Boards.ie Game Awards 2020 (** Winners **)

Mr E

Time for this year's Boards.ie Game Awards - the best and worst of 2020.

There are some new categories this year.

In this batch:

Best Xbox One Game (Retail)
Best Xbox One Game (Download Only)
Best Xbox Series X Game (Retail)
Best Xbox Series X Game (Download Only)
Best PS4 Game (Retail)
Best PS4 Game (Download Only)
Best PS5 Game (Retail)
Best PS5 Game (Download Only)
Best PC Game (Retail)
Best PC Game (Download Only)
Best Switch Game (Retail)
Best Switch Game (Download Only)
Best Mobile Game (iOS or Android)

I'm going to try for a quick turnaround on the nomination stage so I can get the survey up before Christmas.

Group 1: Sunday 13th - Wednesday 16th
Group 2: Wednesday 16th - Saturday 19th
Group 3: Saturday 19th - Tuesday 22nd

Link (thanks Kiith!)

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=499

Grumpypants

Last of us 2 for all categories. Close the thread.

Mr E

That was my favourite Switch game this year. Good call. :rolleyes::)

Azza

Why are categories split between retail and download only?

johnny_ultimate

Azza wrote: »

Why are categories split between retail and download only?

To give smaller games a fair shake, rather than being drowned out by the blockbusters.

Azza

I see. Should VR not get its own category for the same reason?

johnny_ultimate

Azza wrote: »

I see. Should VR not get its own category for the same reason?

Spoiler alert: yes

blockfighter

All the best game were released on Playstation this year i feel. I don't own one unfortunately so can't really nominate. Mario Kart Live, can that be my game of the year??

Hades/Among Us/Fall Guys for my GOTY on PC.

Retr0gamer

blockfighter wrote: »

All the best game were released on Playstation this year i feel. I don't own one unfortunately so can't really nominate. Mario Kart Live, can that be my game of the year??

PC was way ahead of the PS4, it had an incredible year.

And the Switch had some excellent indies and Pikmin 3 which I'll still go to bat for as one of the best games that just can't catch a break.

Mr E

VR will be in the overall (third) group, which covers all platforms.

Dave_The_Sheep

Whatever isn't TLOU2. Obviously.

super_furry

Grumpypants wrote: »

Last of us 2 for all categories. Close the thread.

You spelt Hades wrong.

blockfighter

Retr0gamer wrote: »

PC was way ahead of the PS4, it had an incredible year.

And the Switch had some excellent indies and Pikmin 3 which I'll still go to bat for as one of the best games that just can't catch a break.

What did PC have? I don't really follow PC gaming trends. Pardon my ignorance.

Retr0gamer

blockfighter wrote: »

What did PC have? I don't really follow PC gaming trends. Pardon my ignorance.

Anything you can name on PS4 that wasn't a Sony exclusive, which there weren't many of this year.

And a butt load of exclusives, most are indie. Half-Life alyx was a massive one. You also had Shiren the Wanderer, Project Wingman, Crusader Kings 3, Hades, Deep Rock Galactic, Umarangi Generation, Prodeus, Baldurs Gate 3, Wasteland 3, Grounded, Necrobarista, Panzer Paladin, Desperados 3, Lair of the Clockwork god, Command and Conquer: Remaster, Noita. Plenty I'm forgetting. PC is more about the smaller exciting games.

Dave_The_Sheep

As much as Retro is entirely correct in this instance, doesn't really matter unfortunately. Popular (usually console) games will usually win out over better games simply due to it all being popularity contests. Same way GTA V won 'labor of love' game two years running on Steam despite being nowhere near qualified to do so.

TitianGerm

blockfighter wrote: »

What did PC have? I don't really follow PC gaming trends. Pardon my ignorance.

Flight Sim

Sephiroth_dude

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Anything you can name on PS4 that wasn't a Sony exclusive, which there weren't many of this year.

And a butt load of exclusives, most are indie. Half-Life alyx was a massive one. You also had Shiren the Wanderer, Project Wingman, Crusader Kings 3, Hades, Deep Rock Galactic, Umarangi Generation, Prodeus, Baldurs Gate 3, Wasteland 3, Grounded, Necrobarista, Panzer Paladin, Desperados 3, Lair of the Clockwork god, Command and Conquer: Remaster, Noita. Plenty I'm forgetting. PC is more about the smaller exciting games.

Ehhh most of them were available on ps4 as well and shirens on the vita and switch I think.

Mr E

First batch closing tomorrow night, guys.

Need a bit more xbox love (some categories have no nominees)

Retr0gamer

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

Ehhh most of them were available on ps4 as well and shirens on the vita and switch I think.

