The annual spectacle of The Game Awards has once again ignited passionate discussion within the gaming community, with one reader drawing a striking parallel between the event and the grand theatre of WWE's WrestleMania. Published on December 21, 2025, the feature by reader James Davie delves into the dual feelings of frustration and fascination that the ceremony inspires.
The Pomp and Problem of Mainstream Recognition
The writer begins by acknowledging the value of The Game Awards in promoting the industry's best titles and the talented developers behind them. However, a significant criticism is levelled at the event's core nature. The feature argues that the show, much like the Oscars or Golden Globes, is mired in "mainstream pomp and ceremony." This environment, the reader suggests, tends to equate popularity with objective quality, a measure they find unreliable.
This system, they contend, leaves many excellent games in the shadows. As a prime example, the article points to 2020's Huntdown, a celebrated cyberpunk retro blaster, which received no awards despite its acclaim. The reader posits that hundreds of great games across PlayStation, Nintendo, Xbox, and Steam storefronts languish without deserved recognition because the spotlight consistently favours the familiar.
Clair Obscur's Dominant Victory and a Hypothetical Showdown
The focus then shifts to the 2025 Game of the Year winner, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Its victory is described as "axiomatic," noting its overwhelming dominance in the indie category and its clear distinction from a field of sequels and a new Donkey Kong title. While the reader has no issue with the win itself, they propose a more compelling contest: Clair Obscur versus 2024's winner, Astro Bot.
In this hypothetical match-up, the writer's allegiance lies firmly with Astro Bot, praising its "joy and old school charm." In contrast, they find Clair Obscur's attempts at emotional engagement somewhat "cloying," arguing it lacks the universal, cheerful accessibility of Sony's platformer. This comparison underscores the subjective nature of such awards.
Remembering It's Just a Show
The article powerfully frames The Game Awards as the video game industry's equivalent of "WrestleMania" – an exciting, overwhelming, and highly produced spectacle. Despite the "air of officiality" lent by the grand ceremony and celebrity attendees, the reader urges perspective. Award shows, they state, merely highlight a collective perception of the year's best; winning a "shiny statue" does not confer objective superiority.
This point is personal for the writer, who strongly wanted Astro Bot to win over Black Myth: Wukong in 2024. They describe Wukong as another competent Soulslike, while Astro Bot offered a "pure and utter pleasure" reminiscent of the PlayStation 2 era. The ultimate advice is simple: don't take award shows personally and enjoy what you want.
The feature concludes with a playful aside, questioning why the protagonist of the upcoming Capcom game Pragmata so closely resembles Sam Gideon from Vanquish, and pondering a potential familial link to Resident Evil Requiem's Victor Gideon.
