In the realm of gaming, it's not just the critics and journalists who hold the power to determine the best game of the year. The Players' Voice category at The Game Awards stands out as a platform where fans get to have their say. This exclusive category aims to recognize the game that truly captures the hearts of players. TGA has announced the 30 nominees for the first round, and you have the chance to vote until Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. EST. Each voter is granted 10 votes in this initial round. Two more rounds will follow to narrow down the selection and ultimately reveal the players' most favorite game of the year on Dec. 12.

Surprising Nominees and Their Stories

When looking at the list of nominees, it's interesting to note how it aligns with the games that received nominations in the jury-voted categories. While there is a certain degree of overlap, a few titles with massive fan bases but perhaps less critical acclaim have made it to the first round of the Players' Voice. Take The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, for example. It was nominated only for Best Family Game and Best Action/Adventure. Palworld, on the other hand, received no nominations at all. Dragon Age: The Veilguard was nominated only for Accessibility, and Sonic X Shadow Generations also got no nominations. These are just a few examples that highlight the diversity of the nominees.Another surprising nominee is No Man's Sky. The game was first released in 2016 but received two significant updates this year, including the game-changing Omega update. This shows that even games with a long history can still make a mark and be recognized by the players. Interestingly, only one nominee comes from an independent developer, Balatro by LocalThunk. This highlights the importance of independent games and the impact they can have on the gaming community.The Game Awards Players' Voice nominees, in full:(Here you can list the full nominees as in the original article)The Game Awards take place on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. EST.