2020 Video Game Awards Recap

ESPORTSREPORTER.COM / DANTE SRILAPA – SENIOR EDITOR / DECEMBER 12, 2020 /

So as we all know, December 10th was the annual 2020 Video Game Awards. Thanks to Covid-19, of course things wouldn’t be exactly the same as they have been, but I think they did a really good job at adapting. For once the zoom call seemed to actually work with all of the nominees and award presenters. 

Before we dive into the awards, I wanted to get into the big reveals of the night. There were a bunch of new game trailers, DLC announcements, and newly announced projects. I’m not going to cover EVERYTHING here, but I will give you my Top 5 list of things to anticipate:

1. Monster Hunter Rise (Capcom)

This one is pure bias. I love Monster Hunter Worlds. With that game recently coming to a close, I was stoked to hear that a new game was coming out soon. My only fear is that the Nintendo Switch won’t have the power to run the game at its full potential. Why they decided to make a heavy game like MHR on such a weak console, I don’t know.

2. Sephiroth DLC in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Nintendo)

What else can I say? I know I’m hyped. I know that if you play this game, you’re probably hyped. Let’s just say that I would have absoLUTELY quit the game if we got Jonesy from Fortnite as the next DLC fighter. Although, there are more slots on the pass so it’s still a possibility…

3. Back 4 Blood (Turtle Rock Studios)

I MEAN ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I used to play Left 4 Dead 2 at my friends house almost every week for the duration of 2014. I can’t be the only one who’s been silently praying for a sequel of some sort over the years. Super hyped.

4. Perfect Dark (The Initiative)

This one is an interesting title because not only is it the first game from the Microsoft Studio, The Initiative, but it is also a reboot of the original Perfect Dark, an FPS made on the Nintendo 64 in 2000. The graphics looks great; too bad I can’t play it because I’m a Playstation loyalist…….I’ll probably just buy it on PC.

5. Among Us: The Airship Map (Innersloth)

The game that took the new Covid world by storm. Even if you haven’t played it, it is almost guaranteed that someone has tried to get you to play it. Or a streamer playing it has shown up on your YouTube recommended. The game is simple, fun, and really accessible for everyone. The new map looks amazing and I’m looking forward to every update Innersloth throws our way.

Now that that’s over with, here are the winners from last night’s VGA’s:

Game of the Year:

The Last of Us Part II from Naughty Dog

Best Game Direction:

The Last of Us Part II from Naughty Dog

Best Narrative:

The Last of Us Part II from Naughty Dog

Best Art Direction:

Ghost of Tsushima from Sucker Punch Productions

Best Score and Music:

Final Fantasy VII Remake from Square Enix

Best Audio Design:

The Last of Us Part II from Naught Dog

Best Performance:

Laura Bailey as Abby in The Last of Us Part II 

Games For Impact:

Tell Me Why from DONTNOD Entertainment

Best Ongoing:

No Man’s Sky from Hello Games

Best Indie:

Hades from Supergiant Games

Best Mobile Game: 

Among Us from Innersloth

Best Community Support:

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout from Mediatonic/Devolver Digital

Best VR/AR:

Half-Life: Alyx from Valve

Innovation In Accessibility:

The Last of Us Part II from Naughty Dog

Best Action:

Hades from Supergiant Games

Best Action/Adventure:

The Last of Us Part II from Naughty Dog

Best Role Playing:

Final Fantasy VII Remake from Square Enix

Best Fighting:

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate from Netherrealm Studios

Best Family:

Animal Crossing: New Horizons from Nintendo

Best Sim/Strategy:

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Best Sports/Racing:

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 from Vicarious Visions/Activision

Best Multiplayer:

Among Us from Innersloth

Content Creator of the Year:

Valkyrae

Best Debut Game:

Phasmaphobia from Kinetic Games

Best Esports Athlete:

Heo “Showmaker” Su/League of Legends

Best Esports Coach:

Danny “Zonic” Sorenson/CSGO

Best Esports Event:

League of Legends World Championship 2020

Best Esports Game:

League of Legends from Riot Games

Best Esports Host:

Eefje “Sjokz” Depportere

Best Esports Team:

G2 Esports/League of Legends

Soooo…….to address the elephant in the room: Naughty Dog did not deserve all of those wins. 

There, I said it. We all know that Naughty Dog has some of the worst game dev practices of all time. They put their employees through insane crunches and give little regard to mental health. And yet they still won 7 out of the 9 categories that they were nominated for. Between you and me (and the entire gaming community), Supergiant Games should have definitely won more awards. Not only is Hades a beautiful game from what I’ve seen, but I have only heard high praises from everyone I know. Everyone I know that has played TLoU2 has complained about it consistently. Supergiant cares about their workers way more than Naughty Dog does as well, but in the end it’s hard to be an indie company going toe-to-toe with a big name. At least we all know who the real winner should have been.

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