5 games that didn't get nominated for Game of the Year 2024 but deserved to

The time to announce the coveted Game of the Year 2024 is here. The title is a part of The Game Awards, a prestigious event that honors the best in the industry. With many awards related to music, narratives, esports, independent games, performances, and developers, the ceremony is ultimately capped off with the declaration of the most prominent accolade coveted by many — The Game of the Year.

With the 11th iteration of The Game Awards on the fence, the nominees for the Game of the Year 2024 were revealed to be Astro Bot, Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio. However, this year has been host to many great titles worthy of the same. As such, a few didn't make the cut but deserved to.

Note: This article is purely subjective and reflects the writer's opinions.

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These 5 incredible titles should've been nominated for Game of the Year 2024

1) Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

A still from Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Image via SEGA)

The Yakuza franchise has been on a roll recently, the developers are having a ball with its spin-offs, creating wacky new concepts for them, considering the mainline entries opened a container of wealth after shifting the franchise into a turn-based JRPG. Infinite Wealth is the developer's anticipated sequel to the acclaimed Yakuza 7, and it doesn't miss the mark.

The successor improves on almost everything related to its previous entry, while adding tons of new content, whether a dual protagonist system or a new town of Honolulu. The game is a true example of how passionate developers can innovate in a long-running franchise without pushing away their core enjoyers, proving its worth for Game of the Year 2024.

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2) Stellar Blade

A still from Stellar Blade (Image via Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Hack-and-slash games have seen a dip in numbers after the souls-like genre became the new hot property. However, the genre saw a noticeable jump with two incredible titles in 2024. While one of them, Black Myth: Wukong, certainly got its due, we think Stellar Blade should be on that list too.

The game was a perfect no-nonsense entry for the genre, bringing back all the elements in their authentic and incredible form. Its beautiful visuals, satisfying and complex combat system, intriguing plot, and a healthy dollop of horror make it a credible participant for Game of the Year 2024.

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3) Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

A still from Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (Image via Focus Entertainment)

This year is filled with many dormant genres getting a resurgence, and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 contributed to the rise of third-person horde shooters. The game phenomenally continues the saga of its predecessor while bringing back the era of a no-nonsense linear third-person shooter experience with a fresh coat of paint.

The title boasts beautiful visuals, bringing the detailed world of Warhammer to life in stunning fidelity. It uses its stellar gunplay and a memorable enemy design to bring the testosterone-filled Space Marine fantasy to life, like its first game. Its impetus for providing a fun time to its players without any caveats is a commendable effort worthy of the title of Game of the Year 2024.

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4) Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

A still from Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Image via Ubisoft)

While this year saw the release of various installments in long-running franchises, one of the more strange additions to the series would be for the Prince of Persia brand. While Jordan Mechner's brainchild saw its last mainline entry in 2010, the next entry into the series was a 2D Metroidvania spin-off that didn't focus on the titular prince — Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.

While this game challenged every norm of its developer to ensure the game's unobstructed success, it created one of the most unique, creative, fast-paced, and engaging entries in the parkour-oriented franchise. As such, we feel it's a deserving title that needs to be in the running for Game of the Year 2024.

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5) Dragon's Dogma 2

A still from Dragon's Dogma 2 (Image via Capcom)

Dragon's Dogma was an action RPG that originally went under the radar. However, after the release of Dark Arisen, an expanded version of the former, it gained cult-classic status. As such, anticipation was building up for its sequel, Dragon's Dogma 2, which was set to release a whopping 12 years after the original, and we're happy to report that the game hit the bullseye.

Dragon's Dogma 2 is an uncompromising experience reminiscent of the 2000s-to-mid-2010s era. The game improves upon every aspect of its predecessor, whether it's fidelity, music, questlines, or combat. The number of diverse, unique, and creative builds you can create in this game is incredible. As such, the game feels like a worthy entrant for Game of the Year 2024.

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These titles weren't nominated for Game of the Year 2024, but we truly believe they earned their place.