The nominees for over 30 categories have been announced for 2023's The Game Awards, with fan voting live now too. While some of the major contenders aren't yet on Xbox (looking at you, Baldur's Gate 3, although an Xbox release date might appear this week), there are a respectable amount of Game Pass and PC Game Pass games scattered throughout. Hi-Fi Rush in particular has done well for itself. Check them out below.
Hi-Fi Rush (Nominated for Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Audio Design, Innovation in Accessibility, Best Action Game)
Hi-Fi RUSH
Feel the beat as wannabe rockstar Chai and his ragtag team fight against an evil megacorp with raucous rhythm combat! From Tango Gameworks comes Hi-Fi RUSH, an all-new action game where the world syncs to the music.
Lies of P (Nominated for Best Art Direction, Best RPG)
Starfield (Nominated for Best RPG)
Starfield
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.
Sea of Stars (Nominated for Best Independent Game, Best RPG)
Sea of Stars
A journey of peril and wonder awaits in this classics-inspired turn-based RPG
Cocoon (Nominated for Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game)
Cocoon
From Jeppe Carlsen, the lead gameplay designer of LIMBO and INSIDE — COCOON takes you on an adventure across worlds within worlds. Master world-leaping mechanics and solve intricate puzzles to unravel a cosmic mystery.
Forza Motorsport (Nominated for Innovation in Accessibility, Best Sports/Racing)
Forza Motorsport Standard Edition
Race over 500 real-world cars including modern race cars and more than 100 cars new to Forza Motorsport. Make every lap count across 20 living environments with fan-favorite locations and multiple track layouts to master, each featuring live on-track scoring, fully dynamic time-of-day with weather and unique driving conditions that ensure no two laps ever look or play the same.
Venba (Nominated for Games for Impact, Best Debut Indie Game)
Venba
Cook delicious South-Indian food and experience the journey of an immigrant family in Venba!
No Man's Sky (Nominated for Best Community Support)
No Man's Sky
No Man's Sky is a science fiction game about exploration and survival in an infinite procedurally generated universe.
Cities: Skylines II (Nominated for Best Sim/Strategy)
Cities: Skylines II - PC Edition
Raise a city from the ground up and transform it into a thriving metropolis with the most realistic city builder ever. Push your creativity and problem-solving to build on a scale you've never experienced. With deep simulation and a living economy, this is world-building without limits.
Party Animals (Nominated for Best Family, Best Multiplayer)
Party Animals
Preorder now to receive the following exclusive content:
- Royal Nemo Outfit
- Royal Nemo Avatar
- Nemo Bucks*240
A PHYSICS BASED PARTY GAME
BEST GAME FOR A SATURDAY NIGHT WITH FRIENDS
Heading over to the Game Awards site shows the full list of the 2023 nominees, with categories ranging from Game of the Year to Most Anticipated Game. Of the bigger categories, the nominees are:
Game of the Year 2023 nominees
- Alan Wake 2
- Baldur's Gate 3
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2
- Resident Evil 4
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Best Narrative 2023 nominees
- Alan Wake 2
- Baldur's Gate 3
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Final Fantasy XVI
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Best Independent Game 2023 nominees
- Cocoon
- Dave the Diver
- Dredge
- Sea of Stars
- Viewfinder
Best Debut Indie Game 2023 nominees
- Cocoon
- Dredge
- Pizza Tower
- Venba
- Viewfinder
Best RPG 2023 nominees
- Baldur's Gate 3
- Final Fantasy XVI
- Lies of P
- Sea of Stars
- Starfield
Most Anticipated Game 2023 nominees
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Hades 2
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
- Star Wars Outlaws
- Tekken 8
The Game Awards itself is set to take place on December 7 — we'll be sure to bring you all the major Xbox news.