The third BLAEO Game Awards are here!
Let’s see which games released this year were most loved by the BLAEO community! We can’t pick the best games of 2020 without your help so please nominate your favourite games released in 2020* and make sure to return between December 21 and 29 to vote for your absolute favourites.
The timeline for this event is as follows:
25 November - 19 December: Nomination phase
21 December - 29 December: Voting phase
31 December: The winners are announced
These are the proposed categories:
- Game of the Year
- Choices Matter
- Best Story
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game
- Best Free to Play Game
- Most Value for Money
- Best Game Under $20
- Best Addition to an Existing Series
- Most Addictive Game
- Prettiest Game
- Best Soundtrack
- Best DLC
- Best Early Access Game (Added to EA in 2020 or left EA in 2020.)
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem
- Best Character
- Best Console Exclusive
- Best Mobile Game
Nomination Phase
To nominate a game simply post a comment with a list of games that you want to nominate in each category.
Please include games even if they have already been mentioned by other users. We might not be able to include every proposed game in the final vote and seeing how popular the games are will make it easier for us to make the final selection.
In a similar way we might not include all the categories in the final vote if there’s an obvious lack of interest/proposed games.
Guidelines for nominating games:
- Best Console Game category: games released on console for the first time between 1 December 2019 and 30 November 2020 can be nominated.
- Best Mobile Game category: games released on mobile for the first time between 1 December 2019 and 30 November 2020 can be nominated.
- Best DLC category: the DLC needs to have been released between 1 December 2019 and 30 November 2020 , but the game can be older.
- All other categories: games released on PC for the first time between 1 December 2019 and 30 November 2020 can be nominated.
Please use the following format when nominating games:
**- Game of the Year:**
**- Choices Matter:**
**- Best Story:**
**- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game:**
**- Best Free to Play Game:**
**- Most Value for Money:**
**- Best Game Under $20:**
**- Best Addition to an Existing Series:**
**- Most Addictive Game:**
**- Prettiest Game:**
**- Best Soundtrack:**
**- Best DLC:**
**- Best Early Access Game:**
**- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem:**
**- Best Character:**
**- Best Console Exclusive:**
**- Best Mobile Game:**
- Game of the Year: Hades
- Choices Matter: Persona 4 Golden
- Best Story: Persona 4 Golden
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game:
- Best Free to Play Game: Helltaker
- Most Value for Money: Hades, Monster Train, Persona 4 Golden
- Best Game Under $20: Marco & The Galaxy Dragon
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Most Addictive Game: Hades, Monster Train
- Prettiest Game: Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Hades
- Best Soundtrack: Marco & The Galaxy Dragon, Hades
- Best DLC: Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
- Best Early Access Game: Hades
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Marco & The Galaxy Dragon
- Best Character: Dusa (Hades), Megaera (Hades)
- Best Console Exclusive:
- Best Mobile Game:
I’m an octopus of my word ok.
