The Game Awards 2017: Prediction and Picks

This might be an odd place to do this, but I didn't want to make a long post on Social Media and instead decided to put this on my long dormant blog for my random writings. I'm very excited for The Game Awards 2017 as they feel like a celebration of my favorite hobby and the best games of the year. You can go here to choose your picks and see the nominees and below you can see a pick of my favorites and my predictions to actually win in their individual categories. I'm going to go in reverse order as to retain a little suspense about my Game of the Year (although you all already know what I picked.)

There will be a few categories that I can't vote or predict on because I simply haven't played them or don't hugely follow Esports; namely Best Chinese Game, Best Esports Team, Best Student Game, and Best Esports Player.


Best Debut Indie Game
My Pick - Cuphead
Prediction - Cuphead

I really like Golf Story, but I think Cuphead is a slam dunk here as it is widely regarded as a fantastically soul crushing platformer.

Trending Gamer
My Pick - Andrea Rene
Prediction - Andrea Rene

Steven Spohn has done fantastic things with AbleGamers, but as this represents who has had a banner year in the media of gaming I think it has to go to Andrea. In 2017 she launched her own all girl podcast (along a fantastic group of ladies), joined Kinda Funny as a contractor in my favorite ongoing gaming news show, and did a great job hosting the Nintendo World Championships.

Best Independent Game
My Pick - Cuphead
Prediction - Cuphead

For the reasons picked above I have to pick Cuphead, but Pyre was a masterpiece of a game that I think everyone should play.

Most Anticipated Game
My Pick - Last of Us Part II
Prediction - Red Dead Redemption II

Wow, what a list of nominees here; I can't wait to play all of them. If I had to pick for the upcoming year it would be Red Dead Redemption II, as I feel that Last of Us won't see the light of day in 2018. However, listing all these games together, I have to go with one of my favorite games of all time for my personal vote. I think Red Dead will get the actual vote though.


 Best Multiplayer
My Pick - Destiny 2
Prediction - PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds

This was another tough category. Personally I love the heck out of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but didn't think it belonged on this list as it is a remake. I really want to give Splatoon 2 the nod also, as I feel like Salmon Run was one of my favorite game modes of the year, but I have to give my personal pick to Destiny 2 for the fantastic campaign and coop that the series brings to consoles. I think PubG is a clear winner vote wise here, as it made waves in the PC arena and became a phenomenon.

Best Sports Racing Game
My Pick - Forza Motorsport 7
Prediction - FIFA 18

This may be a cheat to vote on for me, as I haven't played any of these extensively, but Forza Motorsport 7 is absolutely amazing, especially on an Xbox One X. While I prefer the Forza Horizon series, it is widely regarded as the best racer out there, and with good reason. However, people lose it for FIFA and if I had to bet it would be on soccer here.

Best Strategy Game
My Pick - Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Prediction - Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

Halo Wars 2 was a lot of fun, but it seems like not many people played it and Tooth and Tail flew under everyone's radar as an indie game. However, Kingdom Battle surprised absolutely everyone in a drastic turn of nearly universally panned and then critically acclaimed within a span of months. I absolutely loved the game and so it is no surprise it is both my vote and prediction.

Best Family Game
My Pick - Super Mario Odyssey
Prediction - Super Mario Odyssey

Quite frankly Super Mario Odyssey deserves everything it is nominated for, and since I truly believe another fantastic Nintendo game will be taking home the Game of the Year, I feel people are going to throw their vote here to give it a very deserved award.

Best Fighting Game
My Pick - ARMS
Prediction - Injustice 2

I'm not a huge fighting game fan, aside from arena brawlers like Super Smash Brothers. It takes a rare fighting game to make me buy it, but that is exactly what ARMS did and I love everything about the game. Even so I can clearly see what makes Injustice 2 special, and with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles making their debut in the game next year, I just might have to pick it up too.

Best Role Playing Game
My Pick - Final Fantasy XV
Prediction - Persona 5

To be fair I haven't played a Persona game before, but I know this one was critically and commercially loved by gamers and critics alike. FFXV barely missed the cutoff last year for these awards, but I think that after a year of support it absolutely shines and deserves my personal nod. I am a fan of the series though, so take that as you will.

Best Action Adventure
My Pick - Horizon Zero Dawn
Prediction - Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild

Legend of Zelda is a masterpiece and deserves every award it gets, but I desperately want to give Horizon Zero Dawn a nod and I don't think it'll get it otherwise. If not for Zelda I think it would beat out Super Mario Odyssey for my Game of the Year, as it is one of the best games I've played this console generation.

