Gaming

Astro Bot wins Game of the Year: full list of Game Awards winners

Balatro, Metaphor: ReFantazio also win multiple awards

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The annual Game Awards 2024 is a celebration of the past year in gaming. Though much of the spotlight is rightfully shining on the trailers for the upcoming year, recognizing the best titles of this year is still necessary. Even if you want to buy the next games already, knowing the awardees and nominees can help you run through the list of what you might have missed.

2024 Winners

Without further ado, here’s the full list of winners for The Game Awards 2024:

Game of the Year

Astro Bot – WINNER

Balatro 

Black Myth: Wukong

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Best Game Direction

Astro Bot – WINNER

Balatro

Black Myth: Wukong

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Best Narrative

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Metaphor: ReFantanzio – WINNER

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

Silent Hill 2

Best Art Direction

Astro Bot 

Black Myth: Wukong 

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Metaphor: ReFantazio – WINNER

Neva

Best Score and Music

Astro Bot

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – WINNER

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Silent Hill 2

Stellar Blade

Best Audio Design

Astro Bot

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth 

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 – WINNER

Silent Hill 2

Best Performance

Briana White, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Hannah Telle, Life is Strange: Double Exposure

Humberly González, Star Wars Outlaws

Luke Roberts, Silent Hill 2

Melina Juergens, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 – WINNER

Innovation in Accessibility

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Diablo IV

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – WINNER

Star Wars Outlaws

Games for Impact

Closer the Distance

Indika

Neva – WINNER

Life is Strange: Double Exposure

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

Tales of Kenzera: Zau

Best Ongoing Game

Destiny 2

Diablo IV

Final Fantasy XIV

Fortnite

Helldivers 2 – WINNER

Best Community Support

Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER

Final Fantasy XIV 

Fortnite

Helldivers 2

No Man’s Sky 

Best Independent Game

Animal Well

Balatro – WINNER

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

Neva 

UFO 50

Best Debut Indie Game

Animal Well 

Balatro – WINNER

Manor Lords

Pacific Drive

The Plucky Squire 

Best Mobile Game

AFK Journey 

Balatro – WINNER

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket 

Wuthering Waves 

Zenless Zone Zero

Best VR/AR Game

Arizona Sunshine Remake

Asgard’s Wrath 2

Batman: Arkham Shadow – WINNER

Metal: Hellsinger VR

Metro Awakening

Best Action Game 

Black Myth: Wukong – WINNER

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 

Helldivers 2 

Stellar Blade

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Best Action/Adventure Game

Astro Bot – WINNER

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Silent Hill 2 

Star Wars Outlaws

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Best RPG

Dragon’s Dogma 2

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Metaphor: ReFantazio – WINNER

Best Fighting Game

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO 

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising

Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics 

MultiVersus 

Tekken 8 – WINNER

Best Family Game

Astro Bot – WINNER

Princess Peach: Showtime! 

Super Mario Party Jamboree 

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

The Plucky Squire 

Best Sim/Strategy Game

Age of Mythology: Retold 

Frostpunk 2 – WINNER

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess

Manor Lords

Unicorn Overlord

Best Sports/Racing Game

F1 24

EA Sports FC 25 – WINNER

NBA 2K25 

Top Spin 2K25

WWE 2K24 

Best Multiplayer Game

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 

Helldivers 2 – WINNER

Super Mario Party Jamboree

Tekken 8

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Best Adaptation

Arcane

Fallout – WINNER

Knuckles

Like a Dragon: Yakuza 

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft

Most Anticipated Game

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach 

Ghost of Yōtei 

Grand Theft Auto VI – WINNER

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond 

Monster Hunter Wilds 

Content Creator of the Year

CaseOh – WINNER

IlloJuan

Techno Gamerz

TypicalGamer

Usada Pekora

Best Esports Game

Counter-Strike 2 

DOTA 2 

League of Legends – WINNER

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang 

Valorant 

Best Esports Athlete

33 (Neta Shapira)

Aleksib (Aleksi Virolainen)

Chovy (Jeong Ji-hoon)

Faker (Lee Sang-hyeok) – WINNER

ZyWoO (Mathieu Herbaut)

ZmjjKk (Zheng Yongkang)

