The 42nd Golden Joystick Awards has crowned Black Myth: Wukong the Ultimate Game of the Year for 2024, following a supercharged public vote that drew over 12 million ballots across the event’s 21 categories.
Black Myth: Wukong, which was among several 2024 GOTY nominees who could count on a strong showing from hugely loyal fanbases, stopped a dominant Final Fantasy VII Rebirth from taking the most awards of the night, while also successfully holding off Astro Bot, Silent Hill 2, and indie darlings Balatro and Animal Well for the biggest award of the night. It also, unsurprisingly, won best visual design.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Helldivers 2 led the evening with four awards each. FFVII shone in the storytelling, soundtrack, and acting categories, with Briana White (Aerith Gainsborough) and Cody Christian (Cloud Strife) securing Best Supporting and Lead Performer awards respectively. Meanwhile, Helldivers 2 claimed gold for multiplayer, console GOTY, best game trailer, and the Critics’ Choice Award.
Astro Bot didn’t leave empty-handed; it took best audio design, while creators Team ASOBI were named Studio of the Year. Fan-favorite Satisfactory snagged PC Game of the Year, while the excellent poker, card-building roguelike Balatro–which I still had hopes to win the biggest award of them all–claimed a brace of trophies via the Best Indie Game and Breakthrough Awards.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree also won Best Game Expansion, which should make it especially hilarious if it wins Game of the Year at The Game Awards on December 12–a nomination Paul Tassi rightly said it doesn’t deserve on principle.
Read the nominations for the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards here.
The 42nd Golden Joystick Awards winners by public votes
Best Storytelling
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Best Visual Design
Black Myth: Wukong
Best Multiplayer Game
Helldivers 2
Best Audio Design
Astro Bot (public vote)
Best Game Expansion
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
Best Indie Game (Self Published)
Another Crab’s Treasure
Best Indie Game
Balatro
Studio of the Year
Team ASOBI
Best Soundtrack
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Best Game Trailer
Helldivers 2
Best Early Access Game
Lethal Company
Still Playing (Mobile)
Honkai: Star Rail
Still Playing (Consoles & PC)
Minecraft
Best Gaming Hardware
Steam Deck OLED
Best Game Adaptation
Fallout
Best Supporting Performer
Briana White (Aerith Gainsborough, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth)
Best Lead Performer
Cody Christian (Cloud Strife, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth)
PC Game of the Year
Satisfactory
Console Game of the Year
Helldivers 2
Most Wanted Game
Grand Theft Auto VI
Ultimate Game of the Year
Black Myth: Wukong
The 42nd Golden Joystick Awards winners by critic choices
Streamers’ Choice Award
Chained Together
Breakthrough Award
Balatro
Critics’ Choice Award
Helldivers 2