Golden Joystick Awards 2024: Black Myth Wukong Ultimate Winner But Helldivers 2 and Final Fantasy 7 Went Strong

Game of the Year

By

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21 November, 2024

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

The 42nd Golden Joystick Awards delivered its verdicts to a massive 12-million voter turnout in London on November 21. Host Ben Starr kept the ceremony moving with self-deprecating humor and sharp timing – proving an unknown face can bring fresh energy to gaming’s longest-running awards show.

Black Myth Wukong

Chinese action RPG Black Myth Wukong secured Ultimate Game of the Year and Best Visual Design. Game Science’s win marks the first Chinese-developed title to take the top award – not a revolution in gaming, but a clear sign of China’s growing development strength.

Swedish developer Arrowhead’s Helldivers 2 grabbed three major awards despite its rocky but super-sucessful launch: Console Game of the Year, Best Multiplayer, and Critics’ Choice. The cooperative shooter’s success, complete with its killer soundtrack that surprisingly missed out on audio awards, proves staying power matters more than perfect starts.

Square Enix

Square Enix maintained their powerhouse status with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, collecting four awards, including Best Storytelling and Best Soundtrack. The performance wins for Cody Christian (Cloud) and Briana White (Aerith) reinforced the Japanese studio’s consistent excellence.

Games Radar Youtube Channel : Golden Joystick Awards The 42nd Annual Video Stream

Notable surprises at the 42nd Golden Joystick Awards included Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 walking away empty-handed despite its technical polish, and Microsoft’s relative quiet showing as Senua’s Saga missed opportunities in visual categories. These results hint at shifting player preferences rather than quality issues, indicating a potential change in the gaming landscape.

Long-Standing Steamdeck From Valve

The hardware category may spark discussion. Steam Deck OLED’s victory comes at an interesting time – while cementing Valve’s current handheld dominance, growing competition from other manufacturers suggests this lead isn’t guaranteed for the next generation of Handhelds.

COMPLETE GOLDEN JOYSTICK AWARDS 2024 WINNERS AND NOMINEES

Ultimate Game of the Year WINNER: Black Myth: Wukong

Animal Well
Astro Bot
Balatro
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Helldivers 2
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Satisfactory
Silent Hill 2
Tekken 8

Studio of the Year WINNER: Team ASOBI

11 Bit Studios
Arrowhead Game Studios
Capcom
Digital Eclipse
Visual Concepts

PC Game of the Year WINNER: Satisfactory

Animal Well
Balatro
Frostpunk 2
Tactical Breach Wizards
UFO 50

Console Game of the Year WINNER: Helldivers 2

Astro Bot
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Most Wanted Game WINNER: Grand Theft Auto VI

Atomfall
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Deadlock
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Doom: The Dark Ages
Exodus
Fable
Ghost of Yotei
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Light No Fire
Mafia: The Old Country
Monster Hunter Wilds
Skate
Slay the Spire 2
South of Midnight

Best Storytelling WINNER: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

1000xResist
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Tactical Breach Wizards

Best Visual Design WINNER: Black Myth: Wukong

Astro Bot
Harold Halibut
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Best Multiplayer Game WINNER: Helldivers 2

Abiotic Factor
EA Sports College Football 25
Sons Of The Forest
Tekken 8
The Finals

Helldivers 2 Best Multiplayer Game of the Year 2024 Winner at Golden Joystick Awards London

Best Audio Design WINNER: Astro Bot

Balatro
Robobeat
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Star Wars Outlaws
Still Wakes the Deep

Best Game Expansion WINNER: Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Alan Wake 2 Expansion Pass
Destiny 2: The Final Shape
Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred
God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla
World of Warcraft: The War Within

Best Indie Game – Self Published WINNER: Another Crab’s Treasure

Arctic Eggs
Crow Country
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami
I Am Your Beast
Little Kitty, Big City
Riven
Tactical Breach Wizards
Tiny Glade
UFO 50

Best Indie Game WINNER: Balatro

Animal Well
Arco
Beyond Galaxyland
Conscript
Indika
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Thank Goodness You’re Here!
The Plucky Squire
Ultros

Balatro Best Indie Game 2024 Winner at Golden Joystick Awards London

Best Soundtrack WINNER: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

A Highland Song
Astro Bot
Hauntii
Silent Hill 2
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Best Soundtrack Winner at Golden Joystick Awards London

Best Early Access Game WINNER: Lethal Company

Enshrouded
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
Hades 2
Manor Lords
Palworld

Best Gaming Hardware WINNER: Steam Deck OLED

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)
Backbone One (2nd Gen)
LG UltraGear 32GS95UE
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super
Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra

Best Game Trailer WINNER: Helldivers 2 – “The Fight for Freedom Begins”

Caravan Sandwitch – Launch Trailer
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – State of Play
Kingmakers – Official Announcement
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – Narrator Reveal
The Plucky Squire – Launch Trailer

Best Game Adaptation WINNER: Fallout Series

Borderlands
Halo Season 2
Knuckles
Like a Dragon: Yakuza
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft

Best Lead Performer WINNER: Cody Christian (Cloud Strife in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth)

