Helldivers 2 gets a GOTY snub

Despite good reviews, tons of players, and one of the wildest post-launch sagas of the year, Helldivers 2 couldn’t break into the best game category. Arrowhead Game Studios’ coop alien shooter was more than just a great game, it was an entire phenomenon, taking over Tiktok and even convincing normie friends of mine who haven’t played games in ages to hop in. While it’s on the lower end of the Metacritic spectrum for a GOTY winner (at 82), it’s one of the fresher and more innovative games of the decade so far.

The Game Awards jury didn’t agree, however. And based on years past, perhaps no standout game of 2024 had more going against it for a GOTY nomination than Helldivers 2. It’s a multiplayer game with no story-driven campaign, open world, or RPG systems to speak of. It didn’t have the blockbuster production chops to make up for it either, unlike 2016’s Titanfall 2 which snuck into the category even before it was expanded to six entrants. Perhaps to make up for Helldivers 2’s snub, it’s in the running for best ongoing game despite not even being a year old yet. —Ethan Gach