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[Updated] Nominees for 2016 Game Awards Revealed

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Published: November 16, 2016 4:48 PM

Update:

We have updated this post to strike out Pokemon Uranium and AM2R from Fan Creations, since the Game Awards has removed them.

Original story below

The Game Awards is an award show that helps recognize games, studios, and individuals for their accomplishments in video games. This year a total of 63 games across all categories were nominated.

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End picked up the most amount of nominations for a single game this year with a total of 8, including a nomination for Game of the Year.

Meanwhile, Sony was the most-recognized publisher with 13 total nominations across all categories.

The Game Awards 2016 will take place on December 1st. The winners for each category will be announced then, and you will be able to stream the event from home.

The Game Awards is also known for game announcements. This year, the show plans to focus more on showing actual gameplay with their announcements rather than cinematics. Geoff Keighley, the host of the award show, told Polygon in a recent interview that No Man's Sky was a big reason for this change. He stated that he wants announcements to feature more substance so that the audience is less likely to feel let down by the end product and for developers to generally be more transparant.

So, without further ado, here are the nominees for the 2016 Game Awards:

GAME OF THE YEAR

For a game that delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields.

BEST GAME DIRECTION

Recognizing a game studio for outstanding creative vision, game direction, and design.

BEST NARRATIVE

For outstanding storytelling and narrative development in a game.

BEST ART DIRECTION

For outstanding creative and technical achievement in artistic design and animation.

BEST MUSIC/SOUND DESIGN

For outstanding audio, inclusive of score, original song, licensed soundtrack and sound design.

BEST PERFORMANCE

Awarded to an individual for voice-over acting, motion and/or performance capture.

  • Alex Hernandez as Lincoln Clay, Mafia III
  • Cissy Jones as Delilah, Firewatch
  • Emily Rose as Elena, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
  • Nolan North as Nathan Drake, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
  • Rich Summer as Henry, Firewatch
  • Troy Baker as Sam Drake, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

GAMES FOR IMPACT

Honoring exemplary games that take on real-world issues and advocate for social change.

BEST INDEPENDENT GAME

For outstanding achievement in a game made outside the traditional publisher system.

BEST MOBILE/HANDHELD

For the best game playable on mobile phones and dedicated gaming handhelds.

BEST VR GAME

For the best game experience playable in virtual reality.

  • Batman: Arkham VR
  • EVE: Valkyrie
  • Job Simulator
  • Rez Infinite
  • Thumper

BEST ACTION GAME

For the best game experience focused around first or third person combat.

BEST ACTION/ADVENTURE GAME

For the best game experience that combines combat with traversal and puzzle solving.

BEST RPG

The best game designed for rich player character customization and progression, both offline and online, including massively multiplayer.

BEST FIGHTING GAME

For a game designed primarily around head-to-head combat.

BEST STRATEGY GAME

Best game focused on real-time or turn-based strategy.

BEST FAMILY GAME

Best game for family play, including toys-to-life, rhythm/music/dance, and other genres.

  • Dragon Quest Builders
  • Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • Pokemon Go
  • Ratchet & Clank
  • Skylanders: Imaginators

BEST SPORTS/RACING GAME

For traditional and non-traditional sports and racing games.

BEST MULTIPLAYER

For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences.

MOST ANTICIPATED GAME

An upcoming game that has shown significant ambition and promise in moving the gaming medium forward.

  • God of War
  • Horizon: Zero Dawn
  • Mass Effect: Andromeda
  • Red Dead Redemption 2
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

TRENDING GAMER

For a notable influencer, online streamer, or media personality in 2016.

  • AngryJoeShow
  • Boogie2988
  • Danny O'Dwyer
  • JackSepticEye
  • Lirik

BEST FAN CREATION

For fan-created content, such as MODs, fan films, and other player content.

  • Project A2MR
  • Pokemon Uranium
  • Brutal Doom 64
  • Enderal: The Shards of Order

BEST ESPORTS PLAYER

The eSports player judged to be the most outstanding performer in 2016, irrespective of game.

  • Faker – Lee Sang-hyeok (SK Telecom T1, League of Legends)
  • Coldzera – Marcelo David (SK Gaming, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)
  • ByuN –Hyun Woo (Starcraft 2)
  • Infiltrator – Lee Seeon-woo (Team Razer, Street Fighter V)
  • Hungrybox – Juan Debiedma (Team Liquid, Super Smash Bros.)

BEST ESPORTS TEAM

The eSports team or organization judged to be the most outstanding for performance in 2016, irrespective of game.

  • SK Telecom T1 (League of Legends)
  • Wings Gaming (DOTA 2)
  • SK Gaming
  • ROX Tigers (League of Legends)
  • Cloud 9

BEST ESPORTS GAME

The Esports game that has shown creative and technical excellence in 2016 with the best gameplay, community support and content updates.

  • Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
  • DOTA 2
  • League of Legends
  • Overwatch
  • Street Fighter V
What do you think about this list? Anything you would have done differently if you could? What game do you think will walk away with Game of the Year? Let us know in the comment section below!
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Just because I write about video games doesn't mean I'm very good at them. Unless it's Smash Bros. I'll wreck you in Smash Bros. I am… More about Matthew