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2014 Game Awards Nominees Announced

Game of the Year nominees are Bayonetta 2, Dark Souls II, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Hearthstone, and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.

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The nominees for The Game Awards 2014 have been announced.

Bayonetta 2, Dark Souls II, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Hearthstone, and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor are up for the top prize of overall Game of the Year.

Dark Souls II, Hearthstone, Shadow of Mordor, and South Park: The Stick of Truth lead the way with three nominations each across all categories. Meanwhile, Nintendo was the most nominated publisher with 12 nominations.

Below is a breakdown of nominees by category. Nominees were selected by a jury of 28 international media outlets, including GameSpot and sister site Giant Bomb. To be considered, games must have been released commercial by November 25.

Game of the Year:

  • Bayonetta 2
  • Dark Souls II
  • Dragon Age: Inquisition
  • Hearthstone
  • Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

Best Independent Game:

Best Narrative:

Best Performance:

  • Adam Harrington as Bigby Wolf -- The Wolf Among Us
  • Kevin Spacey as Jonathan Irons -- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
  • Melissa Hutchinson as Clementine -- The Walking Dead -- Season 2
  • Trey Parker as various voices -- South Park: The Stick of Truth
  • Troy Baker as Talion -- Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

Best Remaster:

Best Action/Adventure:

Best Fighting Game:

Best Sports/Racing Game:

Best Shooter:

Best Role-Playing Game:

Best Family Game:

Best Online Experience:

  • Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
  • Dark Souls II
  • Destiny
  • Hearthstone
  • Titanfall

Best Mobile/Handheld Game:

  • Bravely Default
  • Hearthstone
  • Monument Valley
  • Super Smash Bros. for 3DS
  • Threes!

Developer of the Year:

  • Blizzard
  • Monolith
  • Nintendo
  • Telltale
  • Ubisoft Montreal

Best Score/Soundtrack:

Games for Change:

Most Anticipated Game:

eSports Player of the Year:

eSports Team of the Year:

  • Samsung White (League of Legends)
  • Evil Geniuses (DOTA2)
  • Edward Gaming (League of Legends)
  • Newbee (DOTA2)
  • Ninjas in Pajamas (Counter-Strike: GO)

Trending Gamer:

  • Evan "Vanoss" Fong
  • Jeff Gerstmann
  • PewDiePie
  • StampyLongHead
  • TotalBiscuit

Best Fan Creation:

  • BEST Zelda Rap EVER!! By Egoraptor
  • Luigi Death Stare by CZBwoi and Rizupicorr
  • Mine the Diamond (Minecraft Song) by Tobuscus
  • Minecraft -- TITAN City by Colonial Puppet
  • Twitch Plays Pokemon by Anonymous

The 2014 Video Game Awards will take place Friday, December 5, starting at 6 PM Pacific / 9 PM Eastern / 2 AM UK. GameSpot will bring you all the winners as they're announced.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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Martyr77

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What does Games for Change mean? Anyone know? I am afraid of the answer.....

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bunchanumbers

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<< LINK REMOVED >> oh you know what it is. Its the SJW award. Don't be surprised if next year they call it the Anita Sarkeesian award. Or the Sarkeezies.

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Martyr77

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@bunchanumbers @Martyr77 Worst. Award Show. Ever. Can't believe they are pushing their political agenda into a VIDEO GAME award ceremony.

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bunchanumbers

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> When that award is given out I hope its just in the shape of a block. Because any other shape is misogyny.

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Martyr77

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Ok that made me laugh out loud. Well done.

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EzioisMyname

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Zoe will be the main presenter

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deactivated-5f027f1888ad2

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Bayonetta 2 GOTY hands down. Dark Souls II is a step down for the series. Still good but not as good as Demon's and DS1.

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Bellum_Sacrum

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I doubt a first-time award show that targets the mainstream will go for Bayo, because "omg sexism".

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oromashu

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Yeah, I have this feeling that Bayo 2 won't win because that reason alone, but I guess that would be considered a conspiracy theory. It has reviewed higher than the other games on the list. I think Smash U should also be consider, but maybe it wasn't because of how close it was to the award (which doesn't make sense considering DA:I came out three days earlier).


So my guess is that DA:I will win game of the year.

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bunchanumbers

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> They will have the ability to select any game they want. Why? They created the SJW award.