- Game of the Year: Hades, Spiritfarer
- Choices Matter: Solasta: Crown of the Magister
- Best Story: Spiritfarer
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp
- Best Free to Play Game: The Supper
- Most Value for Money: Hades
- Best Game Under $20: Wintermoor Tactics Club, Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp, Marco & The Galaxy Dragon
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp, Wasteland 3
- Most Addictive Game: Hades, Spiritfarer
- Prettiest Game: Hades, Spiritfarer
- Best Soundtrack: Hades, Spiritfarer
- Best DLC: Monster Hunter: Iceborne
- Best Early Access Game: Hades, Grounded
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Wintermoor Tactics Club, The Flower Collectors
- Best Character: Dusa from Hades
- Best Console Exclusive: Animal Crossing New Horizons (Switch)
- Game of the Year: Hades, Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Best Story: Coffee Talk, Horizon Zero Dawn
- Best Free to Play Game: The Supper, Helltaker
- Most Value for Money: Hades, Persona 4 Golden, honorable mention to our god and savior Xbox Game Pass for PC
- Best Game Under $20: Marco & The Galaxy Dragon, XCOM®: Chimera Squad, Wintermoor Tactics Club
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Wasteland 3, XCOM®: Chimera Squad, Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Most Addictive Game: Hades, Ring of Pain, Monster Train
- Prettiest Game: Marco & The Galaxy Dragon, Horizon Zero Dawn, Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Best Soundtrack: Marco & The Galaxy Dragon, DEATH STRANDING, Wasteland 3, Hades, Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Marco & The Galaxy Dragon, Wintermoor Tactics Club
- Best Character: Dusa (Hades)
- Game of the Year: Hades, Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Detroit: Become Human
- Choices Matter: Detroit: Become Human
- Best Story:
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Microsoft Flight Simulator
- Best Free to Play Game:
- Most Value for Money: Hades
- Best Game Under $20: Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Microsoft Flight Simulator, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Watch Dogs: Legion
- Most Addictive Game: Hades, Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Prettiest Game: Hades, Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
- Best Soundtrack: Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Hades
- Best DLC:
- Best Early Access Game: Hades
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem:
- Best Character: Aloy (HZD), Connor (Detroit: Become Human)
- Best Console Exclusive:
- Best Mobile Game:
Sadly, I haven’t played a single game released in 2020, so no nominations from me. At least, my backlog gets smaller. :)
Ha! I have found one! XCOM: Chimera Squad. I haven’t played it enough to nominate for something though.
yep i had the same problem. going through the steam awards for the badge it gave me like the same 20ish games and they were all pretty sucky. Seems like everyone is loving hades. Also py is just like you with only xcom XD
Are games which were on Epic earlier, but jumped on Steam this year are ok? Because my game of the year is this kind of game.
- Game of the Year: Spiritfarer
- Best Story: There Is No Game
- Most Value for Money: Hades
- Best Game Under $20: Hades
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Assassin Creed Valhalla
- Most Addictive Game: Hades
- Prettiest Game: Spiritfarer
- Best Soundtrack: Spiritfarer
- Best Early Access Game: Hades
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Filament and There Is No Game
- Best Character: Gwen from Spiritfarer
Someone else asked it on Discord and the answer is that the first release on PC matters, so for example Outer Wilds counts as being released in May 2019
The answer is in the main post: “All other categories: games released on PC for the first time between 1 December 2019 and 30 November 2020 can be nominated.”
I guess I haven’t played much 2020 games.
- Game of the Year: XCom: Chimera Squad
- Choices Matter:
- Best Story: Through the darkest time (more lore than story, but whatever)
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game:
- Best Free to Play Game:
- Most Value for Money: XCom: Chimera Squad
- Best Game Under $20: XCom: Chimera Squad
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: XCom: Chimera Squad
- Most Addictive Game:
- Prettiest Game:
- Best Soundtrack:
- Best DLC:
- Best Early Access Game:
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem:
- Best Character:
- Best Console Exclusive:
- Best Mobile Game:
Game of the Year: Among Us Detroit: Become Human, Temtem
Choices Matter: Little Hope, Detroit: Become Human
Best Story: Detroit: Become Human, Spiritfarer
Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Phasmophobia, Fall Guys, Little Hope, Temtem
Best Free to Play Game: Genshins Impact
Most Value for Money Little Hope, Detroit: Become Human, Spiritfarer, Temtem
Best Game Under $20: Phasmophobia
Best Addition to an Existing Series: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Most Addictive Game: Among Us Temtem, Spiritfarer
Prettiest Game: Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Spiritfarer
Best Soundtrack: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Best Early Access Game: Phasmophobia, Temtem
Best Character: Connor.
