Just when you thought the debate surrounding last year’s best game was over, the New York Game Awards goes ahead and reveals its list of nominees. Surprisingly enough, it includes one of the more not-so-surprising exclusives from other nominations lists: Starfield.
Starfield was notably a non-factor at The Game Awards and other award shows held during the latter half of 2023, and for a good reason – Bethesda Game Studios’ latest magnum opus didn’t quite live up to expectations.
This surprising nomination of one of last year’s best-selling games have reignited the debate surrounding its quality.
Starfield is joined by Baldur’s Gate 3 from Larian Studios at the 2024 New York Game Awards with six nominations in a handful of categories such as Best Game of the Year, Best Writing, Best World, and Best Music. Alan Wake 2, developed by Remedy Entertainment, is also a strong contender, having received nominations across five categories including Best Game of the Year. The DLC Phantom Liberty for Cyberpunk 2077 is another game that garnered attention, receiving two nominations: Game of the Year and Best DLC. Finally, Idris Elba’s role as Solomon Reed in the DLC has earned him a Best Acting nomination.
As previously mentioned, the inclusion of Starfield in the GOTY category has sparked intense discussion on the internet. While some players appreciate the game for its expansive open world and dynamic gameplay, featuring intense battles and space exploration, others critique its narrative and depth, especially when compared to the more story-driven and immersive experience of Baldur’s Gate 3. The latter title has received praise for its narrative, character development, and immersive world-building.
Of course, while Starfield received a nomination, it probably won’t win the award at all. Its only strengths are its scale and freedom of explore and it isn’t exactly groundbreaking in either area.
Even if we were to say that Starfield had come out in another year, Starfield’s weaknesses are too glaring to ignore. The best that can happen is for it to earn a nomination, although winning an award based on user votes isn’t out of the question, such as what happened with The Steam Awards.
But, if we’re talking about receiving critical acclaim, Starfield falls short, which is a shame – it’s easily the Xbox’s most significant game to date.
If it’s any consolation, Starfield has been nothing short of a commercial success. With a massive update incoming and the support of the modding community, there’s a chance that it could go through a Cyberpunk-like redemption story in a year or two. However, for now, the concensus is that Starfield isn’t good enough to receive awards.
It remains to be seen if the New York Game Awards will buck the trend and crown Starfield. If it does happen, expect the internet to revolt.
