With the year coming to a close, it feels now would be an appropriate time to begin speculating what games will be nominated for the Overall Game of the Year at TGA. With only six spots available, and dozens of highly acclaimed games to choose from, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say competition is fierce this year. (Though maybe not as ”fierce” as last year.)

I can get a list edited in here as responses begin coming in, as well potentially add a poll. For quick reference, here are the top rated games of 2024 according to MetaCritic and OpenCritic.

Polling Snapshot Data

At least once every week, I will edit this post in order to record polling results. This is done for those who may be interested in seeing how public opinion flucuates with time.

As of 11-18 @9:41pm EST. ---> FFVIIRebirth [19/78], ER:SotE [9/78], Astro Bot [30/78], Metaphor: Fantazio [8/78], Wukong: Black Myth [10/78], Balatro [2/78].

(i'll make this a bit more pretty looking sometime tmr lol.)

I’ll go first. (Highlighted are the nominees.)
1. Astro Bot [35% Winning Odds]
2. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [>30% Winning Odds]
3. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree [<30% Winning Odds] 
4. Metaphor: Fantasia [5% Winning Odds]
5. Silent Hill 2 Remake [0% Winning Odds]
6. Balatro [0% Winning Odds]
(Honorable Mentions: Black Myth: Wukong, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Animal Well, Zelda EoW.)

edit (11-16, @9:03am EST): Changed picks, added odds. Very close competition this year! Three-way tie for second place.
edit (11-17, @7:08pm EST): Adjusted odds. SotE is neck-and-neck with FFVIIReBirth, Astro Bots trails not too far behind, swapped Wukong for SH2R (i blame dave007 for convincing me to screw this call up), swapped Like A Dragon for Balatro.
edit (11-19, @8:39am EST): Adjusted odds. Astro is new favored, Metaphor falls behind.

3 of the 6 are guaranteed: Final Fantasy VII: Rebirt, Astro Bot and Metaphor: ReFantazio.
An almost guaranteed title is: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
The 2 remaining titles are trickier, I firmly believe Tekken 8 deserves a spot there, but I'm not sure, regardless, will vote for it; the other game I pick an indie, so Balatro it is.

To make a list:
1. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
2. Astro Bot
3. Metaphor: ReFantazio
4. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
5. Tekken 8
6. Balatro

Listed them in order of chance I think they have to win, I guess the odds are:
1. 70%
2. 15%
3. 10%
4. 5%
5. 0%
6. 0%

So yeah, I'll be very surprised if Rebirth doesn't take it, and I think bellow the top 4 nobody has any chance whatsoever of winning it.

FFVII Rebirth
Astro Bot
Silent Hill 2
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Legend of Zelda:EoW
Animal Well

Winner will be Astrobot

I've only played Metahpor Refantazio from this year, I suppose it's automatically my GoTY but I'd say Astrobot has got this down.

To clarify: I’ll be asking about GotY winner predictions once the nominees are chosen. For the moment, I’m mostly interested in who the nominees will be.

I've seen Metaphor mentioned for GOTY, is it really that good? I completely missed it, it was not on my radar at all.

Anyway, for now Zelda Totk, Black Myth Wukong and Astrobot are sure candidates, not sure about the others.

Outside Metaphor and Astro, I don't think there is any competition. Unless the new Mario & Luigi perform way better than I expect.

You don't think FF7 Rebirth will even compete? Damn.

I'll be shocked if it doesn't win, though I sincerely hope it does not because I don't want to see remakes or remasters winning as the best new game. (Would only make an exception to a possible LoD remake because yeah, my favorite game ever).