The awards have been given out, and the dust has settled, but not everyone is happy aboutAstro Bot’s 2024 Game of the Year win at The Game Awards. Unfortunately, the reaction to Team Asobi’s platformer winning the top prize is very split. The idea is thatAstro Botis not viewed as a “serious” game. It’s argued thatAstro Bot’s fun and accessible nature make it less valuable than other games with deeper stories or more complex gameplay.
Some believed that sinceAstro Botis designed for a wider audience, including kids, it lacked the artistic depth and serious themes often expected of a Game of the Year winner. However, looking more closely at what makesAstro Botspecial is very important.What makes a game great isn’t just that it was difficult or had better gameplay elements; it’s that it lasted the test of time when pitted against another game.
Why Astro Bot’s GOTY Win Was Controversial
People Can Disagree, But This Goes Far
AfterAstro Botwon Game of the Yearat The Game Awards, there wasa surprising amount of backlashfrom the gaming community, and it doesn’t take long to find aRedditpost against the win. This brought up a bigger discussion about what makes a game deserving of such an honor. Many people criticizedAstro Botfor being too simple and lacking a deep story compared to other nominees. They felt the award was an attack against more complex and mature games, like RPGs and Souls-like experiences, which are often seen as having richer themes.
A New Funko Pop For Game Of The Year Astro Bot Is Up For Pre-Order, But Fans Better Get Theirs Quick
There is a new Funko Pop! for Astro Bot for pre-order in very limited quantity, and it comes after the game won Game Of The Year for 2024.
Some argued onGameFaqsthatAstro Bot’s win favored nostalgia and accessibility instead of innovation and challenging gameplay. Many fans appreciate games that push creative boundaries or have intricate worlds and mechanics, so theysee a family-friendly platformer as less worthy of recognition. It’s also not common for family-oriented games not to get top awards.
Additionally, fans of other nominated games felt overlooked, particularlyBlack Myth: Wukong, which was an amazing game. However, even the producer felt upset about the loss (viaReddit). This disappointment, fueled by social media, quickly turned into criticism ofAstro Bot’s win instead of celebrating its achievements. There will never be a complete consensus that one game deserves to beat another, butevery nominee is good enoughto be given that crown.
Why Astro Bot Deserved To Win Game Of The Year At TGA
It’s A Great Game That Is Also A Ton Of Fun
Astro Botwinning at the Game Awards wasn’t just a nod to PlayStation’s history or nostalgia. The win was a clear recognition of the game’s outstanding qualities and its special role in gaming.Astro Botreally shone asa true example of fun and skillful designin a year filled withbig letdowns likeConcord. Its success didn’t come from complicated stories or difficult mechanics but from perfectly executing the platforming genre with a lot of joy and creativity.
Unlike many other games,Astro Botdidn’t try to innovate just for its own sake. The game concentrated on refining the core gameplay, delivering a polished, engaging experience that appealed to a wide audience. It wasaccessible for players of all ages and skill levels, allowing both experienced gamers and newcomers to enjoy its simple yet rewarding gameplay and numerous playful nods to PlayStation’s history. While its technical achievements are impressive,Astro Botoffered more than just great visuals; it combined those graphics with smooth and responsive gameplay.
Astro Bot’s GOTY Success Should Be A Wake-Up Call For PlayStation
Astro Bot’s success at The Game Awards 2024 (and financially) proves Sony and PlayStation should return to their glory days of platforming exclusives.
Astro Bot’s focus is on fun, steering clear of live-service features and complicated monetization strategies that often dominate the industry. Providing a complete and satisfying experience withfree post-launch content that adds valuerather than exploiting players is a great example of how video games should prioritize enjoyment.Astro Botreminds players that the essence of a good video game is the fun it brings, and it successfully delivers that with charm and polish, deserving the title of Game of the Year.
Also, the fact of the matter is that it was voted as Game of the Year. While it may seem like the host and his friends pick the winner, it is chosen by avoting jury of over 100 leading media outletsin the gaming industry (viaThe Game Awards). Every award show has voting members, including the Oscars and Emmys. So basically,Astro Botwon by proving it deserved it, not by proving it to a specific person or their friends. That doesn’t make any other game bad; getting nominated is a huge honor, and the developers of the nominees should feel that honor.
All The Ways Astro Bot Proved To Be GOTY
You Won’t Regret Playing It
Critics have praisedAstro Botfor its smooth gameplay, colorful graphics, and overall fun experience. Team Asobi worked hard to create a platformer that is easy for new players to pick up but still challenging for experienced gamers. It’s not easy to get gamers today to say thatthe platformer genre is fun. That’s like Telltale making adventure games fun again; it deserves a high amount of praise.
The game also pays tribute to thehistory of PlayStation with various collectible botsthat represent characters from the last 30 years, which fans of the platform really appreciate. This nostalgic touch adds an emotional connection for long-time players beyond just the gameplay itself. It gives players the connection and feeling of awe and memories without making nostalgia the reason to buy.Astro Botadded just enough to give players that feeling without overdoing it in an industry of reboots trying to cash in on the nostalgia.
Astro Bot May Be My Game Of The Year, But Getting The Platinum Trophy Is A Major Headache
There are so many things that the developers of Astro Bot just managed to get perfect, from sounds to gameplay, but the platinum trophy is difficult.
Additionally, the developers have shown their commitment to the game by offering free updates that add new levels and gameplay features after its release. In fact, thenewest Winter Wonder updatewas made for the festive holiday season. Updates like thoseshow real commitment to the playerbecause developers care enough to keep giving content. This approach is refreshing compared to many other games that rely exclusively on paid content.
Astro Botmanages to capture the joy of classic games while also introducing new ideas with its creative power-ups and level designs. It’s not just a remake of old games. It’s a modern take on 3D platforming,blending innovation with nostalgia. Just because it didn’t make players question their morality doesn’t mean it didn’t stay with players long after they finished playing. That makes this worthy of the Game of the Year title.
In the interest of full disclosure and transparency, Screen Rant confirms it is on the judging panel at The Game Awards 2024. Our editorial process is separate from our contributions to judging, and as such, our panel inclusion does not compromise our journalistic integrity.
