in its first game in 13 years, thanks to 2K’s modern day splash of paint.”
READ: TopSpin 2K25 Review
Best Family Game
Astro Bot
Team Asobi
“Even without the PlayStation references, delightful cameos, and iconic imagery, Astro Bot would still be considered one of the best 3D platformers ever made, but with all these lovely additions scattered throughout this charming adventure, it becomes something even more special.”
READ: Astro Bot Review — Joy Personified (In Robot Form)
Honourable mention: Super Mario Party Jamboree
Best AR/VR Game
Max Mustard
Toast Interactive
“Everything is brimming with charm, from the character designs to the fast-paced and engaging gameplay. This cohesive and genuinely enjoyable experience allows me to say that Max Mustard has set a new benchmark for the VR platformer genre.”
READ: Max Mustard Review — A VR Game To Relish
Honourable Mentions: Metro Awakening, Batman: Arkham Shadow
Best Mobile Game
Balatro
LocalThunk
This deck-building roguelite took the gaming world by storm, offering endless hours of sustaining fun. Productivity around the world will never recover from this.
Honourable Mention: Pokémon TCG Pocket
