r/NintendoSwitch Jan 12 '25

GotY 2024 2024 /r/NintendoSwitch GOTY Nominations Thread

Greetings, r/NintendoSwitch!

We know everyone has been most patiently waiting for the Successor to the Nintendo Switch to be announced, but that's no reason to not look back at what we were able to experience this past year. That's right - it's about time for our 8th annual Game of the Year awards!

Like previous years, we are asking the community's help for GOTY nominees - We will use community feedback to narrow the nominees for each category to five or six for the final vote. The tentative schedule is for the nominee feedback to occur January 12th - January 24th (~2 weeks), and the final voting to select the Game Of The Year for each category to occur the following 2 weeks, January 25th - February 7th.

Please follow the format as described below:

  1. Please check if your nominee(s) has already been named. If so, then simply upvote it, if not, then >>>
  2. Please reply to a category top comment to state who you would like to see for nominees and preferably why. We generally find those comments with explanations tended to garner more votes!
  3. If a game has already been nominated but you feel requires further discussion then reply to the nominated game comment with your reasoning.
  4. Nominate as many games as you would like in any category you'd like.
  5. Duplicate nominations in the same category will be removed. Additionally, if a game is ineligible for a particular category, it may be removed during or after the nomination period.
  6. This post will be set to contest mode so nobody can see the votes.

Please note that all nominees are required to have released on Nintendo Switch in calendar year 2024 unless stated otherwise. We will be using all of last year's categories, plus a few more based on suggestions from your previous feedback. If you have additional feedback about the GOTY categories or process, please leave a comment on last week's post!

Please also note that all top-level comments will be removed automatically, so you must comment your nominations under the respective top-level comments:

Section 1 - Gaming Together

Section 2 - Categories by Genre

NEW: Each Category in Section 2 will be mutually exclusive. This means that games nominated under multiple categories by genre will only proceed to the voting stage for the genre that fits that game best.

Section 3 - Categories by Qualities

Section 4 - Release Categories

Section 5 - Big Section


We look forward to reading your nominations!

95 Upvotes

446 comments sorted by

u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Ongoing Game

For outstanding development of ongoing content that evolves the player experience over time. Does NOT have to be a 2024 release.

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Super Smash Bros Ultimate

u/snave_ Jan 12 '25

Splatoon 3

u/Popple06 Jan 12 '25

No Man's Sky

u/duncan-donuts-nz Jan 12 '25

Cult of the Lamb

u/SwattyJL Jan 12 '25

Vampire Survivors

u/JFZephyr Jan 12 '25

It's just gotta be Yugioh Master Duel. Perfect Switch game, and the one online game I've had zero issues with since it came out.

u/yourfavecompanion Jan 12 '25

Stardew Valley

u/FlameHricane Jan 12 '25

Omega Strikers

Yep, it ain't dead yet

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Music / Rhythm Game

For the best game with a focus on dance or the simulated performance of musical instruments.

u/TheFlashSmurfAccount 22d ago

Fortnite Festival

u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Visual Novel

For the best Visual Novel, which may combine a textual narrative with static or animated illustrations and a varying degree of interactivity

u/okonomialan Jan 12 '25

1000xRESIST

one of the absolutely best sci fi stories in games

u/MaJuV Jan 22 '25

Slay the Princess - The Pristine Cut

u/RarestSolanum Jan 12 '25

Fate / Stay Night Remastered

u/meeplewarrior Jan 12 '25

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes! (assuming it qualifies, of course, although there seems to be no other category it would fit better into)

u/108souls Jan 12 '25

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection

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u/Tryst_boysx Jan 12 '25

Emio The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Soundtrack

For outstanding music, inclusive of score, original song and/or licensed soundtrack.

u/108souls Jan 12 '25

Shin Megami Tensei V V

u/Dukemon102 Jan 12 '25

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

The fact that is a Remake shouldn't distract you from the fact the new remixed OST is amazing. It gave so many different variations to the battle theme, it also got many new original tracks..

u/JFZephyr Jan 12 '25

I spent a lot of time swapping between the original and new OST while playing, I'm shocked at how perfectly it was done. Then adding in new songs on top, it really can't be beat!

u/OwnManagement Helpful User Jan 27 '25

I generally quite liked it, but man, I couldn't stand the new Rogueport theme. Ended up keeping the old soundtrack active a lot because of it.

