The Game Awards names: The good, the bad, the WTF | Kaser focus

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I think 2022 has been a good year for gaming - I had a good time anyway. But you wouldn't get that impression from the Game of the Year nominations presented by The Game Awards this year. In 2021 we had It Takes Two, Psychonauts 2, Metroid Dread and Rift Apart among others. This year, it will basically come down to a battle between Elden Ring and God of War Ragnarök. Poor Horizon: Forbidden West is the only dark horse.

As for the others, I'm not that impressed. As much as I loved Stray – and I loved him; I gave it a 4.5, for Kitty's sake - it's not GOTY material. It was great at what it was trying to be, but it wasn't trying to be very much. I'm more surprised that Tunic was left out. I guess the big question of what gamers are sweet for - Soulslikes or cute cats - has finally been answered. Plus, the inclusion of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 feels like a weird fluke. As for A Plague Tale: Requiem… I liked it, but it was way too long for my taste.

Of course, nothing strikes me as weird as seeing Half-Mermaid's Immortality getting nominations, including for Best Direction and Best Story. I'm a band of one, apparently, but I despised this game. Ironically, the only category I would have nominated it for (if you had put a gun to my head) was Best Audio Design, for which he was not nominated. I also don't know why Sifu is nominated for Best Fighting Game when it's an action game. And do we really need a “most anticipated” award? We get it – everyone wants to play Tears of the Kingdom. He doesn't need more recognition.

Okay, that's enough that I'm grumpy. We all know The Game Awards will be mostly about trailers, and I can't wait to watch them with you all. In the meantime, I'm playing Pentiment, which I've been looking forward to for some time. I can play with Pokémon, if there is time. You Know Me: Murder Mysteries First!

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