The Game Awards 2024 just ended, and PlayStation’s platformer Astro Bot won Game of the Year. The win has sparked a heated and passionate debate online. Some are happy to see a classic platformer take the top spot, while others think it shouldn’t have beaten big games like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Black Myth: Wukong.
An Unexpected Victory for Astro Bot at The Game Awards 2024
Astro Bot didn’t just win Game of the Year (GOTY), it dominated The Game Awards 2024 by taking home three other big wins:
- Best Family Game
- Best Action/Adventure
- Best Game Direction
Team Asobi’s head, Nicolas Doucet, gave a winning speech thanking Nintendo and Super Mario Bros. for inspiring the game, showing how it connects gaming’s past and present.
Astro Bot’s success lies in its pure and fun approach to gaming. With a Metacritic score of 94 from critics and 9.2 from users, it has impressed both reviewers and players. The game reinvents 3D platforming with fresh ideas that make it feel new. After all, it came to life at the fans’ request.
Why Some Disagree With Astro Bot Winning Game of the Year
When Astro Bot was announced as Game of the Year, we noticed a lot of mixed reactions online, even on the chat during the live stream. Some people were happy about the win, but many seemed disappointed, especially fans of RPGs and indie games. The comments we saw were full of debates about whether it really deserved to win over other nominees.
What we realized is that the controversy isn’t about Astro Bot’s quality because obviously, it is a good game. In fact, most people agree it’s great. The debate is more about whether a straightforward platformer should beat complex RPGs like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Black Myth Wukong, or innovative indie titles like Balatro.
The gaming community’s reaction to Astro Bot’s win shows how passionate players are about their favorite games. A player agreeing with the win, commented, “Finally, a game that focuses on pure fun instead of trying to be a movie,” showing that they celebrate the return to gaming’s simpler roots. However, some RPG fans took the news harder. “How does a platformer beat FF7 Rebirth? This makes no sense,” questioned a disappointed player.
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The discussion even sparked debates about what makes “Game of the Year” a worthy title. “Are we really saying a 15-hour platformer is better than a 100-hour RPG?” asked one player. We do think that sometimes, innovation doesn’t always need to be super complex. Astro Bot shows that a simple game can also be perfect.
What This Means for Gaming
Astro Bot winning Game of the Year feels like a shift in how we look at games. In a year full of big open worlds and deep stories, it stood out by focusing on fun and polished gameplay. It shows that sometimes simpler is better. We think Team Asobi’s win could influence future games. Publishers might see how players still love well-made, focused experiences, not just huge, difficult ones. This could inspire more developers to bring fresh ideas to classic genres. Whether you agree with the choice or not, it’s clear that the little robot has left its mark on gaming history.