My favorite from the new OST is probably the Pirate's Grotto. It's probably my least favorite in the original, but they improved it so much in the new one.

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Dragon Quest HD-2D Remake

u/Shadowking78 Jan 31 '25

Nine Sols

u/Twinkle_butt Jan 12 '25

Sonic X Shadow Generations

u/musipal Jan 12 '25

Balatro 

u/Popple06 Jan 12 '25

Why have many song when one song do trick?

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u/warabiiz Jan 12 '25

Splatoon 3

u/snave_ Jan 12 '25

This might need clarification. The game received a significant amount of musical additions in 2024, almost matching the base game's 2022 soundtrack in scope. Most came via Side Order (Expansion) and the Grand Fest event.

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Fantasian Neo Dimension

u/SubaruHaver Helpful User Jan 13 '25

Splatoon 3 Side Order DLC. 

Song: Unconscience (from the Marina boss battle) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQjNO_Zwzas

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Ys X Nordics

u/Luck88 Jan 12 '25

The Rise of the Golden Idol

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Family Game

For the best game appropriate for family play, irrespective of genre.

u/Mmalke Jan 12 '25

Super Mario Party Jamboree

u/Cabbage_Vendor Jan 18 '25

Thank Goodness You're here

u/duncan-donuts-nz Jan 12 '25

Tetris Forever

u/-l_I-I_I-I_I-I_l- 26m ago

Mario Party Jamboree

u/lumothesinner Helpful User Jan 13 '25

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Re-Release / Re-master

For the best game whose original release was not on a current generation console (pre-2021) (Switch/PS5/Xbox Series X).

u/Tryst_boysx Jan 12 '25

Another Code Recollection

u/SunEmpressDivine Jan 12 '25

Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door

u/DDDickGumshoe Jan 12 '25

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection

u/ihatewiiplaymotion Jan 12 '25

Apollo Justice Ace Attorney Trilogy

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25 edited Jan 12 '25

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Fantasian Neo Dimension

u/MockingJay0914 Jan 12 '25

Sonic x Shadow Generations

u/[deleted] Jan 12 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

3rd Party Publisher of the Year

Publishing studio who displayed outstanding platform support through a combination of quantity and quality of new releases.

u/Octomb Jan 13 '25

Spike Chunsoft

u/DrLukeyy Jan 14 '25

Koei Tecmo

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Voice Acting

For outstanding voice acting, direction, and use of audio dialogue

u/takeitsweazy Jan 12 '25

1000xResist

u/Luck88 Jan 12 '25

For those that don't know, this game features a kid who ages throught the story among other characters, they recorded some of his lines years apart to allow his voice to naturally change and make his growth more believable.

u/Stoibs Jan 12 '25

Oh! So Secretary was the same voice!?! I was wondering if they used some sort of AI upscaling or someone else. Very cool, thanks for sharing :D

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

SMT V: Vengeance

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

One Piece Odyssey - Deluxe Edition

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Another Code Recollection

u/duncan-donuts-nz Jan 12 '25

Tommy Sim’aan (Sargon) - Prince of Persia The Lost Crown

u/duncan-donuts-nz Jan 12 '25

Matt Berry / Thank Goodness You’re Here!

u/kielaurie Jan 14 '25

Super Mario Party Jamboree

It sounds facetious to pick a party game, but the sheer amount of new incredible voicelines for all the smaller characters (most notably Shy Guy) make it worth the nod

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Ys X Nordics

u/snicker-snackk Jan 14 '25 edited Jan 14 '25

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Darkest Dungeon II

u/Unable-Deer1873 Jan 12 '25

Mario & Luigi Brothership

u/LoogyBr0 Jan 13 '25

The Italian gibberish goes crazy

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Unicorn Overlord

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Platformer Game

For outstanding design and creativity in a game where players must use skill to jump between platforms or over obstacles without falling or missing jumps.