Best Console Exclusive: Animal Crossing New Horizons, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon DX, Rune Factory 4 Special
Best Mobile Game: Masketeers: Idle Has Fallen
- Game of the Year:
- Choices Matter:
- Best Story:
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Golf With Your Friends, Unrailed!, Phasmophobia, Risk of Rain 2, Unspottable
- Best Free to Play Game: Tukoni, The Supper, Dear Devere, Helltaker
- Most Value for Money: Golf With Your Friends
- Best Game Under $20: Golf With Your Friends
- Best Addition to an Existing Series:
- Most Addictive Game: Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
- Prettiest Game: Hades, Hotel Sowls, Dear Devere
- Best Soundtrack: Hades
- Best DLC: Children of Morta: Paws and Claws
- Best Early Access Game: Golf With Your Friends (left EA), Unrailed! (left EA), Card Hog, Marble Race, Phasmophobia
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Hotel Sowls
- Best Character:
- Best Console Exclusive: Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
- Best Mobile Game: Dead by Daylight (mobile version was released April 16th 2020)
Honourable mentions: Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Trackmania (Epic)
Taking one look at the nomations, me thinks Hades might win. :D Definitely need to buy it one day, have absolutely loved the few hours I’ve watched being played.
Edit: Nvm my best friend bought me it for my birthday wahooo!!
- Game of the Year: Black Mesa
- Choices Matter:
- Best Story:
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game:
- Best Free to Play Game: Genshin Impact
- Most Value for Money: Spelunky 2
- Best Game Under $20: Black Mesa
- Best Addition to an Existing Series:
- Most Addictive Game:
- Prettiest Game: Crysis Remastered
- Best Soundtrack: The Blind Prophet
- Best DLC: Destiny 2: Beyond Light
- Best Early Access Game:
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: The Blind Prophet
- Best Character: Ichiban Kasuga
- Best Console Exclusive:
- Best Mobile Game:
- Best Free to Play Game: Destiny 2
All other categories: games released on PC for the first time between 1 December 2019 and 30 November 2020 can be nominated.
Oops! Fixed
Btw maybe we could have it “pinned” to the top like secret santa event?
Also off-topic but ma’am could I please get accepted to BLAEO steam group, please ma’am? T_T I posted in thread and requested membership and shit
Unfortunately we can’t have two banners displayed at once. :( It’s scheduled to replace the Santa thing tomorrow, though.
- Game of the Year: heavy rain
- Choices Matter: heavy rain
- Best Story: heavy rain
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game:
- Best Free to Play Game:
- Most Value for Money:
- Best Game Under $20:
- Best Addition to an Existing Series:
- Most Addictive Game:
- Prettiest Game:
- Best Soundtrack:
- Best DLC:
- Best Early Access Game:
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: heavy rain
- Best Character:
- Best Console Exclusive:
- Best Mobile Game:
According to Wikipedia Heavy Rain was released in June 2019.
I suppose that I may nominate only games that I have actually played, right? XD
Otherwise I can also come up with some other titles, which I want to get someday! :D
- Game of the Year:
- Choices Matter:
- Best Story: Someday You’ll Return
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game:
- Best Free to Play Game: Cyrano story
- Most Value for Money: Someday You’ll Return
- Best Game Under $20: Someday You’ll Return
- Best Addition to an Existing Series:
- Most Addictive Game: Summer in Mara
- Prettiest Game: Someday You’ll Return
- Best Soundtrack: Someday You’ll Return, Summer in Mara
- Best DLC:
- Best Early Access Game: Cloud Meadow
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem:
- Best Character:
- Best Console Exclusive:
- Best Mobile Game:
Well, we can’t know what you have and haven’t played. :) But yeah, it should be games that you have at least some experience with.
- Best Story: Persona 4 Golden (Steam)
- Most Value for Money: Football Manager 2021
- Most Addictive Game: Football Manager 2021
- Best Soundtrack: Persona 4 Golden (Steam)
- Best Console Exclusive: Animal Crossing New Horizons (Switch) || Pikmin 3 Deluxe (Switch)
- Game of the Year: Horizon Zero Dawn, Hades
- Choices Matter:
- Best Story:
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Halo MCC
- Best Free to Play Game: Helltaker
- Most Value for Money: Xbox Game Pass
- Best Game Under $20: Black Mesa
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Half-Life: Alyx
- Most Addictive Game: Resident Evil 3
- Prettiest Game: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Best Soundtrack: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Best DLC:
- Best Early Access Game:
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem:
- Best Character: Gordon Freeman/ Black Mesa
- Best Console Exclusive:
- Best Mobile Game:
Well, as usual I have nothing to contribute here. I only own three games released in 2020, and have only played the free to play game I played this month for the monthly theme. Thank you for running the event!