Best Esports Team

Bilibili Gaming (League of Legends)

Gen.G (League of Legends)

NAVI (Counter-Strike)

T1 (League of Legends) – WINNER

Team Liquid (DOTA 2)

Gaming

Lenovo Legion Go 2 just got leaked

Almost everything we need to know

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Image source: Evan Blass / X

In the previous generation of handheld gaming, the Legion Go stood above the rest because of its innovative design. How can you compete against a detachable controller that doubles as a mouse? Now, it’s been a while since the original Go. It’s fair to ask what the next Go might look like. Today, a major leak has spoiled almost everything about the unannounced Legion Go 2.

As revealed by renowned leaker Evan Blass on X, the upcoming Legion Go 2 shares much of the same DNA as the original console. It will still have the same detachable controller-slash-mouse combo, for one. In fact, if you haven’t really paid attention to the original, you might struggle to find the updates in the design.

This time, the shape of the two controllers looks more ergonomic. Rather than the more angular predecessor, the Legion Go 2 will have more curves and, therefore, more grip. It will also have a redesigned D-Pad, which will include a more tactile and omnidirectional circular island. (This is one of our tiny complaints with the original, so we’re glad this will be changed.)

Image source: Evan Blass / X

Inside, the console will come with the more advanced AMD Ryzen Z2 and Z2 Extreme. It will have a 144Hz display with 500nits of brightness and support for 1200p resolution. Unfortunately, the leaked graphics don’t reveal what the GPU is underneath, so we can’t accurately predict what it can do.

Likewise, we don’t know when Lenovo plans to officially debut this unannounced device. But since the original was released almost two years ago, it might be about time for an update.

SEE ALSO: Legion Go S: Straight forward gaming on the go

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Gaming

SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance scratched my ‘Zero in Megaman X4’ itch

And then some

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SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance

Allow me to frame this properly. Megaman X4, specifically Zero’s campaign, is one of my all-time favorites. I can’t recall every detail anymore, but I’ll never forget the feeling — chaining that three-slash combo, jump-dashing, wall-hopping, and pulling off special moves. Playing SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance brought all of that flooding back.

This game didn’t just scratch my itch for a good 2D action platformer — it satisfied it. From the action to the platforming to the presentation, everything clicked in a way that made me feel right at home, while still giving me something new.

Vengeful combat

SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance

The starting moveset is strong. You don’t feel like the character was held back — from the get-go, you already feel like a badass ninja. Combos are fluid, chaining light and heavy strikes with kunai throws, and you can cancel into dashes to keep the flow going. By the time you unlock new skills, the enemies have already ramped up in ways that make each addition feel necessary rather than just flashy.

What really sold me was how layered the combat becomes. Beyond standard combos, you can pull off executions once an enemy’s stagger gauge fills, rewarding you with bursts of health or ammo. Ninpo skills add another dimension — special moves that let you clear space or punish groups when things get hectic. Later on, amulets and traversal tools fold into combat as well, letting you customize your approach, whether that’s aggressive, defensive, or a balance of both.

Even with all that, fights never felt overwhelming. Deaths were on me, not the game. The enemy variety kept me on my toes, and boss fights in particular made sure I used every tool I had learned up to that point. Each one felt like a proper exam on my ninja training.

SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance

What sealed it for me was one of the early boss fights. On paper, it wasn’t the toughest, but I played it jetlagged on a flight — not exactly ideal ninja conditions. I knew I had the tools to win, but it still took me close to ten tries before I finally nailed the rhythm. I landed the finishing blow just as the pilot asked us to prepare for landing. That mix of stubborn challenge and sweet payoff is what this game nails so well.

Challenging platforming

SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance

Jumping, double jumping, and air-dashing felt second nature right away. If you’ve played other 2D action platformers, you’ll slide right into the rhythm. Wall-hopping and wall-running took me longer to get a handle on — about two and a half hours before I stopped second-guessing my inputs — but once it clicked, it opened up the game in the best way.

Stages always kept things fresh. One level had moving platforms over bottomless pits that punished sloppy timing. Another leaned on vertical climbs, forcing me to chain wall runs and dashes in rapid succession. Later on, environmental hazards like lasers and collapsing floors made traversal feel like puzzles as much as platforming tests.

