The stage is set and The Game Awards 2024 has revealed the nominees for this year's event. In the Best Role Playing Game category, there are a total of five titles nominated.
The first is the action role-playing game Dragon's Dogma 2. It's a sequel to Dragon's Dogma and set in a fantasy-themed world which is parallel to the first game. Here, players get to control a customizable character through the open world as they hunt a dragon that chose them as the "Arisen" in the middle of a geopolitical conflict. Players complete quests and obtain new equipment with the help of allies known as " Pawns."
The second game nominated is Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Elden Ring was actually released back in 2022. It's set in the Lands Between where players control a customizable player character on a quest to repair the Elden Ring and be the next Elden Lord. Shadow of the Erdtree is actually the game's expansion which has since received positive reviews mainly for offering a similar sense of rewarding exploration and its atmosphere.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the third game nominated in the category. It’s a sequel to Final Fantasy VII Remake. It's set after the events of the previous title and players taking on the role of the mercenary Cloud Strife and a party of characters composed of the eco-terrorist group AVALANCHE. They're on a journey to prevent Shinra the life essence of the Planet and defeat former elite SOLDIER Sephiroth, who plans to unite with the Planet to achieve greater power.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has also been nominated for the category. It focuses on Ichiban Kasuga, protagonist of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, along with Kazuma Kiryu, the original protagonist of the series. While it takes players to familiar settings in Japan, it also has them go to the game's first-ever overseas locale which is Hawaii.
The fifth game is Metaphor: ReFantazio. It's set in the United Kingdom of Euchronia, which is a medieval fantasy realm that mirrors the contemporary real world. An assassination attempt on the Prince resulted in him being cursed and falling into a long slumber. The story focuses on an orphaned boy of the magic-wielding Elda tribe and the Prince's childhood friend who participates in the Royal Tournament that's held to decide the throne's successor. Players get to journeying across Euchronia to rally support from its people as they search for a way to lift the curse.
Which game do you think is taking home to trophy? You can also check out our coverage for Game of the Year nominees here. You can see the complete list of nominees here.
The Game Awards 2024 honors the best video games of 2024. It’s hosted by Geoff Keighley and held with a live audience at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on December 12. The event is also being live streamed across online platforms globally.