As 2024 winds down, the excitement for the annual Game Awards ceremony is building up. With the Game of the Year award being the most prestigious, any nod in the form of a "Best" award in any category is an achievement that any developer would cherish at the 2024 Game Awards.
Focusing on the Best Action Game category, this year presents a pool of formidable contenders. Interestingly, each nominee in this category has received similar critical acclaim, making the competition fierce and exciting. Nonetheless, there’s a strong case for one standout title which could snag the title of Best Action Game at the 2024 Game Awards during the ceremony slated for December 12.
2024 Best Action Game Nominees
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Helldivers 2
- Stellar Blade
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Black Myth: Wukong
Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong is creating ripples across the gaming world. Despite receiving average reviews, it has built a vast fan base, especially on Steam where it’s touted with an Overwhelmingly Positive rating from over 700,000 reviews. Its peak of 2.4 million players on Steam ranks it just behind PUBG: Battlegrounds. Contending for 2024’s esteemed Game of the Year, Black Myth: Wukong offers exhilarating, fast-paced, and often demanding combat, even while avoiding the Soulslike tag. It holds a Metacritic score of 81, placing it squarely mid-table among 2024’s standout titles.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
After the underwhelming release of 2023’s Modern Warfare 3, Treyarch’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 brings a breath of fresh air. Many have praised its campaign as one of the best within the series, and its reintroduction of round-based Zombies maps filled with secrets to discover has been well-received. In contrast, its multiplayer section offers a more modest experience. Despite a Metacritic score of 83, the User Score lags at 6.8, but it’s still a significant player in the race for Best Action Game at the 2024 Game Awards.
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 from Arrowhead Game Studios emerged as a dark horse, quickly gaining traction soon after its release. Uniquely, it saw an upward trend in popularity, defying the usual post-release dip in player numbers. However, being a live-service game, it’s seen a dip in enthusiasm due to underwhelming updates, struggling to keep the gaming community engaged as it once did. Despite this, Helldivers 2 holds its place among the Best Action Game contenders of 2024.
Stellar Blade
Shift Up surprised many with Stellar Blade, with its dramatic character designs initially not holding much promise for substantive gameplay. However, skeptics were silenced as the game captivated audiences even pre-release. Stellar Blade launched to a Metascore of 81 and an impressive User Score of 9.2, surpassing fellow Best Action Game nominees. Its steady release of free DLC, including the NieR: Automata pack, seems to have kept interest alive, making it a strong contender in the Best Action Game category.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Lastly, there’s Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 by Saber Interactive, sharing a familiar rise with other nominees. With a Metacritic score of 82, it managed to gather a player base of over 2 million at launch. Its intense, shooter-style action resonates with fans of games like Gears of War, although its niche appeal might not satisfy those looking for a more looter-shooter experience. However, it retains a credible shot at the Best Action Game title in 2024.
Final Prediction
Picking the Best Action Game for 2024 isn’t straightforward, with all nominees meeting a similar level of acclaim. However, Black Myth: Wukong seems poised to claim the award. It’s the sole Best Action Game contender also up for Game of the Year, allowing it a fallback victory in this category. Additionally, its substantial following gives it a competitive edge, even if it might struggle against some Game of the Year heavyweights like Astro Bot and Metaphor: ReFantazio.
Black Myth: Wukong might not be flawless, but its popularity tells another story. Despite being the lowest-rated Game of the Year nominee in the history of the Game Awards, its stellar combat, engaging world, and exciting boss battles position it as a prime candidate to triumph as the Best Action Game this year.
