Astro Bot Won’t Be Able to Rob Black Myth Wukong of GOTY at the 2024 Steam Game Awards

2024 has been an amazing year for gaming. And as the year comes to an end, there are one last set of awards to give out, the Steam Game Awards. Despite its success at The Game Awards, Astro Bot won’t even be in contention due to its PlayStation exclusivity. So maybe we’ll finally see Black Myth: Wukong pick up a much deserved win for Game of The Year (GOTY).

There’s nothing stopping a Wukong sweep now. | Image Credit: Team Asobi

Unlike other awards, the SGA is decided entirely by player votes, making it a true reflection of what the gaming community values. Black Myth: Wukong still faces competition from the likes of Stalker 2, Balatro, Helldivers 2, and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2.

Astro Bot won’t be there to compete with Black Myth: Wukong at the Steam Game Awards

A lot of people think it should’ve won Game of The Year | Image Credit: Game Science

The 2024 SGA Game of the Year nominees include Black Myth: Wukong, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Balatro, Helldivers 2, and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. Black Myth: Wukong is a visually stunning game inspired by Chinese folklore. Stalker 2 is an atmospheric and gripping post-apocalyptic adventure, and Balatro stands out with its innovative poker-based mechanics.

Meanwhile, Helldivers 2 and Space Marine 2 are loved by fans of cooperative and action-packed gameplay. This has been a phenomenal year for games so the competition is tough. But Black Myth: Wukong should be a crowd favorite due to its widespread acclaim and cultural significance.

Earlier this month, Astro Bot claimed Game of the Year at The Game Awards (TGA), but its absence from the SGA makes headlines for a different reason. As a PlayStation exclusive, it isn’t available on Steam, disqualifying it from the platform’s awards.

Fans online pointed out that Astro Bot won largely due to biases in the voting system, which heavily favors jury-selected votes over public opinion. In comparison, Black Myth: Wukong won the Player’s Voice award, a category solely decided by fan votes. This showed its massive popularity among gamers and the funny part is that Astro Bot wasn’t even in the final round.

Black Myth: Wukong deserves so much success

Game Science has absolutely nailed it. | Image Credit: Game Science

Black Myth: Wukong has had an exceptional year, selling over 20 million copies worldwide and topping Steam’s charts with record-breaking concurrent player counts on launch day. The game’s unique cultural narrative, rooted in Journey to the West, offers a refreshing perspective rarely seen in mainstream gaming.

But its journey has not been without challenges. It faced minor performance issues and had a steep learning curve, which contributed to its comparatively modest Metacritic score of 81. Despite these setbacks, its nomination at the SGA reaffirms its status as a groundbreaking title that bridges cultural and creative boundaries.

Beyond GOTY, the Steam Game Awards celebrate games across various categories, such as Labor of Love, Outstanding Visual Style, and Best Game on Steam Deck. This year’s nominees include standout titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, Hades 2, Stardew Valley, and Silent Hill 2.

The voting period, which runs from December 19 to 31, also offers participants the chance to earn exclusive Steam stickers, adding a fun incentive for engagement.

Which games are you voting for at the Steam Game Awards? Let us know in the comments!