I fell plenty of times, but I never felt lost or cheated. The level design does a great job of pointing you in the right direction without handholding. And when new abilities unlocked, they didn’t just add flair — they gave me access to hidden rooms and shortcuts in earlier stages, rewarding exploration without dragging the pace.

Artful presentation

SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance

The hand-drawn look nails the vibe. Sharp character sprites and backgrounds pop without being too busy, and it sells the whole cyberpunk-ninja aesthetic. Each stage feels distinct — neon-soaked cityscapes, industrial factories, and eerie temples keep things from blending together. Enemy designs also play into the theme, mixing traditional ninja motifs with futuristic twists.

The soundtrack does a lot of heavy lifting. Pulsing synth beats push you forward during combat, while moodier tracks give boss arenas real weight. It matches the action so well that I found myself nodding along mid-slash.

Voice acting is solid across the board. The lead only communicates through grunts and battle cries, which is equal parts funny and fitting, but the supporting cast delivers their lines with enough conviction to carry the story beats. Speaking of story, it’s serviceable — a classic tale of revenge and corruption. You won’t be dissecting it years from now, but it does enough to keep the momentum going.

You also don’t need to have played past Shinobi games to enjoy this one. It stands tall on its own, even if you’re coming in fresh.

Is SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance your GameMatch?

A quick note: starting with this title, we’re gonna carry over our playful way of saying what’s worth your time — a seal of approval of sorts — into game reviews.

  • Swipe Up means it’s highly recommended.
  • Swipe Right means recommended, but maybe not for everyone.
  • Swipe Left means not recommended.

SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is an easy Swipe Up. The action, platforming, and presentation come together to make for a riveting experience — the kind of game that respects your time while still pushing you to master its systems. It’s a classic case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.

And if you grew up chasing that Zero slash-combo high like I did, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is the modern revival you didn’t know you needed.

It’s available now on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Nintendo Switch.

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GadgetMatch at gamescom 2025: stepping into the world’s biggest gaming stage

This first gamescom won’t be our last.

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gamescon 2025 | ROG

Walking into gamescom for the first time, I felt both overwhelmed and grateful. Cologne turns into a celebration of gaming every year. Being there in person — seeing the scale, the creativity, the energy from fans and developers — reminded me how much we’ve wanted to be part of this moment.

Gaming has always been part of our DNA. Since 2017, GadgetMatch has reviewed games alongside the gadgets that power them. We’ve covered console launches, tested big titles, and told stories about how games shape everyday life. Being at gamescom felt less like trying something new, and more like coming home to a community we’ve long been part of.

Swiping in game reviews

And just like with gadgets, we’re gonna start carrying over our playful way of saying what’s worth your time into game reviews. A Swipe Up means highly recommended. Swipe Right means recommended, but maybe not for everyone. A Swipe Left means not recommended. It’s the same DNA, now applied to the worlds, battles, and stories we escape to.

An experience

gamescom 2025 | GameSir | Honor of Kings: World

gamescom 2025 | GameSir | Honor of Kings: World

On the ground, so many moments stood out. The massive lines waiting for Silksong. Capcom’s crowd-pullers like Resident Evil Requiem and Pragmata. Spotting a GameSir controller — one of our long-time partners — while playing the Honor of Kings: World demo. Finally meeting peers I had only known through email.

@gadgetmatch Sights & Sounds at #gamescom2025 ♬ original sound – GadgetMatch

There were cosplayers at every corner, ready to strike a pose. A cosplay village overflowing with anime merch I couldn’t ignore. Samsung and Genshin Impact sharing a massive booth, proof of how big mobile gaming has become. And yes, I finally played Phantom Blade 0, a game I’ve been waiting for.

gamescom 2025

gamescom shows the full range of the industry. The big, cinematic AAA titles. The clever indies with fresh ideas. It’s what makes covering games so exciting. Gaming is never just about the hardware. It’s about the stories, the worlds, and the communities that grow around them.

This first gamescom won’t be our last. We want to come back, not just as attendees, but as an active part of the gaming conversation. If you’re a publisher or developer looking for a platform that values both the tech and the stories behind your games, we’d love to tell them with you.

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