Kaiji Tang (Ichiban Kasuga in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth)
Humberly Gonzalez (Kay Vess in Star Wars Outlaws)
Luke Roberts (James Sunderland in Silent Hill 2)
Melina Juergens (Senua in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II)
Sonequa Martin-Green (Alvilda in Asgard’s Wrath 2)

Best Supporting Performer WINNER: Briana White (Aerith in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth)

Abbi Greenland & Helen Goalen (The Furies in Hellblade II)
Dawn M. Bennett (Aigis in Persona 3 Reload)
Debra Wilson (Amanda Waller in Suicide Squad)
Matt Berry (Herbert in Thank Goodness You’re Here!)
Neve McIntosh (Suze in Still Wakes the Deep)

Still Play Award – Mobile WINNER: Honkai: Star Rail

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile
Free Fire
Roblox
Marvel Snap
Monopoly Go!
Mini Motorways
PUBG: Battlegrounds
Squad Busters
Star Wars: Hunters
Subway Surfers
The Sims Mobile

Still Playing Award – Console & PC WINNER: Minecraft

Apex Legends
Counter-Strike 2
EA Sports FC
Dota 2
Fortnite
GTA Online
Naraka: Bladepoint
Roblox
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
Valorant
Warframe

Critics’ Choice Award WINNER: Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 Critics Choice Awards 2024 Winner at Golden Joystick Awards London

Breakthrough Award WINNER: Balatro

Streamers’ Choice Award WINNER: Chained Together

Regional Distribution of Winners: Asian Studios:

Game Science (China): Black Myth Wukong
Square Enix (Japan): Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Team ASOBI (Japan): Studio of the Year
FromSoftware (Japan): Best Game Expansion
miHoYo (China): Mobile Still Playing Award

European Studios:

Arrowhead Games (Sweden): Helldivers 2
Coffee Stain Studios (Sweden): Satisfactory
Mojang Studios (Sweden): Still Playing Award

North American Studios:

Bethesda/Amazon: Fallout adaptation
LocalThunk: Balatro
Zeekerss: Lethal Company
Aggro Crab: Another Crab’s Treasure

Key Numbers:

24 total awards presented
12 million voters participated
4 awards decided by critics
20 awards voted by the public
Over 250 games nominated

Multiple Award Winners:

Black Myth: Wukong (2)
Helldivers 2 (3)
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (4)

Conclusion of the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards

The 42nd Golden Joystick Awards reflected gaming’s current state while pointing toward its future. Chinese developers strengthened their global presence, Swedish studios proved their versatility, and Japanese powerhouses maintained their excellence. This was a successful and fair event despite some surprising misses from established franchises.

Black Myth Wukong Became Ultimate Game of the Year on Golden Joystick Award 2024!

Game of the Year

By

Mat

-

21 November, 2024

Black Myth Wukong Ultimate Game of Year 2024 Golden Joystic Awards

Game Science’s mythological action RPG Black Myth: Wukong has claimed Ultimate Game of the Year at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards, with Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth securing second place. The Silent Hill 2 remake and Helldivers 2 rounded out the top spots, placing third and fourth respectively.

The win showcases the rising power of Chinese game development, with Wukong’s blend of Souls-like combat and Journey to the West storytelling resonating strongly with players. The game’s stunning visuals and balanced difficulty curve set it apart in a year packed with heavyweight releases.

WePlayGames Youtube Channel : Black Myth Wukong – Gameplay of fighting Black Wind King Boss on PlayStation 5

Satisfactory Won PC Game Of The Year on Golden Joystick Awards 2024

Games of Year

By

Mat

-

21 November, 2024

Coffee Stain Studios’ factory-building sim Satisfactory scores big at this year’s Golden Joystick Awards, cementing its position in the simulation genre. The game, which merges automation mechanics with first-person exploration, has steadily built a dedicated player base since its Early Access debut.

At its core, Satisfactory challenges players to construct intricate automated manufacturing systems while navigating complex 3D logistics. The game’s defining feature – vertical factory construction in first-person view – revolutionizes the typically top-down factory builder format. Its multiplayer capability enables coordinated engineering feats across its vast alien terrain.

The title maintains a solid ‘Very Positive’ rating on Steam, with players logging thousands of hours optimizing production lines and crafting elaborate industrial complexes. Regular content updates and robust mod support have kept the community engaged, while its technical depth continues to attract both casual builders and efficiency-focused veterans.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl – Back to the Zone

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

By

Mat

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18 November, 2024

STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl - Creepy Priypiat Wheel

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Many have been following S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chornobyl since its announcement, and now we’re finally here. The game drops on November 20th, 2024, and I’ve got to say – its release feels more meaningful than ever.

STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl - Picturesque countryside — STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Picturesque countryside

The Essentials

First, the practical stuff. The game from Chernobyl area launches worldwide on Xbox Series X|S and PC at 8am PT / 11am ET / 4pm GMT. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can jump in on day one. Clear your drives though – you’ll need 146GB on both Xbox Series X and S for S.T.A.K.E.R. 2.

STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl - Shotgun — STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Shotgun

Under the Hood

GSC Game World has pushed hard on the technical front. Xbox Series X players get 60 FPS, while Series S runs at 30 FPS (they’re still optimizing). Unreal Engine 5 makes this the best-looking STALKER yet, with ray tracing bringing those irradiated landscapes to life.

STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl - Fighting ambush — STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Fighting ambush

The Real War Story

Let’s talk about what makes this release remarkable. While Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine forced GSC Game World to flee their Kyiv studio for Prague in 2022, they never stopped development. GSC Game World, a Ukrainian studio, has crafted its own unique vision of the Zone, one that’s become synonymous with Ukrainian game development and resiliency.

STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl - Reloading rifle — STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Reloading rifle

What’s New in the Zone

The improvements are substantial:

A-Life 2.0 system creates a truly dynamic world
Multiple story paths with real consequences
Much tighter shooting mechanics
Smarter, deadlier mutants
Enhanced survival elements that make every decision count

STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl - Photoshoot smiling — STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Photoshoot smiling

More Than a Game

STALKER’s dark atmosphere and survival horror have always drawn from real-world anxieties of Pripyat and surroundings. Now, as Russian missiles target Ukrainian cities, the game’s themes of endurance hit closer to home. But GSC Game World hasn’t let this overshadow their vision – they’ve channeled that energy into creating something authentic.

Game Pass means millions can experience this unique game. When I fire up STALKER 2 next week, I’ll think about the team that built it while their homeland has been under vicious and constant attack. Then I’ll probably get killed by a bloodsucker lurking in the dark, and that’s precisely how it should be. Anticipations are high here.

STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl - Energetik — STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Energetik

STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl - Arguments — STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Arguments
STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Arguments

STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl - Sensors are handy — STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Sensors are handy
STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Sensors are handy

STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl - Radiation brings some magic — STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Radiation brings some magic
STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Radiation brings some magic

STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl - Mutated animals fighting under train bridge — STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Mutated animals fighting under train bridge
STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Mutated animals fighting under train bridge

STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl - Leftovers of soviet graphics — STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Leftovers of soviet graphics
STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Leftovers of soviet graphics

STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl - Doesnt look well — STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Doesnt look well
STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Doesnt look well

STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl - Bazar building — STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Bazar building
STALKER 2 Heart Of Chernobyl – Bazar building

Tony Todd (1954-2024) – The Legendary Voice Behind Venom and Gaming’s Greatest Characters Died

Tony Todd Died

By

Mat

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13 November, 2024

Tony Todd Tribute voice-over spectacle of Venom Marvel Spider-Man 2

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Final Performance Coming in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

The gaming world lost one of its most powerful voices on November 6, 2024, when Tony Todd left us. But here’s the bittersweet truth – we haven’t heard the last of that incredible voice yet.

Spider-Man 2’s Venom and BAFTA Recognition

For us gamers, 2023 was a gift, as Todd brought the terrifying Venom to life in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. His performance was so compelling it earned him a BAFTA Games Award nomination. That’s the thing about Tony – he didn’t just voice characters; he became them. And we’ll get one final chance to experience his talent in the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, where he plays the character Locus. It’ll be a posthumous release, but what a way to cap off an incredible gaming legacy.

Half-Life, DOTA 2, and Call of Duty: A Voice Acting

I first discovered Todd’s gaming work in Half-Life 2, where his distinctive voice brought the mysterious Vortigaunts to life, a role he continued to master through Half-Life: Alyx. But man, the range this guy had was incredible. From commanding respect as Admiral Tommy Briggs in Call of Duty: Black Ops II to striking fear as the monstrous boss in Back 4 Blood, he could do it all. DOTA 2 players know him as both Dragon Knight and Viper, proving he could handle multiple characters in the same game with equal skill.

From Candyman to The Flash’s Zoom: Todd’s Screen Legacy

Of course, you can’t talk about Tony Todd without mentioning Candyman. That role didn’t just define supernatural horror in the ’90s – it showed us what horror could be: sophisticated, scary, and surprisingly deep. His performance as Zoom in The Flash proved that whether we could see his face or not, Todd could send chills down our spine with just his voice.

Transformers and Beyond: Bringing Video Game Villains to Life

Remember battling against The Fallen in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen? That was Todd too, bringing that signature intensity to the robot world. Every role he took, whether in games, movies, or TV, got the full Tony Todd treatment – that perfect mix of power and presence that nobody else could quite match.

The Final Chapter: From Spider-Man to Indiana Jones

To think that we’ll get one last performance in Indiana Jones… it’s like a final gift from an actor who gave us so many memorable moments. For those who never got the chance to meet him at conventions or hear him speak in person, just fire up any game he’s in. That voice – powerful, distinctive, unforgettable – that’s the real Tony Todd.

Legacy Lives On: Tony Todd’s Impact on Gaming

Rest in peace, Mr. Todd. While we mourn your passing, it’s comforting to know that new generations of gamers will still get to experience your talent. The gaming world is better because you were part of it.