Nominees Announced for 10th Annual New York Game Awards, Reggie Fils-Aime to Host

The 10th annual New York Game Awards are being held on Jan. 26th, 2021, and none other than Reggie Fils-Aime is going to host the event. He should be pretty excited about this year's awards, as multiple Switch titles have been nominated. Get the full breakdown of nominees in the press release below.

Celebrating its 10th year, the annual New York Game Awards, presented by the New York Videogame Critics Circle, takes this year’s Awards show globally with a virtual-only event, allowing for a group of presenters and performers that’s incomparable, including former Legend Award winners, performances by new and returning musical guests and a collection of industry greats (to be announced soon). The previously ticketed and in-person-only event streams free for all via Twitch and YouTube on January 26 at 8pm ET (pre-show starts at 7:30pm). The Awards celebrate the NYVGCC’s non-profit work in underserved communities, as well as the best games and game developers in the industry.

From Best AR/VR Game and Best Music in a Game, to Best Mobile Game and Best Kids Game, the New York Game Awards all level up to the Big Apple Award for Best Game of the Year, announced at the awards ceremony hosted by award-winning journalist/author and founder of the New York Videogame Critics Circle, Harold Goldberg, with Reggie Fils-Aimé, former President and COO of Nintendo of America, who was the recipient of the 2020 Andrew Yoon Legend Award at last year’s 9th annual New York Game Awards ceremony. And, with esports events booming, a new category in this year’s Awards is the Shea Stadium Award for Best Esports Event.

“We’ve had a blast preparing for the virtual New York Game Awards event,” said New York Videogame Critics Circle founder and board president, Harold Goldberg. “Sometimes when you flip an event on its head you come up with an even better way to celebrate.”

“It’s an exciting time to see the New York Game Awards pivot to a virtual-only event, making the 10th annual event such a global celebration of the organization’s good work,” said Reggie Fils-Aimé. “I’ve been honored to participate in a number of the New York Videogame Critics Circle’s activities this year, from mentoring students to making the organization’s podcasts a must-listen; co-hosting this year's event is another high-point for me.”

New York Game Awards Nominees

Big Apple Award for Best Game of the Year

Animal Crossing: New Horizons
The Last of Us Part II
Final Fantasy VII: Remake
DOOM Eternal
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Hades

Central Park Children’s Zoo Award for Best Kids Game

Dreams
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Moving Out
Good Job!
Drake Hollow
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Astro's Playroom

A-Train Award for Best Mobile Game

Roundguard
Necrobarista
Creaks
Little Orpheus
Good Sudoku
Genshin Impact
Wide Ocean Big Jacket

Coney Island Dreamland Award for Best AR/VR Game

Half-Life: Alyx
Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
Dreams
Paper Beast
Star Wars Squadrons

Off Broadway Award for Best Indie Game

Ori and the Will of the Wisps
The Longing: Patience
Hades
Fall Guys
Spiritfarer
Umurangi Generation

Tin Pan Alley Award for Best Music in a Game

Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Final Fantasy VII: Remake
The Last of Us Part II
Teenage Blob
Hades
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Fuser
Ghost of Tsushima

Statue of Liberty Award for Best World

Ghost of Tsushima
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Final Fantasy VII: Remake
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Hades
Umarangi Generation
Demon's Souls
Cyberpunk 2077 (for PC)

Herman Melville Award for Best Writing

The Last of Us Part II
If Found
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Hades
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Cyberpunk 2077 (for PC)
Treachery in Beatdown City

Great White Way Award for Best Acting in a Game

Laura Bailey as Abby in The Last of Us Part II
Ashley Johnson as Ellie in The Last of Us Part II
Briana White as Aerith in Final Fantasy VII: Remake
August Aiden as Tyler Ronan in Tell Me Why
Logan Cunningham as Lord Hades / Poseidon / Achilles / Charon / The Storyteller / Asterius in Hades
Nadji Jeter as Miles Morales in Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077

Freedom Tower Award for Best Remake

Final Fantasy VII: Remake
Resident Evil 3
Mr. Driller: DrillLand
Black Mesa
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2
Demon's Souls

Captain Award for Best Esports Team

DAMWOM Gaming
San Francisco Shock
Red Bull OG
Dallas Empire
TSM

Shea Stadium Award for Best Esports Event

Street Fighter League
Overwatch League
League of Legends Worlds
IEM Katowice
Mortal Kombat 11 Final Kombat

For the 10th anniversary of the Awards, not just one, but four industry greats will be honored with the Andrew Yoon Legend Award. These Awards will be streamed over three nights (Jan. 7, Jan. 14 and Jan. 21) via Twitch and YouTube at 8pm ET. Past recipients include Reggie Fils-Aimé, Jade Raymond, Richard Garriott, Todd Howard, Rockstar Games and Ralph Baer. The Legend Award recognizes individuals and organizations that exhibit a significant, sustained body of work that shows exceptional achievement and innovation.

The New York Game Awards relies on its sponsoring donors to bring the show to life, with a special thanks to platinum donor, Genvid Technologies, the leader in interactive livestreaming. Their generous support helps the New York Videogame Critics Circle continue to grow game industry mentorship programs. Check out Genvid Technology’s latest project, Rival Peak, here.

NYVGCC members are a culturally diverse and passionate group of videogame journalists from media outlets including Tom’s Guide, CNET, Time and The Washington Post; view a full list of members here. For more information on getting involved through volunteering or fundraising with the NYVGCC, click here. Click here for more information on the New York Videogame Critics Circle or contact founder Harold Goldberg at mediacur@gmail.com. To donate, click here.

New York Videogame Critics Circle Programs Include:

DreamYard Project at DreamYard Prep School in the Bronx, NY, offering mentoring, paid internships and college scholarships for underserved students.

Mentoring, full courses and paid internships of students at the Bronxworks network of homeless shelters.

Lower East Side mentoring and internships through a partnership with the Henry Street Settlement and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

Community events at The Abrons Arts Center.

Older adults mentoring at O.A.T.S., Older Adult Technology Services, at their Senior Planet tech center in Manhattan's Chelsea area.

New York Public Library system panels, talks and discussions about jobs in games and how games bring people together.