The Game Awards 2023 winners: Alan Wake 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3 get the most awards

The curtains have closed on The Game Awards 2023, leaving us with a vibrant celebration showcasing the rich tapestry of gaming’s past and future. Throughout the event, amidst the buzz of exciting game reveals and upcoming titles, due recognition was given to the remarkable games and developers who graced the gaming landscape in the past year.

This comprehensive article aims to spotlight the major victors of the night, with particular emphasis on the highly coveted Game of the Year accolade. In a year as monumental as 2023, the honour associated with this award is amplified. Despite many deserving contenders, one title emerged victorious: Baldur’s Gate 3.

Baldur’s Gate 3 not only clinched the prestigious Game of the Year title but also made a surprise release of its Xbox version. Additionally, it swept other categories, securing triumph in Best Community Support, Best RPG, Best Multiplayer, and the coveted Player’s Voice category. Following closely behind, Alan Wake 2 claimed three wins, triumphing in Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction.

For a comprehensive rundown of The Game Awards 2023 winners, peruse the list below. Don’t forget to explore our compilation featuring the most significant revelations from The Game Awards!

[Full list of The Game Awards 2023 winners here]

Be sure to also catch our comprehensive summary of the most impactful reveals from The Game Awards!

Game of the Year

Recognizing a game that delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields.

• Alan Wake 2
• Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Resident Evil 4 Remake
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Game Direction

Awarded for outstanding creative vision and innovation in game direction and design.

• Alan Wake 2 – WINNER
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Narrative

For outstanding storytelling and narrative development in a game.

• Alan Wake 2 – WINNER
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Final Fantasy 16
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Best Art Direction

For outstanding creative and/or technical achievement in artistic design and animation.

• Alan Wake 2 – WINNER
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Lies of P
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Score/Music

For outstanding music, inclusive of score, original song and/or licensed soundtrack.

• Alan Wake 2
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Final Fantasy 16 – WINNER
• Hi-Fi Rush
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Audio Design

Recognizing the best in-game audio and sound design.

• Alan Wake 2
• Dead Space Remake
• Hi-Fi Rush – WINNER
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Resident Evil 4 Remake

Best Performance

Awarded to an individual for voice-over acting, motion and/or performance capture.

• Ben Starr – Final Fantasy 16
• Cameron Monaghan – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• Idris Elba – Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Melanie Liburd – Alan Wake 2
• Neil Newbon – Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Yuri Lowenthal – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Games for Impact

For a thought-provoking game with a pro-social meaning or message.

• A Space for the Unbound
• Chants of Sennaar
• Goodbye Volcano High
• Tchia – WINNER
• Terra Nil
• Venba

Best Ongoing Game

Awarded to a game for outstanding development of ongoing content that evolves the player experience over time.

• Apex Legends
• Cyberpunk 2077 – WINNER
• Final Fantasy 14
• Fortnite
• Genshin Impact

Best Indie Game

For outstanding creative and technical achievement in a game made outside the traditional publisher system.

• Cocoon
• Dave the Diver
• Dredge
• Sea of Stars – WINNER
• Viewfinder

Best Debut Indie Game

For the best debut game created by a new independent studio.

• Cocoon – WINNER
• Dredge
• Pizza Tower
• Venba
• Viewfinder

Best Mobile Game

For the best game playable on a mobile device.

• Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis
• Honkai: Star Rail – WINNER
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure
• Monster Hunter Now
• Terra Nil

Best Community Support

Recognizing a game for outstanding community support, transparency and responsiveness, inclusive of social media activity and game updates/patches.

• Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Destiny 2
• Final Fantasy 16
• No Man’s Sky

Best VR/AR Game

For the best game experience playable in virtual or augmented reality, irrespective of platform.

• Gran Turismo 7
• Humanity
• Horizon: Call of the Mountain
• Resident Evil Village – WINNER
• Synapse

Innovation in Accessibility

Recognizing software and/or hardware that is pushing the medium forward by adding features, technology and content to help games be played and enjoyed by an even wider audience.

• Diablo 4
• Forza Motorsport – WINNER
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Street Fighter 6

Best Action Game

The best game in the action genre focused primarily on combat.

• Armoured Core 6: Fires of Rubicon – WINNER
• Dead Island 2
• Ghostrunner 2
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Remnant 2

Best Action/Adventure Game

For the best action/adventure game, combining combat with traversal and puzzle solving.

• Alan Wake 2
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Resident Evil 4
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – WINNER

Best RPG

For the best game designed with rich player character customization and progression, including massively multiplayer experiences.

• Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Final Fantasy 16
• Lies of P
• Sea of Stars
• Starfield

Best Fighting Game

For the best game designed primarily around head-to-head combat.

• God of Rock
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
• Pocket Bravery
• Street Fighter 6 – WINNER

Best Family Game

For the best game appropriate for family play, irrespective of genre or platform.

• Disney Illusion Island
• Party Animals
• Pikmin 4
• Sonic Superstars
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder – WINNER

Best Sports/Racing Game

For the best traditional and non-traditional sports and racing game.

• EA Sports FC 24
• F1 23
• Forza Motorsport – WINNER
• Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged
• The Crew Motofest

Best SIM/Strategy Game

Best game focused on real-time or turn-based simulation or strategy gameplay, irrespective of platform.

• Advanced Wars 1+” Re-Boot Camp
• Cities: Skylines 2
• Company of Heroes 3
• Fire Emblem Engage
• Pikmin 4 – WINNER

Best Multiplayer Game

For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences, irrespective of game genre or platform.

• Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Diablo 4
• Party Animals
• Street Fighter 6
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Content Creator of the Year

For a streamer or content creator who has made an important and positive impact on the community in 2021.

• IronMouse – WINNER
• PeopleMakeGames
• Quackity
• Spreen
• SypherPK

Best Esports Athlete

The esports athlete judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021, irrespective of game.

• Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok – WINNER
• Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
• Max “Demon1” Mazanov
• Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez
• Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk
• Phillip ”ImperialHal” Dosen

Best Esports Coach

The Esports coach was judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021.

• Christine “potter” Chi – WINNER
• Danny “zonic” Sorensen
• Jordan “Gunba” Graham
• Remy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam
• Yoon “Homme” Sung-young

Best Esports Event

Recognizing an event (across single or multiple days) that delivered a best-of-class experience for participants and the broadcast audience.

• 2023 League of Legends World Championship – WINNER
• Blast.tv Paris Major 2023
• EVO 2023
• The International Dota 2 Championships 2023
• VALORANT Champions 2023

Best Esports Game

For the game that has delivered the best overall esports experience to players (inclusive of tournaments, community support and content updates), irrespective of genre or platform.

• Counter-Strike 2
• Dota 2
• League of Legends
• PUBG Mobile
• Valorant – WINNER

Best Esports Team

Recognizing a specific esports team (not the full organization) judged the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021.

• Evil Geniuses
• Fnatic
• Gaimin Gladiators
• JD Gaming – WINNER
• Team Vitality

Most Anticipated Game

Recognizing an announced game that has demonstrably illustrated potential to push the gaming medium forward.

• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – WINNER
• Hades 2
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Star Wars Outlaws
• Tekken 8

Best Adaptation

Celebrating game-inspired projects across entertainment including TV, movies, comics, and more.

• Castlevania: Nocturne
• Gran Turismo
• The Last of Us – WINNER
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie
• Twisted Metal

Best Game Direction

Awarded for outstanding creative vision and innovation in game direction and design.

• Alan Wake 2 – WINNER
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Narrative

For outstanding storytelling and narrative development in a game.

• Alan Wake 2 – WINNER
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Final Fantasy 16
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Best Art Direction

For outstanding creative and/or technical achievement in artistic design and animation.

• Alan Wake 2 – WINNER
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Lies of P
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Score/Music

For outstanding music, inclusive of score, original song and/or licensed soundtrack.

• Alan Wake 2
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Final Fantasy 16 – WINNER
• Hi-Fi Rush
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Audio Design

Recognizing the best in-game audio and sound design.

• Alan Wake 2
• Dead Space Remake
• Hi-Fi Rush – WINNER
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Resident Evil 4 Remake

Best Performance

Awarded to an individual for voice-over acting, motion and/or performance capture.

• Ben Starr – Final Fantasy 16
• Cameron Monaghan – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• Idris Elba – Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Melanie Liburd – Alan Wake 2
• Neil Newbon – Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Yuri Lowenthal – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Games for Impact

For a thought-provoking game with a pro-social meaning or message.

• A Space for the Unbound
• Chants of Sennaar
• Goodbye Volcano High
• Tchia – WINNER
• Terra Nil
• Venba

Best Ongoing Game

Awarded to a game for outstanding development of ongoing content that evolves the player experience over time.

• Apex Legends
• Cyberpunk 2077 – WINNER
• Final Fantasy 14
• Fortnite
• Genshin Impact

Best Indie Game

For outstanding creative and technical achievement in a game made outside the traditional publisher system.

