From Astro Bot to Balatro, the 2024 'game of the year' race is too close to call

Much like Christmas is a lot less enjoyable for the person who has to organise all the presents and cook the dinner, game-of-the-year season is rather intimidating for the people who have to put together the shortlists. Every November, I tot up all of the year's acclaimed games I've yet to play, the underground recommendations I've yet to follow up on and the games I loved back in February but forgot about. I feel a mounting panic. And when all of the year-end lists come out, I inevitably find I've missed something anyway. The Game Awards have just announced the nominations for this year's ceremony, taking place on 12 December in Los Angeles.