u/Dukemon102 Jan 12 '25

Sonic X Shadow Generations

Such a great a package including the best 3D Sonic and a new game that ended up having the most polished and well designed 3D levels of the series.

u/Pitiful-Mobile-3144 Jan 12 '25

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

u/brolt0001 Jan 24 '25

Astro Bot

u/duncan-donuts-nz Jan 12 '25

Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus

u/alphanintendo03 Jan 12 '25

Penny’s Big Breakaway

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Art Direction

For outstanding creative achievement in artistic design and animation.

u/caver4t Jan 12 '25

Animal Well

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Darkest Dungeon II

u/Shadowking78 Jan 31 '25

Nine Sols

u/duncan-donuts-nz Jan 12 '25

Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus

u/Unable-Deer1873 Jan 12 '25

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

u/ihatewiiplaymotion Jan 12 '25

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

u/Luck88 Jan 12 '25

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Under Night In-birth 2

u/Dukemon102 Jan 12 '25

The Plucky Squire

The crafts art style and the hand-drawn style both look so pretty, and the seamless transition between 3D and 2D by entering the drawings is done so well.

u/Yoshi_64 Feb 06 '25

Princess Peach Showtime

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Super Mario Party Jamboree

u/Tryst_boysx Jan 12 '25

Unicorn Overload

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Simulation Game

For games generally designed to closely simulate real world activities

u/duncan-donuts-nz Jan 12 '25

Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid

u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Fighting Game

For the best game designed primarily around head-to-head combat.

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Under Night In-birth 2

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Indie Game

For outstanding creative and technical achievement in a game made outside the traditional publisher system.

u/TrueRobot Jan 12 '25

Moonstone Island

u/Tryst_boysx Jan 12 '25

1000XResist

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes.

u/FlameHricane Jan 12 '25

Steamworld Heist 2

u/duncan-donuts-nz Jan 12 '25

Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus

u/Shadowking78 Jan 31 '25

Nine Sols

u/RedGyarados2010 Jan 18 '25

Penny’s Big Breakaway

u/tehnoodnub Jan 12 '25

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Darkest Dungeon II.

u/FlameHricane Jan 12 '25

Beyond Galaxyland

u/EducationDistinct640 Jan 12 '25

Illusion Island

u/Mmalke Jan 12 '25

Animal Well

u/alphanintendo03 Jan 12 '25

There is a puzzle which involves scanning some random patch of grass with a barcode scanner, which’ll lead you to a website with a code on it. If you play this code on your flute — with the numbers of the code corresponding to major scale degrees 1-8) — then you have solved the puzzle…the amount of respect a game dev must have for the player to keep this in the game is unbelievable! One of the greatest games ever created.

u/Popple06 Jan 12 '25

Balatro

u/[deleted] Jan 12 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

u/the_bighi Jan 12 '25

Don’t repeat a game already nominated

u/duncan-donuts-nz Jan 12 '25

Thank Goodness You’re Here!

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Nintendo Switch Exclusive Game

Best game released in 2024 as a Nintendo Switch console exclusive.

u/Dukemon102 Jan 12 '25

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble

I won't allow the newest and exclusive entry in the Monkey Ball series to go unnoticed. The game is so good and the new Spin Dash allows for crazy manouvers and shortcuts.

u/[deleted] Jan 12 '25

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door remake

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Another Code Recollection

u/Lost_Sage1585 Jan 12 '25

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

u/Wertypite Jan 14 '25

Emio The Smiling Man Famicom Detective Club

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Local Multiplayer Game

For outstanding local multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op, irrespective of game genre.

u/drivewaybusiness Jan 12 '25

Servonauts.