Same. I’m not even sure I played a single one. Oh well. I somehow never play super new games :D
- Game of the Year: Desperados 3
- Choices Matter: Detroit Become Human
- Best Story: Detroit Become Human
- Most Value for Money: Kingdom Rush Vengeance
- Best Game Under $20: Kingdom Rush Vengeance
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Desperados 3
- Most Addictive Game: Desperados 3
- Prettiest Game: Beyond Blue
- Best Soundtrack: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: When The Past Was Around
- Best Character: Connor and Hank - Detroit Become Human, love them both
- Game of the Year: Desperados 3
- Choices Matter: Solasta: Crown of the Magister
- Best Story: DOOM 64
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Deep Rock Galactic
- Best Free to Play Game: Devolverland Expo
- Most Value for Money: Halo: The Master Chief Collection
- Best Game Under $20: Black Mesa
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Desperados 3
- Most Addictive Game: The Procession to Calvary
- Prettiest Game: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Best Soundtrack: Desperados 3
- Best DLC: Dead Cells: The Bad Seed
- Best Early Access Game: Ziggurat 2
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Hellpoint
- Best Character: Hector & Isabelle - Desperados 3
- Best Console Exclusive: Ghost of Tsushima
I’m kinda behind 3 or so years because I wait for games to have a 90% discount or something while I work on my backlog, but I did buy just one new game 2020, and won the other on SG.
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Risk of Rain 2.
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Elmarion: Dragon time
- Best Character: REX from Risk of Rain 2, I love my mutated cabbage robot. His backstory is the best!
Game of the Year Vaporum: Lockdown
Choices Matter Fates of Ort
Best Story The Flower Collectors
Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game Unrailed!
Best Free to Play Game
Most Value for Money Shadow Empire
Best Game Under $20 Vaporum: Lockdown
Best Addition to an Existing Series Vaporum: Lockdown
Most Addictive Game Shadow Empire
Prettiest Game The Falconeer
Best Soundtrack URUZ “Return of The Er Kishi”
Best DLC Unity of Command II – Blitzkrieg
Best Early Access Game (Added to EA in 2020 or left EA in 2020.) ShellShock Live
Best Underdog/Hidden Gem Fates of Ort
Best Character
Best Console Exclusive
Best Mobile Game
I also haven’t played many 2020 releases, so can’t really nominate any games.
- Choices Matter: Detroit: Become Human
- Best Story: Detroit: Become Human
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Biped
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!
- Prettiest Game: Microsoft Flight Simulator
- Best DLC: Euro Truck Simulator 2 - Road to the Black Sea, Two Point Hospital: Culture Shock, American Truck Simulator - Colorado, Euro Truck Simulator 2 - Iberia (probably in a couple of weeks)
- Best Early Access Game: Unrailed!