Best Action Game
My Pick - Destiny 2
My Prediction - Wolfenstein II

I haven't gotten around to Wolfenstein II yet, but I know that it is well loved and is supposed to have a stellar campaign. The category in general is a very odd one with the nominees ranging all over, but I think that Destiny 2 is my clear winner here. Destiny simply feels absolutely spot on with the controls, sound design, and the weight of the world.

Best VR / AR Game
My Pick - N/A
My Prediction - Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

I didn't play any of these because I don't have a fancy future helmet, but just the fact that they made Resident Evil work in VR is a testament to itself. Knowing how the games media feel about this game I think they will want to honor it somewhere, and this seems the most likely place.

Best Handheld Game
My Pick - Metroid Samus Returns
My Prediction - Metroid Samus Returns

I played and enjoyed every game on this nominee list, but Samus Aran needed to be back in a new 2D adventure and here she is. Turns out it was exactly what everyone has wanted and was an absolute joy to play.

Best Mobile Game
My Pick - Super Mario Run
My Prediction - Super Mario Run

While there was a lot of controversy about Super Mario Run's price point (which I agreed with the price whole heartedly), you can't deny the game is a ton of fun to play. I never thought they could encapsulate the Mario experience to one finger press and a cell phone, but they pulled it off. The release of a hearty expansion later in the year brought me back to play another chunk of hours, something I don't usually do on mobile.

Best Ongoing Game
My Pick - Overwatch
My Prediction - Grand Theft Auto Online

GTA Online is the gift that keeps on giving for Rockstar and I would be very surprised if it wasn't honored here. For my dollar though Overwatch is one of the best Multiplayer games I've ever played and the constant support and updates with beloved characters from Blizzard make this one an easy pick for me.

Games For Impact
My Pick - N/A
My Prediction - Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

I haven't played any games on this list, so I can't exactly have a pick. However, from what I've heard Hellblade looks like a triple A game done independently that tackles a tough issue in mental health. The game looks amazing graphically and is supposed to have a stellar sound design. I think it is a clear winner here.

Best Performance
My Pick - Ashly Burch as Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn
Prediction - Ashly Burch as Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn

Aloy is the best new character in video games and I think that Ashly did a phenomenal job helping to bring her to life.

Best Audio Design
My Pick - Super Mario Odyssey
Prediction - Super Mario Odyssey

Who doesn't love the familiar sounds of Super Mario Odyssey? With the iconic beeps and boops of generations of gameplays, not to mention the familiar woo-hoo of a gaming icon, how could you not pick this game?

Best Score / Music
My Pick - The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild
Prediction - Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey had some fantastic tracks, but I was captivated by the music in Zelda. The stable theme, main theme, and the extended Kass ballad are some of the best pieces of music in the franchise, expertly blending old and new.

Best Art Direction
My Pick - Cuphead
Prediction - Cuphead

How can you pick anything else? Love it or hate it Cuphead is wholly unique with a fantastic art style harkening back to cartoons of old and lovingly hand crafted which made it instantly stand out on announcement.

Best Narrative
My Pick - Horizon Zero Dawn
Prediction - Horizon Zero Dawn

What do you get when you mix a powerful female protagonist, robot dinosaurs, and a post apocalyptic world covered in beauty? Apparently one of the best narratives in video games this side of Last of Us.

Best Game Direction
My Pick - The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild
Prediction -Super Mario Odyssey

You can't really go wrong with either of these games as they are both polished to a fine shine and have fantastic design. Personally I felt the way they designed Zelda should revolutionize the open world genre, but Mario has every block placed meticulously where it should be. This is a tough one.

Game of the Year
My Pick - The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild
Prediction -The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild

Was there ever any doubt? Breath of the Wild is, without hyperbole, my favorite game I've ever played. It is my desert island game and I never seem to tire of visiting this world. I don't usually revisit games often because there always is something new to play, but I've consistently gone back to this game over and over again throughout this year to squeeze every drop out of it and can't wait to play Champion's Ballad soon. The art, music and design of this game are some of the best I've seen in gaming and it deserves every word of praise it has gotten this year.


So there you have it, my picks and predictions for the The Game Awards of 2017. Let me know what your picks and predictions are in the comments below.