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deactivated-5f027f1888ad2

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> If they have a problem with a game which has a female protagonist, then who are they to judge?. That is not how you evaluate a game, otherwise it is utter crap and they can keep their decision for themselves.

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Bellum_Sacrum

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The sad part is that the casuals whining in the comment section about their insignificant opinions having any weight this are ignorantly assuming this has anything to do with Gamespot's GOTYs.

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xolivierx

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I just watched that youtube video of a seal molesting a penguin....that should be on the list...not assassin creed

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Martyr77

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<< LINK REMOVED >> HA!

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onixevil

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When you see a peripheral award like best remaster, you knew it's made from nerds trying to give GTA another shot.

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gottago42

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The Wii U and Xbox One has more than one game on this list whilst the PS4 only has a remastered game that was released on the PS3 last year

lol wow that's pathetic on the PS4's part

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SloganYams

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It's an interesting trend right now. Wii U has a lot of great games, doesn't sell. Xbox One is getting a good library, sells alright. PS4 has nothing meaningful to offer, flies off shelves.

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xgalacticax

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<< LINK REMOVED >> 'Apple zombie' syndrome.

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SloganYams

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I am unfamiliar with this term.

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ClashDragon9797

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@SloganYams Well,I am still getting Wii U and PS4. I was a PS fanboy from the start. I never understand why my parent loved Mario that much.They talk about it but i can't comprehend,so I decided to get one Wii U and experience it myself(if they were as good as my parent's said).Since you say Wii U have a lot of great games,I might have to do some research about it

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SloganYams

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Mario is great because it understands the medium like no other series. I can't really think of another series that's as consistent in both technical polish and creative ideas. There have been bad Mario games (stay away from Sticker Star), but its sense of fun and its inventiveness have ensured its timelessness.

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Jdzspace

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<< LINK REMOVED >> - because people are looking at the libraries as they are, and as they will be. and buying the console that they feel is stronger.


that's all. a console isn't something you only play for a year and then put away (it's not supposed to be), it's a long term investment, and if the consumer doesn't believe the games will be there in the long term. they won't buy it.


is it really that hard to understand?

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SloganYams

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Which goes back to my point. Look at E3 this past year, Nintendo and Microsoft showcased game after game. Sony showed off Playstation TV. I meant no offense by my post. But from E3 alone the future lools brighter for Sony's competitors as far as games are concerned.

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Jdzspace

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<< LINK REMOVED >> - that isn't really true. at all. pretty much every game Sony has announced that was huge for the last 2 E3s were slated to come out next year. in fact, NIntendo will be the one to strike first. but Microsoft has nothing until holidays 2015.


Sony has big games peppered in most of next year.


don't sleep on Nintendo, they are coming with the thunder next year. But Microsoft is banking on the holidays next year, they will be pretty silent until then

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SloganYams

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I suppose you have a point. Microsoft's announcements were all pretty immediate. Perhaps I'm just still bitter over The Last Guardian (they say it's still coming out, but I'll believe it when I see it).

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Jdzspace

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<< LINK REMOVED >> - just imagine how the people who want Half Life 3 and/or a new Fallout game feel.


it is unfortunately, part of the "game" so to speak

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SloganYams

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Ouch. Good point. But hey, even the Neverhood is getting a spiritual successor, so anything's possible.

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Martyr77

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@SloganYams I'm bitter over that game too. Hopefully we get it one day. Sony is still pretty awesome though.

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xolivierx

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@SloganYams it flies off shelves because you get to play many different games. With the WiiU, you are pretty limited(no offense).


To give you a concrete example : I do own a wiiu(it was given to me). I purchased Mario Kart and I don't plan on buying any other game for that said console, unless the next Zelda turns out to be amazing

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SloganYams

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My point though, with no offense intended, is that there are more promised titles on the Wii U and Xbox One on the horizon. There was nothing particularly enticing about Sony's E3 presence this year that isn't also on PC or Xbox One. And Xbox One, in a rarity for Microsoft, seemed to show off some nice exclusives. It's nothing to get upset over, just calling it as I see it.

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irishrizo

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<< LINK REMOVED >> no Smash bros?

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Jdzspace

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> - never played it before. i'm not all that into fighting games. :-\

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irishrizo

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<< LINK REMOVED >> oh man! this isnt just a fighting game haha its fun if i had a wii u it would be a must for me.