I just did a quick look. And a few are on switch but not on PS4. But again I didn't mention everything. Still think Pc had a much better year than Ps4.

Kiith

Link for anyone who's not able to find it

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=499

Sephiroth_dude

Retr0gamer wrote: »

I just did a quick look. And a few are on switch but not on PS4. But again I didn't mention everything. Still think Pc had a much better year than Ps4.

Desperado, wasteland 3 are on ps4


Anyway I think either wasteland 3 or remake are my goty's.

Mr E

Closing first batch tonight about 8 or 9...

blockfighter

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Anything you can name on PS4 that wasn't a Sony exclusive, which there weren't many of this year.

And a butt load of exclusives, most are indie. Half-Life alyx was a massive one. You also had Shiren the Wanderer, Project Wingman, Crusader Kings 3, Hades, Deep Rock Galactic, Umarangi Generation, Prodeus, Baldurs Gate 3, Wasteland 3, Grounded, Necrobarista, Panzer Paladin, Desperados 3, Lair of the Clockwork god, Command and Conquer: Remaster, Noita. Plenty I'm forgetting. PC is more about the smaller exciting games.

Only ones I've heard of from that list are Hades cos it's on Switch and Baldurs Gate 3 because it's on Stadia. Have played neither though. I suppose the fact I don't follow PC gaming news its no surprise I haven't heard of most of them.

Retr0gamer

As I said PC is more about the games that can't really work on console and it's where all the next trends in gaming usually start or where the most interesting indie games get released (and usually either get snapped up by console platform holders, end up on consoles if popular). There's an excitement to finding something weird and surprisingly great that the consoles used to have but not anymore.

Mr E

The next batch is up now, folks.

Fun: Best Character
Fun: Pleasant Surprise
Fun: Best Boss Fight
Fun: Best Level
Fun: Best Graphics
Fun: Best Sound
Fun: Best Music
Fun: Best Game Design
Fun: WTF Were They Thinking Award
Fun: Best Story
Fun: Biggest Disappointment
Fun: Game that deserved to do better/was criminally ignored? (** new **)
Fun: Most Anticipated Game for 2021

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=499

Mr E

Final group tomorrow evening (about this time tomorrow hopefully).
Get your nominees in now!

Mr E

Last group up now, folks.

Overall: Best RPG
Overall: Online Game of the Year
Overall: Best Action/Adventure
Overall: Best Sports
Overall: Best Racing
Overall: Best Strategy/Puzzle
Overall: Best Downloadable (non-Retail) Game
Overall: Best DLC/Add-On Content
Overall: Best VR Game (any platform)
Overall: Game of the Year 2020

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=499

Zero-Cool

Can live service games be included that weren't released this year? Fallout 76 has become a great game and usually live service games always start out **** so not sure if they can be included or a new category next year for best ongoing game?

blockfighter

Best sports game is F1 20 for me. Could potentially be the last good f1 game before EA mess it up. Code Masters really nailed it this year, hopefully EA just let them keep doing what they're doing next year.

Mr E

Zero-Cool wrote: »

Can live service games be included that weren't released this year? Fallout 76 has become a great game and usually live service games always start out **** so not sure if they can be included or a new category next year for best ongoing game?

I think we can look at that for next year.

Mr E

Hi guys, sorry for the delay. The survey is ready. Please only vote on categories that are relevant to you (instructions are in the survey)

https://bit.ly/3hLhrlv

I'm going to leave this open until midnight on Monday night, so you have 5 days to answer it. I'll bump this thread over the next few days...

Zero-Cool

Mr. E, thank you for another year of prestigious awards, much appreciate the effort put in. Some tough choices in this one. What happened the Best Character nominations :pac:

Potential-Monke

Yeah, massive thanks again. Couldn't vote in most this year, I'm really just a PS guy so can't vote on the rest. Just hope the amazing Astro and the excellent Ghost of Tsushima get a few nods.

Mr E

Zero-Cool wrote: »

What happened the Best Character nominations :pac:

There were about 20 different nominees. I had to go with the ones that got more than one nomination.

Zero-Cool

Mr E wrote: »

There were about 20 different nominees. I had to go with the ones that got more than one nomination.

Ha, i thought i was the only one who actually nominated any. Anyway, Abby is a fantastic character but i also know both her and Johnny were hated as well.

Potential-Monke

Character thing is always subjective anyway (suppose everything is really). I preferred Legion to Mordin, which many people will disagree with!

Zero-Cool

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Character thing is always subjective anyway (suppose everything is really). I preferred Legion to Mordin, which many people will disagree with!

