GOTY
I unfortunately don't think it's going to actually win even though it deserves it. I have to represent it here for myself and how strongly I feel about this game. This year was absolutely stacked and it's crazy that Zelda isn't the clear choice here. But I do think it will be between Baldur's Gate and Zelda.

Best Game Direction
More than anything AW deserves to win all of the direction and narrative based categories. Sam Lake had a vision and he fucking delivered on every front.

Best Narrative
I mean, cmon. If it doesn't win this one we riot.

Best Art Direction
Okay so while I'm still casting my vote for AW I actually won't be surprised if Mario wins here just based off of the description of the category.

Best Score and Music
AW is once again my personal favorite here (surprise) but I'm going to go for an actual prediction this time. I do think Zelda will pull it out. My biggest problem is that a lot of the tracks were bounced off of BotW but all of the new tracks and versions were just so good. I mean, The Wind Temple, cmon. And a certain theme that played at the very end. Just masterful.

Best Audio Design
Tough to choose between this and RE4 but I'm rooting for Dead Space. AW had good things going on here but as far as who pulls the win, AW has less shooty shooty sounds.

Best Performance
AGH. I 100% UNDERSTAND WHY BUT IT SUCKS THAT ILKKA VILLI AND MATTHEW PORRETTA AREN'T NOMINATED FOR AW. Ugh. Not that I didn't love Melanie as Saga, she absolutely deserves praise but it's a tough battle against Yuri. I also know that everyone loves whoever Neil Newborn plays in Baldur's Gate....I won't be surprised if he wins. And to be fair Idris Elba is a great actor and I'm sure he did great in Cyberpunk but if he wins I feel like it will be more because "celebrity." We'll see. Yuri is my pick though.

Innovation in Accessibility
It's pretty cool to see so many Fighting games listed here! I'll have to look into what all they've done for Accessibility. Spiderman is the only one here I've played and there were tons of options, you can even permanently slow down the game speed by certain increments which is kind of wild.

Games for Impact
I've heard great things about this game, it's also the only one I recognize aside from Goodbye Volcano High.

Best Ongoing
I think this wins like every year lol

Best Community Support
Same reason but maybe it'll go to Baldur's Gate this year?

Best Indepent Game
Amazing year for Indies! Literally all of these are on my playlist, but haven't played any of them except for the demo for Dave the Diver. Which was awesome. Sea of Stars kind of exploded, I've even heard it compared to Chrono Trigger so I'll cast a vote its way.

Best Debut Indie
A pizza tower win would be amazing though lol

Best Mobile

Best VR
Don't get me wrong, I've heard great things about the other categories but the way RE hits in VR is insane.

Best Action
This year was so stacked hot damn. Throwing it to FromSoft mech game. Really need to play Dead Island 2 though.

Best RPG
No way does this not win lol

Best Fighting
I saw a better reception for SF than MK, especially with how MK has been handling the new character monetization.

Best Family
I mean yeah lol

Best Sim/Strategy
I love me some Fire Emblem but I gotta root for Pikmin!

Best Sports/Racing
Hm. Sport, vroom, vroom, vroom, or vroom? I'll go with vroom.

Best Multiplayer
No idea how multiplayer works for this game but I've heard great things.

Best Adaptation
No way does TLoU not win after being heralded as a critical darling. Mario movie was a pretty big beast though. But gotta go with TLoU.

Most Anticipated Game
Going to Hades would be fucking awesome but you can't beat the FF7 remake continuation hype.

Content Creator
omg PLEASE let the VTuber win and accept the award by streaming in on stage. It would be legendary.