How to watch The Game Awards 2023, start time & more

The year is winding down and releases are beginning to slow, which means it is time to look towards The Game Awards.

The Game Awards were first established in 2014, making this year the 9th ceremony. Alongside dishing out awards for the year's best games, the event also showcases some of what we have to look forward to in the future.

Below, we will outline when the event will begin as well as the easiest way to watch. There's also a list of all the games that are nominated for this year's awards.

Where to watch The Game Awards

The easiest place to watch the event is on YouTube via the official Game Awards channel. Many different outlets will also be showing the event on their channels, with some of them no doubt offering their own commentaries and watch-alongs.

Wherever you decide to tune into the event will be completely free. 

The Game Awards 2023 start date & time

The Game Awards begin at 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT / 12:30A+1 GMT on Thursday, December 7. Last year's ceremony lasted for three and a half hours. We expect the event to last a similar amount of time this year, too.

Every category & nomination for The Game Awards 2023

Game of the Year

• Alan Wake 2  
• Baldur’s Gate 3 
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Resident Evil 4
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder 
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Best Game Direction

• Alan Wake 2 
• Baldur’s Gate 3 
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder 
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom  

Best Adaptation

• Castlevania: Nocturne 
• Gran Turismo 
• The Last of Us 
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie  
• Twisted Metal 

Best Narrative

• Alan Wake 2  
• Baldur’s Gate 3  
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty 
• Final Fantasy XVI  
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2  

Best Art Direction

• Alan Wake 2 
• Hi-Fi Rush 
• Lies of P 
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder  
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom 

Best Score and Music

• Alan Wake 2, Composer Petri Alanko 
• Baldur’s Gate 3, Composer Borislav Slavov  
• Final Fantasy XVI, Composer Masayoshi Soken 
• Hi-Fi Rush, Audio Director Shuichi Kobori 
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Composed by Nintendo Sound Team 

Best Audio Design

• Alan Wake 2  
• Dead Space 
• Hi-Fi Rush  
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2  
• Resident Evil 4  

Best Performance

• Ben Starr, Final Fantasy XVI
• Cameron Monaghan, STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor
• Idris Elba, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Melanie Liburd, Alan Wake 2
• Neil Newbon, Baldur’s Gate 3
• Yuri Lowenthal, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Innovation in Accessibility

• Diablo IV 
• Forza Motorsport 
• Hi-Fi Rush 
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 
• Mortal Kombat 1  
• Street Fighter 6 

Games for Impact

• A Space for the Unbound 
• Chants of Sennaar 
• Goodbye Volcano High 
• Tchia 
• Terra Nil  
• Venba  

Best Ongoing Game

• Apex Legends  
• Cyberpunk 2077  
• Final Fantasy XIV 
• Fortnite 
• Genshin Impact 

Best Community Support

• Baldur’s Gate 3  
• Cyberpunk 2077 
• Destiny 2 
• Final Fantasy XIV 
• No Man’s Sky 

Best Independent Game

• Cocoon 
• Dave the Diver 
• Dredge 
• Sea of Stars 
• Viewfinder  

Best Debut Indie Game

• Cocoon 
• Dredge 
• Pizza Tower 
• Venba 
• Viewfinder  

Best Mobile Game

• Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis 
• Honkai: Star Rail  
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure  
• Monster Hunter Now  
• Terra Nil  

Best VR/AR Game

• Gran Turismo 7  
• Humanity  
• Horizon Call of the Mountain  
• Resident Evil Village VR Mode  
• Synapse  

Best Action Game

• Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
• Dead Island 2  
• Ghostrunner 2  
• Hi-Fi Rush 
• Remnant 2 

Best Action/Adventure Game

• Alan Wake 2 
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 
• Resident Evil 4 
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor  
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom  

Best RPG

• Baldur’s Gate 3 
• Final Fantasy XVI  
• Lies of P 
• Sea of Stars 
• Starfield 

Best Fighting Game

• God of Rock 
• Mortal Kombat 1  
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 
• Pocket Bravery  
• Street Fighter 6  

Best Family Game

• Disney Illusion Island  
• Party Animals  
• Pikmin 4  
• Sonic Superstars  
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder 

Best Sim/Strategy Game

• Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp 
• Cities: Skylines II 
• Company of Heroes 3  
• Fire Emblem Engage  
• Pikmin 4 

Best Sports/Racing

• EA Sports FC 24  
• F1 23 
• Forza Motorsport 
• Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged 
• The Crew Motorfest 

Best Multiplayer

• Baldur’s Gate 3 
• Diablo IV  
• Party Animals
• Street Fighter 6
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Most Anticipated Game

• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth 
• Hades II 
• Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth 
• Star Wars Outlaws
• Tekken 8 

Content Creator of the Year

• IronMouse
• PeopleMakeGames
• Quackity
• Spreen
• SypherPK

Best Esports Game

• Counter-Strike 2 (Valve)
• Dota 2 (Valve)
• League of Legends (Riot Games)
• PUBG Mobile (LightSpeed Studios/Tencent Games)
• Valorant (Riot Games)

Best Esports Athlete

• Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok (League of Legends)
• Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut (CS:GO)
• Max “Demon1” Mazanov (Valorant)
• Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez (Call of Duty)
• Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk (League of Legends)
• Phillip ”ImperialHal” Dosen (Apex Legends)

Best Esports Team

• Evil Geniuses (Valorant)
• Fnatic (Valorant)
• Gaimin Gladiators (Dota 2)
• JD Gaming (League of Legends)
• Team Vitality (Counter-Strike)

Best Esports Coach

• Christine “potter” Chi (Evil Geniuses - Valorant)
• Danny “zonic” Sorensen (Team Falcons - Counter-Strike)
• Jordan “Gunba” Graham (Florida Mayhem - Overwatch)
• Remy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam (Team Vitality - Counter-Strike)
• Yoon “Homme” Sung-young (JD Gaming - League of Legends)

Best Esports Event

• 2023 League of Legends World Championship
• Blast.tv Paris Major 2023
• EVO 2023
• The International Dota 2 Championships 2023
• VALORANT Champions 2023

There were a few surprises in the nominations, mainly the omission of Bethesda’s Starfield. We also saw the age-old debate about what constitutes an Indie game rise to the surface again with Dave the Diver. I am just glad Cocoon and Lies of P are being recognised in a year that just kept on giving.

That is all there is to know about the Game Awards this year. If you still have a few games left to play, we have plenty of guides for most of the above that help you through them in a breeze.