The verdicts are in, the New York Videogame Critics Circle has announced the award winners for 2023. In recognition of the hard work that was made into the making of these games, the non-profit organization composed of critics, writers, bloggers, and reporters have come together to unveil the winners for the 12 annual New York Game Awards for 2023. The NYVGCC celebrated the best games, actors, esports athletes, and journalists for 2023.
Elden Ring won two of the biggest awards taking the Big Apple Award for Best Game of the Year and the Statue of Liberty Award for Best World. Justin Heckert (Vanity Fair) was awarded the Knickerboxer award for Best Games Journalism for his work on “Jason Brassard Spent His Lifetime Collecting the Rarest Video Game. Until the Heist.” Phil Spencer (CEO of Microsoft Gaming) was awarded the 2023 Andrew Yoon Legend Award.
The Andrew Yoon Legend award recognizes people and organizations that have exhibited a significant, sustained body of work that shows exceptional artistic achievement and innovation. “Phil and I have been a part of this industry together for many years and I’ve always admired his ability to find new, creative ways to serve gamers,” said Reggie Fils-Aimé, former industry and COO and board member, NYVGCC. “Phil isn’t just an executive in games, he is a gamer himself and because of that he knows exactly what fans want when it comes to the Xbox brand. I am thrilled to have him join the prestigious ranks of Andrew Yoon Legend Award winners and look forward to celebrating his illustrious career at the New York Game Awards this January.”
Here are this year’s award categories and winners:
Big Apple Award for Best Game of the Year
A Plague Tale: Requiem
Cult of the Lamb
Elden Ring
God of War Ragnarök
Immortality
Pentiment
Vampire Survivors
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Off-Broadway Award for Best Indie Game
Immortality
Neon White
Return to Monkey Island
Trombone Champ
Vampire Survivors
Wordle
Wylde Flowers
Herman Melville Award for Best Writing in a Game
As Dusk Falls
Elden Ring
God of War Ragnarök
Immortality
Norco
Return to Monkey Island
Roadwarden
Statue of Liberty Award for Best World
Elden Ring
God of War Ragnarök
Horizon Forbidden West
Pentiment
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Tin Pan Alley Award for Best Music in a Game
Elden Ring
God of War Ragnarök
Horizon Forbidden West
Metal: Hellsinger
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Trombone Champ
Great White Way Award for Best Acting in a Game
Alex Jarrett as Zoe Walker in As Dusk Falls
Ashly Burch as Aloy in Horizon Forbidden West
Christopher Judge as Kratos in God of War Ragnarök
Grace Zabriskie as Eliza Vorez in The Quarry
Justice Smith as Ryan Erzahler in The Quarry
Manon Gage as Marissa Marcel in Immortality
Coney Island Dreamland Award for Best AR/VR Game
BONELAB
Lost Recipes
Moss: Book II
RUINSMAGUS
The Last Clockwinder
Central Park Children’s Zoo Award for Best Kids Game
Harmony’s Odyssey
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Moss: Book II
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Splatoon 3
Tunic
A-Train Award for Best Mobile Game
Desta: The Memories Between
Marvel Snap
Poinpy
Railbound
Wylde Flowers
Freedom Tower Award for Best Remake
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII – Reunion
Life is Strange Remastered Collection
Live A Live
The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
Joltin’ Joe Award for Best Esports Player of the Year
Arslan “Arslan Ash” Siddique (FATE Esports/Red Bull Esports) – Tekken 7
Bryan “pANcada” Luna (Sentinels, formerly with LOUD) – VOLORANT
Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu (DWG KIA) – League of Legends
Masaya “aMSa” Chikamoto (VGBootCamp/Red Bull Esports) – Super Smash Bros. Melee – WINNER
Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev (Natus Vincere) – Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Yoo “smurf” Myeong-hwan (Boston Uprising) – Overwatch
Chumley’s Speakeasy Award for Best Hidden Gem
A Memoir Blue
Norco
Patrick’s Parabox
Perfect Tides
SIGNALIS
Strange Horticulture
The Case of the Golden Idol
Wayward Strand
NYC GWB Award for Best DLC
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarök
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Tombs of the Fallen Pt. 2
Bugsnax: The Isle of BIGsnax
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen
Microsoft Flight Simulator: Top Gun Maverick DLC
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
Knickerbocker Award for Best Games Journalism
Justin Heckert, Vanity Fair
Elizabeth Jennings Graham Award for Best Educator
Ryan O’Callaghan
Andrew Yoon Legend Award Recipient
Phil Spencer
Congratulations to all the winners. That concludes this year’s awards. We can’t wait to see what next year brings.