The only normal genre-based game award here and it is as it says
The nominees for the GM GOTY Award 2021 for Best Racing Game are the following:
- Forza Horizon 5
- Hot Wheels Unleashed
Deliberations Summary
It’s a one-on-one match of two equally great contenders, fitting for when you see this is published. Another impact of how we change our GOTY Awards nominations for 2021 is we don’t have at least five racing games on our top 30 list this year. And no need to stretch the category out to get it to exactly five games like last year.
So for 2021, Best Racing Game ended with two nominees only. There are more racing games that are released this year, mind, but only this two that really, really captured our attention- where a majority of the deliberation crew are car guys.
In the red corner, Playground Games’ Forza Horizon 5 is what you expect of from a AAA open-world game. It’s a good racing game, but it’s also great as an open-world game in general. The vast landscapes of Mexico may not be accurate to the real world, but capture its spirit while providing a ridiculous amount of asphalt for any car to drive, race and drift on. It’s a proper playground for cars, with huge brevity of content to indulge in aside from the usual ‘going-around-circles-the-fastest’.
In the blue corner, Milestone is stepping up to the big boys club with Hot Wheels Unleashed. One of the best Hot Wheels licensed game in recent years, Unleashed does arcade racing right. The fundamental arcade physics are correct and satisfying, the licensed toy diecasts your race in are accurate and faithful to its source material, and it tries its best to have all the bells and whistles that a modern racing game have today, like a track editor and a livery editor.
What you might assume to be a short conversation went on and on, as it becomes a close battle just as how long this year’s Formula 1 season went, with many twists and turns that sees the two title protagonists changing places on who leads the battle.
Who would win, the established juggernaut, or the plucky underdog?
At the end of it all, the crew favoured in celebrating the underdog that done so much to keep up with the most established open-world racing game’s new entry.
Deliberations length (after edits): 23 minutes (for just 2 games)
Best Racing Game Winner
Congratulations to Hot Wheels Unleashed for winning the 2021 GM GOTY Award for Best Racing Game!
Stay tuned tomorrow when we reveal the winner for Best Aesthetic.
For the full list and full recording of the deliberations (as part of dia.log – The Gamer Matters Podcast), check the main page for the Gamer Malaya And Gamer Matters Game Of The Year Awards 2021 here.