My Hypothetical 2017 Video Game Award Show

From 2010-2014, I produced a yearly video game award show audio extravaganza for my old podcast, Show Me Your News. It’s something I would like to get back to attempting one day, perhaps on Games in Time, as I have learned quite a lot in terms of production since then. While friends of mine are currently gathering their thoughts together on how they would vote in an award show based off of 2017’s best games, I thought I should post what my award categories, nominees, and winners would be, if I directed such a spectacle.

2017 video game award

GAME OF THE YEAR

Horizon Zero Dawn
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
NieR: Automata
Persona 5
Super Mario Odyssey

BEST PC GAME

Divinity: Original Sin II
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
What Remains of Edith Finch
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

BEST PS4 GAME

Horizon Zero Dawn
NieR: Automata
Persona 5
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Yakuza 0

BEST XBOX ONE GAME

Assassin’s Creed Origins
Cuphead
Forza Motorsport 7
Halo Wars 2
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

BEST SWITCH GAME

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Splatoon 2
Super Mario Odyssey
Xenoblade Chronicles 2

BEST VR GAME

Farpoint
Lone Echo
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Star Trek: Bridge Crew

BEST 3DS GAME

Ever Oasis
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Metroid: Samus Returns
Pokémon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon

BEST VITA GAME

Akiba’s Beat
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
SteamWorld Dig 2
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana

BEST ATMOSPHERE

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Horizon Zero Dawn
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
What Remains of Edith Finch

BEST RPG

Divinity: Original Sin II
Persona 5
Tales of Berseria
Xenoblade Chronicles 2

BEST INDEPENDENT GAME

Cuphead
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Night in the Woods
What Remains of Edith Finch

BEST MULTIPLAYER

Destiny 2
The Jackbox Party Pack 4
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

MOST UNDER-RESPECTED GAME

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
Life Is Strange: Before the Storm
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Yakuza 0

BEST DLC/EXPANSION

Final Fantasy XIV – Stormblood
Horizon Zero Dawn – The Frozen Wilds
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – The Champions’ Ballad
XCOM 2 – War of the Chosen

BEST SPORTS/RACING GAME

Forza Motorsport 7
Gran Turismo Sport
Madden NFL 18
Project CARS 2

BEST RE-RELEASED GAME

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Zero Escape: The Nonary Games

MOST DISAPPOINTING GAME

Marvel vs Capcom Infinite
Mass Effect: Andromeda
Star Wars: Battlefront II
Yooka-Laylee

MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE

Assassin’s Creed Origins
Cuphead
Sonic Mania
Yakuza 0

BEST MOMENT IN A GAME

Sentencing – Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Chicken Dinner – PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
Leaving the Great Plateau – The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
New Donk City Festival – Super Mario Odyssey

BEST NEW IP

Cuphead
Horizon Zero Dawn
Night in the Woods
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE

Assassin’s Creed Origins
Persona 5
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

BEST ACTING PERFORMANCE

Ashly Burch – Aloy (Horizon Zero Dawn)
Brian Bloom – B.J. Blazkowicz (Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus)
Claudia Black – Chloe Frazer (Uncharted: The Lost Legacy)
Melina Juergens – Senua (Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice)

BEST VISUAL DESIGN

Cuphead
Horizon Zero Dawn
Night in the Woods
Persona 5

BEST NARRATIVE

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
Horizon Zero Dawn
NieR: Automata
What Remains of Edith Finch

STUDIO OF THE YEAR

Atlus P Studio
Guerrilla Games
MachineGames
Nintendo EPD

BEST SOUNDTRACK

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
NieR: Automata
Persona 5
Sonic Mania

BEST SONG IN A GAME

“Jump Up Superstar” – Super Mario Odyssey
“Judgment SHINPAN” – Yakuza 0
“Life Will Change” – Persona 5
“Song of the Ancients” – Nier: Automata

BEST GAME TRAILER

Assassin’s Creed Origins – Gamescom 2017 Trailer
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Switch Presentation Trailer
Red Dead Redemption II – Official Trailer #2
Sonic Mania – Opening Animation

MOST ANTICIPATED GAME

Kingdom Hearts III
The Last of Us Part II
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Red Dead Redemption II

PROTAGONIST OF THE YEAR

2B – NieR: Automata
B.J. Blazkowicz – Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Goro Majima – Yakuza 0
Joker – Persona 5

ANTAGONIST OF THE YEAR

Frau Irene Engel – Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Goro Akechi – Persona 5
Kokichi Oma – Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
Monika – Doki Doki Literature Club!

2017 video game award

So, to summarize:

  • THREE AWARDS
    • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Game of the Year, Switch, Trailer)
    • Cuphead (Xbox One, Independent, Visual Design)
  • TWO AWARDS
    • Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4, New IP)
    • NieR: Automata (Narrative, Soundtrack)
    • Persona 5 (RPG, Song)
    • Yakuza 0 (Under-Respected, Protagonist)
    • Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (Atmosphere, Acting Performance)

Hopefully, when the end of 2018 rolls around, I can present this kind of information in a better, more viewer-inclusive format.

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Peter Spezia

Editor-in-Chief at Rhymes With Asia
Speaking into a microphone about nerd culture is a passion project for Peter Spezia, formerly known as SMYNYouko. Peter has been an Internet broadcaster since 2007, with past shows including Show Me Your News and WTF, Pokémon. His latest ventures include hosting The PowerSwitch - gaming's call-in talk radio show - and writing for RhymesWithAsia.com. A University of Michigan alum, Peter lives in the Great Lakes State with his wife Rachel as he works in video production for FCA US LLC. When he isn't keeping track of the latest video game industry news, Peter is either playing the guitar or staying fit.