In a surprising turn of events, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has been nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024. This is unprecedented, as Shadow of the Erdtree is a DLC, not a standalone game.
The Game Awards addressed this unique situation with a new FAQ on their website:
The Game Awards aims to recognize the best creative and technical work each year, irrespective of the format of that content’s release...Expansion packs, new game seasons, DLCs, remakes and remasters are eligible in all categories...
Shadow of the Erdtree faces stiff competition, including Metaphor: ReFantazio, Black Myth: Wukong, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Astro Bot, and Balatro. While tied with Astro Bot and Metaphor: ReFantazio at a 94 Metacritic score, Shadow of the Erdtree's popularity and strong sales give it a significant advantage.
Wccftech awarded the DLC a perfect score, with reviewer Francesco De Meo stating:
With open-world fatigue setting in...Shadow of the Erdtree's open-world design stands out as a testament to how the Elden Ring experience still surpasses anything else on the market. As such, I believe a perfect score is justified...
You can vote for your favorite game on The Game Awards website. The ceremony will air live on December 12th at 5 PM Pacific.
