The 42nd Golden Joystick Awards, a celebration of the best in gaming, culminated in a victory for *Black Myth: Wukong*, which secured the coveted Ultimate Game of the Year award for 2024. The accolade followed an intense public vote, attracting over 12 million ballots across the event's 21 categories. This win marks a significant achievement for Game Science's ambitious title, outperforming a strong field of contenders.
*Black Myth: Wukong*'s success was particularly noteworthy given the strong showing from several other nominees with highly dedicated fanbases. The game's victory prevented *Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
from dominating the awards ceremony, and also saw it triumph over other notable titles including *Astro Bot*, *Silent Hill 2*, and the indie darlings *Balatro* and *Animal Well*. The game also unsurprisingly won the Best Visual Design award, a testament to its stunning visuals.
While *Black Myth: Wukong
took home the night's biggest prize, *Final Fantasy VII Rebirth* and *Helldivers 2* led the pack with four awards each. Square Enix's *FFVII Rebirth* dominated in narrative categories, winning Best Storytelling, Best Soundtrack, and securing acting awards for Briana White (Aerith Gainsborough) as Best Supporting Performer and Cody Christian (Cloud Strife) as Best Lead Performer. Meanwhile, *Helldivers 2* secured wins for Best Multiplayer Game, Console Game of the Year, Best Game Trailer, and the Critics' Choice Award.
Other notable winners included *Astro Bot*, which claimed the Best Audio Design award, while its developers, Team ASOBI, were recognised as Studio of the Year. The PC gaming world saw *Satisfactory
crowned PC Game of the Year, while the innovative roguelike *Balatro* achieved a double win, taking home both the Best Indie Game and Breakthrough awards. *Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree* won Best Game Expansion, a victory that some commentators have found ironic given its Game of the Year nomination at The Game Awards, due to be held on 12th December.
The Golden Joystick Awards, known for its significant public voting element, showcased a broad range of gaming excellence. The full list of winners, reflecting both public and critic choices, is as follows:
Public Vote Winners:
Best Storytelling: *Final Fantasy VII Rebirth*
Best Visual Design: *Black Myth: Wukong*
Best Multiplayer Game: *Helldivers 2*
Best Audio Design: *Astro Bot*
Best Game Expansion: *Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree*
Best Indie Game (Self Published): *Another Crab's Treasure*
Best Indie Game: *Balatro*
Studio of the Year: Team ASOBI
Best Soundtrack: *Final Fantasy VII Rebirth*
Best Game Trailer: *Helldivers 2*
Best Early Access Game: *Lethal Company*
Still Playing (Mobile): *Honkai: Star Rail*
Still Playing (Consoles & PC): *Minecraft*
Best Gaming Hardware: Steam Deck OLED
Best Game Adaptation: *Fallout*
Best Supporting Performer: Briana White (*Final Fantasy VII Rebirth*)
Best Lead Performer: Cody Christian (*Final Fantasy VII Rebirth*)
PC Game of the Year: *Satisfactory*
Console Game of the Year: *Helldivers 2*
Most Wanted Game: *Grand Theft Auto VI*
Ultimate Game of the Year: *Black Myth: Wukong*
Critics' Choice Winners:
Streamersâ Choice Award: *Chained Together*
Breakthrough Award: *Balatro*
Criticsâ Choice Award: *Helldivers 2*
The 2024 Golden Joystick Awards served as a resounding testament to the diverse and innovative landscape of modern video games, highlighting both critical acclaim and overwhelming player preference. The unexpected victory of *Black Myth: Wukong
solidifies its position as a significant title in the gaming world.