Bfff.. I have few 2020 releases, and I played less so, let’s see what I can nominate:
- Game of the Year: Persona 4 Golden
- Choices Matter: Solasta Crown of the Magister
- Best Story: Persona 4 Golden
- Most Value for Money: Persona 4 Golden
- Best Game Under $20: Persona 4 Gloden
- Most Addictive Game: Persona 4 Golden
- Prettiest Game: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Best Soundtrack: Tears of Avia
- Best DLC: Monster Hunter World Iceborne
- Best Early Access Game: Solasta Crown of the Magister
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Nexomon Extinction
- Best Character: The Nexomon of Nexomon Extinction
- Best Mobile Game: Illusion Connect
haha yes dq builders 2 released in december AND flying red barrel made it to steam
…that said I didn’t actually play many games that released this year so uh
- Game of the Year: Dragon Quest Builders 2
- Best Story: Dragon Quest Builders 2
- Most Value for Money: Dragon Quest Builders 2
- Best Game Under $20: Flying Red Barrel: Diary of a Little Aviator
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Dragon Quest Builders 2
- Most Addictive Game: Dragon Quest Builders 2
- Best Soundtrack: Mandew vs. the Colorless Curse (steam release date shows original release date not steam release)
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Flying Red Barrel: Diary of a Little Aviator, Petal Crash, Khimera: Puzzle Island
- Best Character: Malroth (DQB2), you cannot play this game without loving him. (also my heart says peat from flying red barrel but I will be realistic)
- Best Console Exclusive: Animal Crossing: New Horizons (I did burn out on it pretty fast but it was a pretty amazing phenomenon when it released)
- Game of the Year: Resident Evil 3
- Choices Matter:
- Best Story:
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
- Best Free to Play Game:
- Most Value for Money:
- Best Game Under $20:
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Half-Life: Alyx
- Most Addictive Game:
- Prettiest Game:
- Best Soundtrack: Doom Eternal
- Best DLC: Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
- Best Early Access Game: Phasmophobia
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem:
- Best Character: Aerith (FFVII Remake), Jill (RE3 Remake)
- Best Console Exclusive: Final Fantasy VII: Remake, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memories
- Best Mobile Game:
Would have liked to put KH: Melody of Memories under Best Soundtrack, but realized that breaks the rules. I feel like I really haven’t played many new releases this year…
- Game of the Year: Risk of Rain 2, SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Unrailed
- Best Free to Play Game: Split or Steal
- Most Value for Money: Risk of Rain 2
- Best Game Under $20: SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE
- Most Addictive Game: Unrailed
- Prettiest Game: AVICII Invector (Dec 10, 2019)
- Best Soundtrack: AVICII Invector
- Best Early Access Game: Mad Tower Tycoon
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Mad Tower Tycoon
I haven’t played many new releases this year so this is all I can do:
- Game of the Year: Yakuza: Like a Dragon
- Best Story: Yakuza: Like a Dragon
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!
- Best Soundtrack: Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!
- Best Early Access Game: Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!
- Best Character: Ichiban Kasuga (Yakuza: Like a Dragon)
- Game of the Year: Not For Broadcast
- Choices Matter: Not For Broadcast
- Best Story: Not For Broadcast, Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Most Value for Money: Not For Broadcast
- Best Game Under $20: Not For Broadcast
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Dragon Quest Builders 2
- Most Addictive Game: Murder by Numbers, Dragon Quest Builders 2
- Prettiest Game: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Best Early Access Game: Not For Broadcast
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Not For Broadcast
- Best Console Exclusive: Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Choices Matter: Through the Darkest of Times
- Best Story: Mafia II: Definitive Edition
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Squad
- Most Value for Money: Hidden Through Time
- Best Game Under $20: SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE
- Most Addictive Game: Commandos 2 - HD Remaster
- Best Soundtrack: Mafia II: Definitive Edition
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Them’s Fightin’ Herds
- Best Console Exclusive: Super Mario 3d All-stars
Didn’t play much released in this year as usual, but oh well. that’s what happens when you are a cheapskate. I did buy Super Mario 3d all stars new though, because the bastards are only selling it until March next year and super mario sunshine is one of my favourite games, so it was hard to resist that nostalgia. (Even if I have my original copy still sitting in my cupboard)
- Game of the Year: Hades
- Best Free to Play Game: Cyrano Story
- Most Value for Money: Hades
- Best Game Under $20: Hades
- Prettiest Game: Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Hades
- Best Soundtrack: Hades
- Best Early Access Game: Hades
- Best Character: Dusa from Hades
I’ve only played a handful of games released in 2020 so my game choices are gonna be limited. ^^; Hades FTW tho!
Why not most addictive as well? At least that’s how I felt when playing it! I always wanted to go for one more room, one more try, always thinking one more…
Well, it might have been addictive? It’s already been a year since it first came out and I did most of my play sessions back then I kinda forgot a bit. :P Right now I’m out of the addiction tho. Need to get back into it at some point. It’s sorta the games like Minecraft where I really need to get back in and play for a couple days straight when I have the desire to play.