The Game Awards don't matter

0:00 - The Game Awards
1:25 - A sequel that outdid its predecessor
3:26 - A beautiful, smart puzzler
5:12 - The indie that surprised me
6:33 - Rethinking an earlier video
8:07 - A game DEMO?!
More writing at MattHorton.live
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I enjoy the Game Awards. It's often a great show.
I enjoy what Geoff Keighley is trying to do for the games industry, and honestly, the orchestra is what keeps me coming back every year, ever since their rendition of the Animal Crossing New Horizons theme made me cry back in 2020. But I have to admit that the choices, both for nominees and for winners, often leave me scratching my head.
Video games like any art form are subjective. You have your opinions, I have mine, and the people nominating things for the Game Awards clearly have theirs. For example, they seem to hold the opinion that the 12th biggest games publisher in the world can have a game nominated for best independent game.
But precisely because art is subjective, and because the Game Awards makes strange decisions basically every year, I think to culturally cede the title of Game of the Year to Keighley's list of games that had big marketing budgets is weak of us. Our opinions are just as valid as those of the nominating committee and the people who voted for the Game Awards. And that goes for you too. Your opinions are just as valid as mine. I mean, you know, I don't really know enough about your opinion to say that, but the spirit of it is right.
The only thing that can make a game the Game of the Year is whether or not you thought it was the best game you played that year.
So here's my personal list of my favorite games from 2023.

[@MattHorton]

What's your GOTY?

[@jarmelatodyssechutminds126]

It's don't matter to me anymore. I just enjoy the game gift from the gods of gaming. like *shows receipt for Kirby's Return to Dreamland DX* so.

[@tikki2340]

I’m so glad I found your channel. I’ve quickly found that what I actually enjoy about this site is the small, passionate creators, and your channel has become a staple on my list of ones I actively search up just to check in on. Keep it up man!

[@MattHorton]

Appreciate you!

[@jared_biz]

My GOTY is Octopath Traveler 2! Loved this video, and definitely got me more interested in El Paso Elsewhere

[@MattHorton]

Play iiiitt. It's a dream on deck. Except the last weapon in the game makes it freeze up?

[@ajfillari2205]

Awesome work as always. Reminds me I still gotta check out El Paso Elsewhere!!

[@MattHorton]

You do!

[@gooooooooooofy]

Damn looks like I found a channel destined to become great and huge. Love the overall quality and the selection of games. Subbed.

[@MattHorton]

I'm trying out here. Tell your friends

[@tenortime3355]

Love this video!! My GOTY would probably be American Arcadia. It's a fairly short story with a whole lot of personality and some fun, quirky voice acting. It also has a cool kind of 2D/3D Mix of perspectives that keep things narratively interesting!

[@MattHorton]

Oo this looks good

[@fingerbelly]

Great video btw! I am excited to get into your top 3 games when the time comes.

[@MattHorton]

👀

[@AndrewConkling]

I really enjoyed this! Always good to keep up with games I hadn't heard of. (Exceptions for the ones you have already talked about, of course!)

[@MattHorton]

I'm not like other girls

[@chaseallhart]

Super good video. I simply must play Balatro.

[@MattHorton]

Chase. You haven't?!

[@fingerbelly]

I know Baldur’s Gate 3 is a common GOTY for many this year. I’m curious if you ever got around to trying it, and if so, what did/didn’t work for you? It’s a big and intimidating game to get into, but I think the relationship building is something you’d enjoy.

[@MattHorton]

I did enjoy what I played! I'm going to following up with some shorts on games that didn't make my top 5. It's one I want to do. Mostly it's how much time and effort the game requires of you and how fiddly I find D&D mechanics. I never finished the goblin camp. I will. But I haven't yet.

[@Why_It]

El Paso Looks so fucking good!

[@MattHorton]

It is!

[@Cosmosis]

Honestly, The Game Awards is one of my favourite events all year, and the best thing about it is that it doesn't matter! I love sitting down and being passionate about the industry I've invested such a huge part of my life to, without caring about who the actual winner is. It's about the vibes lol I played a lot of games this year, and my top 3 games of the year are probably Disco Elysium, Oxenfree, and Bugsnax. None of those came out this year, but it's my list and I can do what I like! Keep up the good work man, your videos are really inspiring and it's making me itchy to start posting again soon as well.

[@MattHorton]

Yeah! Despite being a bit upset about the indie stuff I agree. I still enjoy the show

[@MattHorton]

And I'm here when you post again!

[@Cognitive-Clips]

Great stuff!! My personal GOTY is Tears of the Kingdom!

[@MattHorton]

I've gotta finish BotW 😅

[@CarlosRodela]

They don't, that's why I always watch it for the performances and new trailers mainly.

[@CarlosRodela]

also gonna check out el paso now - thanks!

[@MattHorton]

Yeah! Hope you enjoy it!

[@maxisenberg9093]

Literally no award show of sny kind matter save for the accessibility awards And regarding TGA specifically, most people who bash either dont ge toe font like how voting works...who cares..plenry of ither game award shows thst have othet criteria. Just watch them

[@MattHorton]

First line of the video is for you

[@leonkennedy1508]

Yeah the problem with the game awards is that you have people who barely game voting on the categories

[@MattHorton]

Well theoretically it's mostly games press outlets. So that can't be true

[@leonkennedy1508]

@MattHorton nah many are just tech and entertainment news outlets.

[@maxisenberg9093]

You dint have to...thets the whole point