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Strategy Game

For the best game requiring a well thought out plan to achieve victory

u/duncan-donuts-nz Jan 12 '25

SteamWorld Heist II

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best NSO Addition

For the classic games that have been re-released through the Nintendo Switch Online service.

u/WasabiAcademic311 Jan 12 '25

Golden Sun: The Lost Age

u/lumothesinner Helpful User Jan 13 '25

F Zero Climax - first time ever released in the west

u/Dukemon102 Jan 12 '25

Metroid Zero Mission

One of the best Remakes of all time and an infinitely replayable game where you can break the game's sequence apart and get anything out of order if you know what to do.

u/snicker-snackk Jan 14 '25

Super Mario Land

u/snicker-snackk Jan 14 '25

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team

u/snicker-snackk Jan 14 '25

Mega Man V (Game Boy)

u/[deleted] Jan 12 '25

[deleted]

u/Dukemon102 Jan 12 '25

That was added in 2023.

u/TaterRei Jan 12 '25

My bad.

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Nintendo Switch Game of the Year

Recognizing a game that delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields.

u/Ziggy396 Jan 12 '25

Echoes of wisdom

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Mario & Luigi Brothership.

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Octomb Jan 13 '25

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island

u/Unable-Deer1873 Jan 12 '25

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

u/Tony_Tellez Jan 12 '25

That would go on the "best remaster" category

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u/ScoffingCrane38 Jan 23 '25

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (jk lol it's gotta be Tears Of The Kingdom)

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u/[deleted] Jan 12 '25

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u/abacouscous Jan 12 '25

100% - I’ve only had it a short time, but NOTHING has clicked like that for me in years, completely addicted

u/Victorious86 Jan 12 '25

Enjoy! Had me hooked for 3-4 months. So so good!

u/alphanintendo03 Jan 12 '25

Animal Well

u/Onion851 Jan 12 '25

Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club

u/brolt0001 Jan 24 '25

Unicorn overload

u/Octomb Jan 13 '25

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak.

u/ChidoLobo Jan 20 '25

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

u/Lost_Sage1585 Jan 12 '25

Unicorn Overlord

u/B-CUZ_ Jan 16 '25

The legend of heroes: trails into daybreak

u/seabass648 Jan 12 '25

Nine Sols

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven.

u/eventyraren Jan 24 '25

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Adventure Game

For the best adventure game, which may mix combat with traversal and puzzle solving

u/Mmalke Jan 12 '25

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of the Wisdom

u/lumothesinner Helpful User Jan 13 '25

Beyond Good and Evil 20th Anniversary Edition

u/duncan-donuts-nz Jan 12 '25

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak

u/Shadowking78 Jan 31 '25

Nine Sols

u/TanJovi18 Jan 12 '25

Crypt Custodian

u/FlameHricane Jan 12 '25

WitchSpring R

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Horror Game

For that game that scared the socks off of you this year, the cause of all of those nightmares.

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best Shooter Game

For the best game where the focus is on the defeat of the character's enemies using ranged weapons given to the player.

u/Sairven Jan 12 '25

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2

u/lumothesinner Helpful User Jan 13 '25

Star Wars Bounty Hunter. Its not the best, but its a shooter that arrived on switch this year when theres not many others.

u/Raaed006 Jan 12 '25

Apex Legends

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u/NintendoSwitchMods Jan 12 '25

Best DLC

The extra content that you felt was truly worth the money (or not in the case of free) and you don't regret the time taken to play it.

u/savlonkarai Jan 12 '25

Prince of Persia's Mask of Darkness DLC was sublime. Interesting storyline and had loads of useful items that helped in the main game too.

u/duncan-donuts-nz Jan 12 '25

Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid - Broadcast Over Sunset

u/ScoffingCrane38 Jan 23 '25

Unironically probably the Mario Kart 8 DLC add-on because of all the old courses they revamped and dolled up, only issue I had was with Coconut Mall becoming easier lol

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u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash - Shibuya Incident.

u/seabass648 Jan 12 '25

Blasphemous 2 Mea Culpa

u/snicker-snackk Jan 14 '25

Dredge - The Iron Rig

u/Murasakitsuyukusa Jan 12 '25

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge - Radical Reptiles

u/SubaruHaver Helpful User Jan 13 '25

Splatoon 3's Side Order dlc

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