• If this was indeed the Year of One Game then that game was Elden Ring. Hailed by many as FromSoftware’s magnum opus, this combination of classic Souls combat with a sprawling open world well and truly lived up to the hype taking many plaudits including the coveted Game of the Year gong at the Game Awards. But will it be able to match that feat here?
  
• The strongest challenge may well come from God of War: Ragnarok which wrapped up the tale of Kratos and Atreus that started in 2018. While it may not have claimed the top prize at Keigh3 it beat Elden Ring in a number of other categories. Has it done enough to push it to the top?
  
• Sony’s other big release of the year was Guerrilla’s Horizon: Forbidden West which expanded on the original’s open world gameplay with top of the line graphics. However the game found its release overshadowed by the arrival of - you guessed it - Elden Ring which quickly pushed it out of the conversation so did it have enough staying power to draw your votes?
  
• Gamers on the Switch weren’t being neglected as they received their own batch of big releases. The biggest among these may well have been Xenoblade Chronicles 3 which boasted a main story runtime in the triple digits. But with such a high demand on your time was it able to hold your attention enough to take the crown?
  
• This year the Switch also saw the latest release for everyone’s favourite pink puffball as Kirby and the Forgotten Land brought its protagonist into the third dimension in a franchise entry that delivered the kid-friendly action the series is known for. Could his new hub town and innovative Mouthful Mode help Kirby eat up all your votes?
  
• But for many Switch fans 2022 was all about one franchise as Pokémon saw not one but two major releases with Pokémon Legends Arceus and Pokémon Scarlet/Violet both being acclaimed for bringing much needed updates to the classic formula. Was it enough to put them in contention for the number one spot or will major technical flaws ruin their chances?
  
• Every year it seems that one game comes along and captures our imagination for its meme nature. Normally it’s one where you play as an animal. This year that game was Stray and yes, you got to play as a cat. But could its lovingly crafted environments and emotional depth help it rise above its meme status to stake a challenge for the title?
  
• And what of last year’s Game of the Year? In 2021 Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker finally secured gold for the beloved MMO at the fourth time of asking but in a year without an expansion will it still have the player numbers to be in contention as the results shake out?
  
• Speaking of past Game of the Year winners Hades and Disco Elysium both set records in 2021 with their top 5 placements. As the games become part of history how will they fare against the latest crop of releases? And could Disco Elysium possibly set an unprecedented feat by placing in the top 10 for a fourth year in a row?
  
• Disco Elysium won’t be the only narrative game in the hunt for prizes this year as the games it inspired have begun to filter through. In this realm maybe none were bigger than Pentiment, a 16th century murder mystery carefully crafted by Something Awful’s very own rope kid. Will it be a victory on home turf for our very own local boy come good?
  
• But in a year where the landscape was dominated by the sheer weight of Elden Ring it would have to take a behemoth to overcome it. It certainly couldn’t be beaten by an unassuming game that costs less than a cup of coffee, not even one like Vampire Survivors who’s dopamine rush gameplay created a whole new genre. It could never be beaten by that, right? …Or could it?
  

Rarity fucked around with this message at 15:29 on Jan 7, 2023