2019 Game Awards Predictions

Ah yes, it’s that time of year again where I predict the winners of awards for the best and brightest and newest of vidjamo games, a world in which I’m at least literally five years behind. But hey, I listen to podcasts and I have friends who play the darn things, so I can make some educated guesses about who will take home the prizes at the 2019 Game Awards on December 12. “Controversial” juggernaut DEATH STRANDING led the nominations with ten; I should also mention here that I’m predicting 23 of the 29 total categories, skipping over the “Content Creator of the Year” and almost all of the esports categories, besides Best Esports Game. I’ll put a * next to my predicted winner.

Game of the Year

• CONTROL
• DEATH STRANDING*
• SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE
• RESIDENT EVIL 2
• SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE
• THE OUTER WORLDS

Best Game Direction

• CONTROL
• DEATH STRANDING*
• RESIDENT EVIL 2
• SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE
• OUTER WILDS

Best Narrative

• A PLAGUE TALE: INNOCENCE
• CONTROL
• DEATH STRANDING
• DISCO ELYSIUM
• THE OUTER WORLDS*

Best Art Direction

• CONTROL*
• DEATH STRANDING
• GRIS
• SAYONARA WILD HEARTS
• SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE
• THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LINK’S AWAKENING

Best Score/Music

• CADENCE OF HYRULE*
• DEATH STRANDING
• DEVIL MAY CRY 5
• KINGDOM HEARTS III
• SAYONARA WILD HEARTS

Best Audio Design

• CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE
• CONTROL
• DEATH STRANDING
• GEARS 5
• RESIDENT EVIL 2*
• SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE

Best Performance

• Ashly Burch — THE OUTER WORLDS
• Courtney Hope — CONTROL
• Laura Bailey — GEARS 5
• Mads Mikkelsen — DEATH STRANDING
• Matthew Porretta — CONTROL
• Norman Reedus — DEATH STRANDING*

Games for Impact

• CONCRETE GENIE
• GRIS
• KIND WORDS
• LIFE IS STRANGE 2*
• SEA OF SOLITUDE

Best Ongoing Game

• APEX LEGENDS
• DESTINY 2
• FINAL FANTASY XIV
• FORTNITE*
• TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX SIEGE

Best Independent Game

• BABA IS YOU
• DISCO ELYSIUM
• KATANA ZERO
• OUTER WILDS*
• UNTITLED GOOSE GAME

Best Mobile Game

• CALL OF DUTY: MOBILE
• GRINDSTONE
• SAYONARA WILD HEARTS*
• SKY: CHILDREN OF LIGHT
• WHAT THE GOLF?

Best Community Support

• APEX LEGENDS
• DESTINY 2
• FINAL FANTASY XIV*
• FORTNITE
• TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX SIEGE

Best VR/AR Game

• ASGARD’S WRATH
• BLOOD & TRUTH
• BEAT SABER
• NO MAN’S SKY
• TROVER SAVES THE UNIVERSE*

Best Action Game

• APEX LEGENDS
• ASTRAL CHAIN
• CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE
• DEVIL MAY CRY 5*
• GEARS 5
• METRO: EXODUS

Best Action/Adventure Game

• BORDERLANDS 3
• CONTROL
• DEATH STRANDING
• RESIDENT EVIL 2*
• THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LINK’S AWAKENING
• SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE

Best RPG

• DISCO ELYSIUM
• FINAL FANTASY XIV
• KINGDOM HEARTS III
• MONSTER HUNTER WORLD: ICEBORNE
• THE OUTER WORLDS*

Best Fighting Game

• DEAD OR ALIVE 6
• JUMP FORCE
• MORTAL KOMBAT 11
• SAMURAI SHOWDOWN
• SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE*

Best Family Game

• LUIGI’S MANSON 3
• RING FIT ADVENTURE
• SUPER MARIO MAKER 2
• SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE*
• YOSHI’S CRAFTED WORLD

Best Strategy Game

• AGE OF WONDERS: PLANETFALL
• ANNO 1800
• FIRE EMBLEM: THREE HOUSES*
• TOTAL WAR: THREE KINGDOMS
• TROPICO 6
• WARGROOVE

Best Sports/Racing Game

• CRASH TEAM RACING NITRO-FUELED*
• DIRT RALLY 2.0
• EFOOTBALL PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2020
• F1 2019
• FIFA 20

Best Multiplayer Game

• APEX LEGENDS*
• BORDERLANDS 3
• CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE
• TETRIS 99
• TOM CLANCY’S THE DIVISION 2

Fresh Indie Game Presented by Subway

• DISCO ELYSIUM
• GRIS
• MY FRIEND PEDRO
• OUTER WILDS*
• SLAY THE SPIRE
• UNTITLED GOOSE GAME

Best Esports Game

• COUNTER-STRIKE: GLOBAL OFFENSIVE
• DOTA2
• FORTNITE
• LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
• OVERWATCH*

Whew, well, I’ll probably get them all wrong again, but if I’m right (very big if), DEATH STRANDING will take home the most awards with three. Hm.