I stopped halfway through when I realised I haven't played a single game from one of the dropdown lists. In fact, I should've played most of them (or at least try) to cast a legitimate vote.

Can we get Outriders added to Best surprise. Most people thought it was a Destiny like GaaS and had no interest in it but it turned out it was a solid Singleplayer game more akin to Borderlands or Gears of War.

GTA3 Collection wasn’t disappointing enough to make the “most disappointing” list?

I didn't vote on several categories like racing since I hadn't played any of them. I had to vote for Maquette on one of the categories since it was the only game in that category I had played. But I did vote for my favorite Deathloop for game of the year! Solid year for games but not amazing, I wonder if Xbox gets its first game of the year here on VGChartz with Halo or Forza. ( or was Bioshock technically still exclusive to Xbox in 2007?)

That rule makes sense for about every other category, but I feel they should adjust the rules for this one. The main reason for excluding remasters and ports is probably to avoid double dipping. That doesn’t apply to this category.

First, these are the sorts of games you’d want to include because players are going to have the most well formed expectations.

Second, it’s not a positive “award” it’s quite negative, it’s not stealing the limelight of anything.

And third, it’s not a double dip because a disappointment is really something a game can only be, once.

Just my opinion, no game more obviously fits the role of “most disappointing” than this one—I mean, it’s probably one of the most dissapointing games ever made without the involvement of Peter Molyneux :D

I'm actually surprised Valheim isn't anywhere in the poll, yet AoE IV is, despite that being PC only like Valheim is.

I voted.

But I was super disappointed to not see Kena: Bridge of Spirits in the 'best indie' category. it WON at the game awards, so I looked through the list like 5 times and couldn't find it.

I just realized how few new games I played this year. For this year's releases, there has been a lot of Binding of Issac: Repentance and Metroid Dread for me, and a little dabble of Skyward Sword HD. Everything else was old games, like Fallout 4 or Return of the Obra Dinn (Great detective game, if you haven't tried it). On the bright side, I haven't played any bad games, at least. Skyward Sword is not bad, you shush; it's just drawn that way.

This year's categorizations allowed me to give props to a wide array of games I felt deserved recognition without feeling unfair. Thanks for all the effort! I have but one gripe: if ScourgeBringer is eligible for Best Action Game...how is it not also eligible for Best Original Music Score? The game's kick-ass soundtrack is one of its strongest aspects! It might just get my vote in the music category if it were included. (It'd be close!)

Anyway, I voted in most categories. My personal selections were...

Best Shooter: Returnal
Best Platformer: It Takes Two
Best Action Game: ScourgeBringer
Best Action/Adventure Game: It Takes Two
Best Adventure Game: Chicory: A Colorful Tale
Best Puzzle Game: Little Nightmares 2
Best RPG: Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
Best Party Game: Sisters - Party of the Year
Best Indie Game: It Takes Two
Best DLC/Expansion: Streets of Rage 4 - Mr. X Nightmare
Best Art Direction: The Artful Escape
Best Original Music Score: The Artful Escape
Best Lead Performance: Fryda Wolff as Rei (Solar Ash)
Best Supporting Performance: Jennifer Hale as Rivet (Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart)
Best Narrative: Returnal
Most Disappointing Game: Destruction AllStars
Best Surprise of 2021: It Takes Two
Most Anticipated Game of 2022: Stray
Overall Game of 2021: It Takes Two

Thanks so much! Now to debate changing my vote in the music category. Hmmm!