While 2023 has seen some of the best releases in gaming history, it was also a year where many talented people in the industry sadly lost their jobs. While our appreciation of their work won’t change that fact, it is still upon us to celebrate their hard work and contributions.
So, with bringing Jordan on board to ASG, this year’s Game Awards of 2023 is a collaborative effort with not just our Game of the Year, but our award categories as well, and each of our own personal Top Ten lists, based on a point system that saw Resident Evil 4 take our top spot.
The winners of our categories are based on applying a value to our first, second, third place title, and so, and in the event of a tie, we discussed what SHOULD win.
So, without delay, here are the nominees AND winners of the 2023 Analog Stick Gaming Game Awards!
Best Indie/Small scale Game
Cassette Beasts
Dredge
Dave the Diver
Showgunners
Oceanhorn 2
Sea of Stars
Best Narrative
Mortal Kombat 1
Diablo IV
Starfield
Final Fantasy XVI
Alan Wake 2
Baldur’s Gate III
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Jedi Survivor
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure
Best JRPG
Legend of Heroes; Trails to Azure
Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie
Star Ocean: Second Story R
Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed
Best Soundtrack
Alan Wake II
HI-FI-Rush
Final Fantasy XVI
Sea of Stars
Baldur’s Gate III
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Starfield
Best Art Direction
HI-FI Rush
Dead Space: Remake
Diablo IV
Armored Core VI: The Fires of Rubicon
Baldur’s Gate III
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Final Fantasy XVI
Starfield
Alan Wake 2
Best Action Adventure
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Lies of P
Lords of the Fallen
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage
Best Action
RoboCop: Rogue City
Resident Evil 4
Cyberpunk 2007: Phantom Liberty
HI-FI Rush
Armored Core: VI: The Fires of Rubicon
Final Fantasy XVI
Best Licensed Game
RoboCop: Rogue City
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Spider-Man 2
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Warhammer 40K: Dark Tide
Best 2023 Game you didn't play! (Names in brackets if we personally didn’t play it)
Super Mario Bros Wonder (Jordan)
Cocoon (Jeff)
Shadow Gambit (Jeff/Jordan)
Super Mario RPG (Jeff/Jordan)
Persona 5 Tactica (Jeff/Jordan)
Hotwheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged (Jeff/Jordan)
Best standout character
RoboCop (RoboCop: Rogue City)
Venom (Spider-Man 2)
Kraven (Spider-Man 2)
Merrin (Star Wars Jedi: Survivor)
Sakamoto Ryoma (Like a Dragon Ishin!)
Mr. Door (Alan Wake 2)
Solomon Reed (Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty)
Clive Rosfield (Final Fantasy XVI)
Saga Anderson (Alan Wake 2)
Alan Wake (Alan Wake 2)
Best Racing
The Crew Motorsport
Disney Speedstorm
Forza Motorsport
Fortnite Rocket Racing
Best Fighting
Mortal Kombat 1
Street Fighter 6
Nick All-Star Brawl 2
Best Handheld Game
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Dave the Diver
Dredge
Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Best DLC/Expansion
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Resident Evil 4: Seperate Ways
Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed
Dredge: The Pale Reach
God of War: Valhalla
Hitman: Freelancer
Best Remaster/Best Remake
Resident Evil 4
Dead Space: Remake
Metroid Prime
Star Ocean: Second Story R
Best Family Game
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Lil’ Gator Game
Boti: Byteland Overclocked
Best New IP
HI-FI Rush
Lies of P
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Mythforce
Dredge
Best Ongoing Game
Rainbow Six Siege
Halo Infinite
Fortnite
Warhammer 40K: Dark Tide
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Remnant II
Best Sequel
Remnant II
Alan Wake 2
Lords of the Fallen
Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Diablo IV
Oceanhorn 2
Best Spin-off title
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man who Erased his Name.
Like a Dragon Ishin!
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons
Best Multiplayer
Lords of the Fallen
The Finals
Baldur’s Gate III
Super Mario Bros. Wonder (online)
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Diablo 4
Remnant II
Forza Motorsport
Best Podcast Game
Cocoon
Lords of the Fallen
Dave the Diver
Dredge
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Sea of Stars
Best Female Performance
Tina Ivlev - Merrin - Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Minji Chang - Songbird - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Erica Lindbeck - Peppermint - HI FI Rush
Jennifer English - Shadowheart - Baldur’s Gate III
Samantha Béart - Karlach - Baldur’s Gate III
Melanie Liburd - Saga Anderson - Alan Wake 2
Best Male Performance
James Mccaffrey and Sam Lake - Alex Casey - Alan Wake 2
David Harewood - Mr Door - Alan Wake 2
Idris Elba - Solomon Reed - Cyberpunk Phantom Liberty
Ben Starr - Clive Rosfield - Final Fantasy 16
Matthew Porretta and Ilkka Villi - Alan Wake - Alan Wake 2
Nadji Jeter - Miles Morales - Spider-Man 2
Neil Newbon - Astarion - Baldur’s Gate III
Peter Weller - RoboCop/Alex Murphy - RoboCop: Rogue City.
Best Accessibility
Forza Motorsport
Spider-Man 2
Street Fighter 6
Dead Space
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
What were some of your favorites from the above categories, or what do you think should have won? Comment below!
See you next year!