• Cocoon
• Dave the Diver
• Dredge
• Sea of Stars – WINNER
• Viewfinder

Best Debut Indie Game

For the best debut game created by a new independent studio.

• Cocoon – WINNER
• Dredge
• Pizza Tower
• Venba
• Viewfinder

Best Mobile Game

For the best game playable on a mobile device.

• Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis
• Honkai: Star Rail – WINNER
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure
• Monster Hunter Now
• Terra Nil

Best Community Support

Recognizing a game for outstanding community support, transparency and responsiveness, inclusive of social media activity and game updates/patches.

• Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Destiny 2
• Final Fantasy 16
• No Man’s Sky

Best VR/AR Game

For the best game experience playable in virtual or augmented reality, irrespective of platform.

• Gran Turismo 7
• Humanity
• Horizon: Call of the Mountain
• Resident Evil Village – WINNER
• Synapse

Innovation in Accessibility

Recognizing software and/or hardware that is pushing the medium forward by adding features, technology and content to help games be played and enjoyed by an even wider audience.

• Diablo 4
• Forza Motorsport – WINNER
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Street Fighter 6

Best Action Game

For the best game in the action genre focused primarily on combat.

• Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon – WINNER
• Dead Island 2
• Ghostrunner 2
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Remnant 2

Best Action/Adventure Game

For the best action/adventure game, combining combat with traversal and puzzle solving.

• Alan Wake 2
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Resident Evil 4
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – WINNER

Best RPG

For the best game designed with rich player character customization and progression, including massively multiplayer experiences.

• Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Final Fantasy 16
• Lies of P
• Sea of Stars
• Starfield

Best Fighting Game

For the best game designed primarily around head-to-head combat.

• God of Rock
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
• Pocket Bravery
• Street Fighter 6 – WINNER

Best Family Game

For the best game appropriate for family play, irrespective of genre or platform.

• Disney Illusion Island
• Party Animals
• Pikmin 4
• Sonic Superstars
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder – WINNER

Best Sports/Racing Game

For the best traditional and non-traditional sports and racing game.

• EA Sports FC 24
• F1 23
• Forza Motorsport – WINNER
• Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged
• The Crew Motofest

Best SIM/Strategy Game

Best game focused on real time or turn-based simulation or strategy gameplay, irrespective of platform.

• Advanced Wars 1+” Re-Boot Camp
• Cities: Skylines 2
• Company of Heroes 3
• Fire Emblem Engage
• Pikmin 4 – WINNER

Best Multiplayer Game

For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences, irrespective of game genre or platform.

• Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Diablo 4
• Party Animals
• Street Fighter 6
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Content Creator of the Year

For a streamer or content creator who has made an important and positive impact on the community in 2021.

• IronMouse – WINNER
• PeopleMakeGames
• Quackity
• Spreen
• SypherPK

Best Esports Athlete

The esports athlete judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021, irrespective of game.

• Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok – WINNER
• Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
• Max “Demon1” Mazanov
• Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez
• Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk
• Phillip ”ImperialHal” Dosen

Best Esports Coach

The Esports coach judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021.

• Christine “potter” Chi – WINNER
• Danny “zonic” Sorensen
• Jordan “Gunba” Graham
• Remy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam
• Yoon “Homme” Sung-young

Best Esports Event

Recognizing an event (across single or multiple days) that delivered a best-of-class experience for participants and the broadcast audience.

• 2023 League of Legends World Championship – WINNER
• Blast.tv Paris Major 2023
• EVO 2023
• The International Dota 2 Championships 2023
• VALORANT Champions 2023

Best Esports Game

For the game that has delivered the best overall esports experience to players (inclusive of tournaments, community support and content updates), irrespective of genre or platform.

• Counter-Strike 2
• Dota 2
• League of Legends
• PUBG Mobile
• Valorant – WINNER

Best Esports Team

Recognizing a specific esports team (not the full organization) judged the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021.

• Evil Geniuses
• Fnatic
• Gaimin Gladiators
• JD Gaming – WINNER
• Team Vitality

Most Anticipated Game

Recognizing an announced game that has demonstrably illustrated potential to push the gaming medium forward.

• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – WINNER
• Hades 2
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Star Wars Outlaws
• Tekken 8

Best Adaptation

Celebrating game-inspired projects across entertainment including TV, movies, comics, and more.

• Castlevania: Nocturne
• Gran Turismo
• The Last of Us – WINNER
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie
• Twisted Metal

Players’ Voice

This category is 100% voted on by fans for their favorite game of 2023.

• Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Genshin Impact
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom