The 2024 Game of the Year award has been handed out at the DICE Awards, and it has fallen into the hands of Larian for Baldur’s Gate 3.
It may not be my personal Game of the Year, but I feel Baldur’s Gate 3 is a very important game deserving of its accolade. Not only is it fun to play, technically impressive, and narratively endearing, but it’s also complex in a way that most big-budget games don’t reach for. I’ve said to a few people that I appreciate it because it has tricked the mainstream into playing something that isn’t designed to be as approachable and widely appealing.
This is somewhat echoed in the acceptance speech made by director Michael Douse and head of production David Walgrave. In an awards show where they were actually allowed to talk about their creation, Douse spoke about how the vast swaths of layoffs are a failure of the industry and not of the people who actually make the games.
“Many, many people were let go at the start of this year,” said Douse. “I want you to know that you are all talented, and that you matter, and that you are the future of this industry. Don’t let that flame be extinguished by our collective mistakes.”
Walgrave cited Larian’s focus on the community and players over what will make them the most money as the key to their success. He digs at the microtransational practice of the industry by pointing out that Baldur’s Gate 3 charges you once, upfront, and that you can keep it forever. He continues to say, “We don’t have shareholders, but we also don’t think about them,” which hits hard in a week of third-quarter earnings reports that read like executives patting themselves on the back for maximizing profits for investors while passing the bill off on their employees.
Yeah, Baldur’s Gate 3 wasn’t my favorite game this year, but I am very happy that it’s getting the spotlight.
The rest of the best
If you haven’t been paying attention to the DICE awards, here are the winners of the rest of the categories:
- Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 - Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Alan Wake 2 - Outstanding Achievement in Character
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – Miles Morales - Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 - Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 - Outstanding Achievement in Story
Baldur’s Gate 3 - Outstanding Technical Achievement
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 - Action Game of the Year
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 - Adventure Game of the Year
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Family Game of the Year
Super Mario Bros. Wonder - Fighting Game of the Year
Street Fighter 6 - Racing Game of the Year
Forza Motorsport - Role-Playing Game of the Year
Baldur’s Gate 3 - Sports Game of the Year
MLB The Show 23 - Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
Dune: Spice Wars - Online Game of the Year
Diablo IV - Immersive Reality Technical Achievement
Horizon: Call of the Mountain - Immersive Reality Game of the Year
Asgard’s Wrath 2 - Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game
COCOON - Mobile Game of the Year
WHAT THE CAR? - Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
Baldur’s Gate 3 - Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Baldur’s Gate 3 - Game of the Year
Baldur’s Gate 3
