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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Balatro, the poker-inspired roguelike by Canadian developer LocalThunk, was the Canadian-made nominee in The Game Awards 2024 Game of the Year race. It joined five other nominees: Astro Bot, Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and Metaphor: ReFantazio. Canadian studios and talent were also represented in other award categories.
The six Game of the Year nominees
MobileSyrup’s November 18, 2024 roundup identified the full field of nominees. Balatro was the Canadian-made entry, developed by LocalThunk. The report said the developer’s identity and city were secret, so no further personal or hometown details are established here.
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- Astro Bot
- Balatro
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
- Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
- Metaphor: ReFantazio
Alongside Game of the Year, MobileSyrup reported that Balatro was nominated for Best Independent Game, Best Debut Independent Game, Best Game Direction and Best Mobile Game. Xbox Wire’s November 18 roundup also listed the game for Best Game Direction, Best Independent Game and Best Debut Indie Game.
Other Canadian-linked nominees
The Canadian presence extended beyond the Game of the Year field. MobileSyrup’s 2024 report connected these games and performers to Canadian studios or talent:
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| Game or contribution | Canadian connection | Reported nomination |
|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Outlaws | Co-developed by Ubisoft Toronto; stars Venezuelan-Canadian Humberly González. | Best Performance for González; Best Action-Adventure; Innovation in Accessibility. |
| Dragon Age: The Veilguard | Identified as the latest game from Canadian developer BioWare Edmonton. | Innovation in Accessibility. |
| EA Sports FC 25 | From EA Vancouver. | Best Sports Game. |
Those studio and performer attributions, along with the category names above, reflect MobileSyrup’s November 18, 2024 coverage. Xbox Wire’s roundup independently listed Dragon Age: The Veilguard for Innovation in Accessibility and EA Sports FC 25 for Best Sports/Racing; category wording differed between the two reports.
Who won Game of the Year?
Astro Bot won Game of the Year at the 2024 ceremony. The official Game Awards recap credits Team Asobi and Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) for the winner.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When and how the 2024 awards were held
MobileSyrup reported that the ceremony was scheduled for Thursday, December 12, 2024, in Los Angeles, with livestreams on The Game Awards’ YouTube and Twitch channels. Its November 18 article also described the voting split as 90 percent jury votes and 10 percent public votes, and said more than 130 global media outlets were on the jury. Those are details reported for the 2024 event, not a claim about every year’s voting process.
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