The 2024 Game of the Year award has been handed out atthe DICE Awards, and it has fallen into the hands of Larian forBaldur’s Gate 3.
It may not bemy personal Game of the Year, but I feelBaldur’s Gate 3is a very important game deserving of its accolade. Not only is it fun to play, technically impressive, and narratively endearing, but it’s also complex in a way that most big-budget games don’t reach for. I’ve said to a few people that I appreciate it because it has tricked the mainstream into playing something that isn’t designed to be as approachable and widely appealing.
This is somewhat echoed in the acceptance speech made by director Michael Douse and head of production David Walgrave. In an awards show where they wereactually allowed to talkabout their creation, Douse spoke about how the vast swaths of layoffs are a failure of the industry and not of the people who actually make the games.
“Many, many people were let go at the start of this year,” said Douse. “I want you to know that you are all talented, and that you matter, and that you are the future of this industry. Don’t let that flame be extinguished by our collective mistakes.”
Walgrave cited Larian’s focus on the community and players over what will make them the most money as the key to their success. He digs at the microtransational practice of the industry by pointing out thatBaldur’s Gate 3charges you once, upfront, and that you may keep it forever. He continues to say, “We don’t have shareholders, but we also don’t think about them,” which hits hard in a week of third-quarter earnings reports that read like executives patting themselves on the back formaximizing profits for investorswhile passing the bill off on their employees.
Yeah,Baldur’s Gate 3wasn’t my favorite game this year, but I am very happy that it’s getting the spotlight.
The rest of the best
If you haven’t been paying attention to the DICE awards, here are the winners of the rest of the categories:
