Golden Joystick Reveals Nominations for 'Ultimate Game of the Year'

The silly season has begun

by Khayl Adam 8am

Future Publishing hosts the annual Golden Joystick Awards, and each year, nominations are open to the unwashed masses. While it may lack the pomp, circumstance, and gravitas of Geoff Keighley's The Game Awards, Future's show is decided by a public vote, and a record number were cast (over 11 million) this time around.

Polls opened at the start of October, and a shortlist has been determined, which should dispel any lingering sentiment that 2024 was a weak year for games. We don't know what Satisfactory is (Minecraft on steroids, apparently). Still, everything else is playable on PlayStation's platform, and PS5 exclusives Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth have carved out the #2 and #5 spots, respectively. Another round of voting has already begun, ending on Friday, to determine the Ultimate Game of the Year winner. You can peruse the list for yourself below:

What do you think of Golden Joystick's Ultimate Game of the Year shortlist? Let us know in the comments section below.

[source gamesradar.com]

Khayl Adam is Push Square's roving Australian correspondent, a reporter tasked with scouring the internet for the richest, most succulent PlayStation stories. With five years of experience as a freelance journalist and mercenary wordsmith, RPGs are his first great love, but strategy and tactics games are a close second, genres in which he is only too happy to specialize.

No Stellar Blade.. blasphemy. Can't say I'm surprised though, given the state of the industry.

2
Slippship
8:02am

Bought none, played none. Makes a change. But an eclectic mix there. Should a remake be on the list? Be interesting to see what is said below.

3
Icey664
8:05am

@Slippship Actually that's a point, I've not played a single game on that list, except for Helldivers 2, but it wasn't for me. None of the other games really sound interesting to me, other than maybe Astro but will wait for a price drop.

4
pushL7
8:15am

Nice to see Animal Well in there. It's a great game.

5
Rich33
8:17am

Dragon Age being on this list is interesting given a lot of the loud (and sometimes obnoxious) negativity around this game.
I say this as someone who has bought the game and holding off until I have my Pro.
(The metacritic review bombing has been distasteful - to be fair this is not abnormal, and im practically done with the site as they seem to have zero moderation for user reviews - i only looked out of interest after buying!)

Asto bot my clear GOTY so far though - imo a very easy choice this year!

Stellar blade not on the list is odd.

6
voltum3l
8:19am

Easy pick: REBIRTH is god.

7
breakneck
8:21am

Astro is the only excellent game on the list from those I've played. FF7 Rebirth was a disappointment and quite frankly sucked big time. Metaphor has been so boring that I quit it and went to Armored core 6. Animal Well was good though I don't remember anything.

Edit: considering people can vote for this, Veilguard shouldn't be there due to its recent release.

8
ChrisDeku
8:22am

Removed - trolling/baiting

9
breakneck
8:24am

@Rich33 SB isn't too surprising since the story was a bit dull. It is my second favorite game this year though (mostly a sign of how boring 2024 has been for me personally)

Concord UGOTY in our hearts

Tekken 8 and Silent Hill 2 are definitely my games of the year.

12
LifeGirl
8:35am

@Icey664 Stellar Blade makes for an interesting discussion. Personally though, take away the controversy and there is nothing special or unique about it.

I have never taken these game awards seriously after God of War beat Red Dead Redemption 2.

Ichiban no. 1, let's go!

15
Oram77
8:40am

Rebirth wins ROTY (remake of the year) and Stellar blade wins orignal IP and best OST of the year

16
GeeEssEff
8:40am

Out of those it’s either Astrobot, Rebirth or Balatro for me. However my personal GOTY might just end up being Unicorn Overlord.

Wow, that's pretty good list, my top 5 currently are
1.Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
2. Astro Bot
3. Silent Hill 2
4. Animal Well
5. Tekken 8

So great choices I think

18
carlos82
8:50am

For me Like A Dragon Infinite Wealth is better than almost everything on that list, certainly the best in its genre this year. Tekken 8 is also great and Astro Bot is very good and I've not played Shadow Generations yet which is meant to be rather good too.

From this list I'd go Astor Bot but Infinite Wealth is probably my overall pick

19
naruball
8:52am

Astro Bot for the win!

20
LuXifer
8:54am

Last time I took a goty nomination/winner as an indication for a good game was in the early 2010's. But seeing personal goty from people with tastes that align to mine is always enlightning. For pure entertainment value Many a True Nerd usually has fun goty lists, if a bit esoteric at times. 😁

Between Astro Bot and Rebirth for me.

22
CastelloGG
9:02am

I chose Metaphor: ReFantazio as my pick of GOTY, with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth in the second spot. It just hits that much harder, especially when you play it as the election day in the US is looming.

@Slippship I mean as remakes go its closer to RE2 remake then say The Last of Us Part 1. It changes a lot and looks and plays like a modern game so i think its fair SH2 is included.

@Icey664 the story and characters of stellar blade are garbage.

fun combat but not GOTY potential. sorry!

Stellar blade would be my pick but as thats not listed its an easy Astrobot for me.

26
xeofate
9:25am

I'd probably pick Balatro from that list. It's not as strong a year as the past 2 years though.

Only game I've played on this is Astro Bot. Not too surprised Crow Country and Still Wakes The Deep aren't here, but no Stellar Blade?

28
Mikey856
9:44am

Rebirth for me 100%

29
Rich33
9:48am

@breakneck
Thats sort of my logic, SB isnt close to Astro imo, but certainly deserved a top 10 slot.

30
Ilyn
9:48am

@Slippship I think remakes should be allowed where they are full remakes that are build from the ground up and add something new to the game. So Resident Evil. Final Fatasy 7, Demon Souls, Silent HIll remakes all fit. It is a tricky one tho as everyone will have their own opinion on it. Its like how I feel Shadow of the Erdtree could and possibly should be included despite being DLC, just because its bigger and more impressive than some full games.

I hope Astrobot takes the top prize as its just a simple, great fun game that released practically flawless.

From what's listed I couldn't choose between Rebirth and Astro. Although my gut is pulling me towards Astro.
Very happy to see Metaphor and Dragon Age in there. I'm off work and just about to start Metaphor this morning.

I can only assume that Rogue Flight is not listed because not enough people have played it yet.
If you enjoyed the likes of Thunderblade or Ace Combat back in the day, give it a look.

32
Burnish1619
47m ago

Veilguard being nominated is a joke

33
Rjak
45m ago

Of this list I played Helldivers 2 and DA Veilguard. All I can say is that DA shouldn't be on this list, unless all the other games are really bad to mediocre.