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Jdzspace

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> - i have heard that, but i just haven't given it a shot just yet. maybe one day

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Jdzspace

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> - I own a Wii U, and that is fair. I bought the console for the Nintendo mainstays. Mario, Zelda, Starfox,Metroid etc. etc.


Bayonetta 2 caught me off guard, but I doubt i'll get another game for the Wii U next year that isn't one of the franchises i mentioned.


so it's a fair point

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Martyr77

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Either that or maybe just maybe PS4 offers a better gaming experience.

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SloganYams

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It would need games to do that.

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Jdzspace

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<< LINK REMOVED >> - there are plenty of games. i'm not sure why you would think otherwise.


I personally have over 40 for the PS4. .......and to be honest, i'm not exactly sure how that happened. I don't think having games is the issue, in fact, there is no issue. it's on pace to outsell the highest selling console of all time (PS2).

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SloganYams

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It may outsell the PS2 one day, but it likely won't live up to it in terms of qualitu releases (though that's no small feat).

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Jdzspace

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<< LINK REMOVED >> - who knows? half of the reason Sony is in the position that it's in is that it has established itself as the best place for the best games over the last 20 years.


so that causes me to give them the benefit of the doubt, but who knows? nobody is on top forever. and Microsoft did give Sony a run for it's money last gen. sure it fell short, but not by much. and of course, Nintendo smashed them both, in sales, not really in games

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SloganYams

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I don't know, I'd take the Galaxy ganes over the best tje PS3 or 360 had to offer. And the Wii had more quality titles than it gets credit for (they just happened to be smaller, Japanese games). However, PS2 cleaned the floor with the GameCube and Xbox (except Wind Waker).

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xolivierx

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@gottago42 shadow of mordor, GTAV, Alien, TLOU , Destiny, COD, Dragon Age

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Martyr77

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<< LINK REMOVED >> This WAS a civil post but I'll bite. You realize X bone has NOTHING exclusive coming out for six months at least while we are going to see amazing games on PS4? Also if you look at multiplats like Shadow of Mordor, Evil within, etc, they are all better on PS4 so yes PS4 had better games.

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sonic4893

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I admit the ps4 has failed me so far *sobs*

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RenanGreca

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Harmony of Heroes should be in "Best Fan Creation", not Luigi death stare (although that was a nice meme).

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MigGui

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kind of surreal to have "best mobile/handheld" category, since gamespot doesn't review mobile games. but since the vita is dead, I think a "best handheld" category would be a "best 3ds" one, so they shove in two ios games

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dctcool

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<< LINK REMOVED >> To be fair, the 3DS's 2014 lineup was rather lacking this year, the only great games it had was Smash Bros and Bravely Default.

Compare that to 2013 when it got Fire Emblem Awakening, Luigi's Mansion 2, Animal Crossing New Leaf, Pokemon X & Y, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and Zelda: ALBW

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Jdzspace

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<< LINK REMOVED >> - odd, i didn't know vita is dead, i just bought Tales of Hearts R just the other day and have been playing the hell out of it.


guess i'll have to return it to the store.....and let them know they should stop selling games for what is apparently a dead system.


good looking out

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MigGui

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> a re-release of a DS game that's been released in 2008, and that's been on vita since 2013, but just now got an english translation? yeah, seems the handheld is still strong

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Jdzspace

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> - actually it isn't an english translation, the voices are still in full japanese. which i love, because i'm learning the language.


but still......it's an awesome game :)

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sonic4893

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How can you seriously make a list of Games Awards and not have the actual Gamers choose who is on the list and who wins. I mean come on... half of the GameSpot reviews are bs already. Who's to say they weren't paid to choose the winner. If AC:Unity or Ubisoft: Montreal win ANYTHING other than the Toilet Bowl Award so help me GOD!!!

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ASK69

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<< LINK REMOVED >> AAA titles would still be contenders because they are most popular. I am sure majority of console users dont know what 'This war of Mine' is, and console users are the majority

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SloganYams

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I agree there should be a gamer voted portion of the awards in addition to GameSpot's, but it only makes sense that professionals would do their own awards. I mean, who's to say gamers wouldn't just snub an entire console out of some misguided bias ("PS4 is haxxors! Wii U is for teh kids!").

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