Legion was fantastic, loved the whole arc between Geth and Quarian but Legion brought that almost human side to the Geth. Both character and actor were so good.

Retr0gamer

Had the choice of a horrible character in a horribly written game and.... Keanu reeves.

Zero-Cool

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Had the choice of a horrible character in a horribly written game and.... Keanu reeves.

Well then you obviously HaTe WoMeN!!!!

Speaking of Keanu, apparently a cdpr dev leaked info that they had an actor for Johnny who did a way better job and that Keanu kind of ruined the character.

Mr E

Giving this a little bump -

Please only vote on categories that are relevant to you (instructions are in the survey)

https://bit.ly/3hLhrlv

I'm going to leave this open until midnight on Monday night, so you have just over 3 days to answer it.

johnny_ultimate

It’s disgraceful Outer Wilds can’t win everything again this year simply because it was released in 2019

Retr0gamer

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

It’s disgraceful Outer Wilds can’t win everything again this year simply because it was released in 2019

It was released on Steam this year....

Zero-Cool

Retr0gamer wrote: »

It was released on Steam this year....

Gotta love a technicality. I threw it on a couple of weeks ago just to try land on the sun station without the warp. Didn't go too well but ended up just drifting around space soaking it all in. So many amazing experiences i want wiped from my brain so i can go through it again. I still think about my first time entering Giants Deep atmosphere for the first time, terrifying and incredible.

Mr E

Just over 24 hours left, folks. Closes at midnight tomorrow night.

https://bit.ly/3hLhrlv

Mr E

Closes tonight, folks. Link above.

gimli2112

Good work
Biggest disappointment TLOU2 by a mile. Best scene the museum TLOU2. I'm so conflicted.
Like my console cohorts I didn't recognise many on the nominations. Thought Warzone deserved a nod simply for it's success. Nothing ground breaking but it's transformed BRs I thought.

Retr0gamer

It's ok to be conflicted. The year Dark Souls 2 came out it was my GOTY and biggest disappointment.

That's just how good souls is, even disappointing souls is better than pretty much anything else.

Zero-Cool

I wish i completed Miles Morales sooner so i could have nominated Spider-Cat for best character.

Mr E

OK guys, results for the awards.
Where there are 2 winners, it was a tie.

Best PS4 Game (Retail)
Ghost of Tsushima

Best PS4 Game (Download Only)
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

Best PS5 Game (Retail)
Demon's Souls

Best PS5 Game (Download Only)
Astro's Playroom

Best Xbox One Game (Retail)
Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Best Xbox One Game (Download Only)
Streets of Rage 4
Call of Duty Warzone

Best Xbox Series X Game (Retail)
Tetris Effect: Connected

Best Xbox Series X Game (Download Only)
Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Best Switch Game (Retail)
Animal Crossing New Horizons

Best Switch Game (Download Only)
Hades

Best PC Game (Retail)
Half Life Alyx

Best PC Game (Download Only)
Hades

Best Mobile Game (IOS/Android)
Genshin Impact

Fun: Game that deserved to do better/was criminally ignored?
Desperados III

Fun: Best Game Design
Hades

Fun: Best Sound
The Last of Us Part 2

Fun: Best Graphics
Microsoft Flight Simulator

Fun: Best Character
Abby - The Last of Us Part 2

Fun: Biggest Disappointment
Cyberpunk 2077

Fun: Best Story
The Last of Us Part 2

Fun: Best Level
Demon's Souls - Boletarian Palace
Cyberpunk - the heist

Fun: Best Music
Final Fantasy VII Remake

Fun: WTF Were They Thinking Award
Cyberpunk Launch

Fun: Best Boss Fight
T-Rex - Astro's Playroom

Fun: Pleasant Surprise
Astro's Playroom

Fun: Most Anticipated Game for 2021
Elden Ring

Overall: Best DLC/Add-On Content
Ghost of Tsushima - Legends

Overall: Online Game of the Year
Fall Guys

Overall: Best VR Game (any platform)
Half-Life Alyx

Overall: Best RPG
Demon's Souls

Overall: Best Strategy/Puzzle
Crusader Kings 3

Overall: Best Downloadable (non-Retail) Game
Hades

Overall: Best Action/Adventure
Ghost of Tsushima

Overall: Best Sports
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2

Overall: Best Racing
Fall Guys

Overall: Game of the Year 2020
Ghost of Tsushima

Zero-Cool

That's a great list! Just so happens the next game I'm starting today is Ghost of Tsushima Hopefully Hades makes it to PS4/PS5 as I hear so much about it.

Thanks again Mr. E.