The best game to use a style, a combination of artstyle and sound design, that makes it stand out from the beige of normality
It’s funny how the award category was named as a reference to memes surrounding the vaporwave music movement, and here we are in 2024, having a graphics theme for the GM GOTY Awards that slightly resemble the cover of seminal vaporwave album Floral Shoppe…
Unlike our unintentional reference, Best Aesthetic is all about intention, and execution, of a game’s presentation.
Previously, the award was mostly exclusive to indie games, but more and more games from the AAA space have also gone in to make a distinct look, sound and feel to their games.
Past Winners: Hi-Fi Rush (2023), Need For Speed Unbound (2022), Psychonauts 2 (2021), Cyberpunk 2077 (2020), Hypnospace Outlaw (2019), Dragon Ball FighterZ (2018), Persona 5 (2017)
Best Aesthetic Nominees
- 1000xResist
- Baladins
- Mullet MadJack
- Schim
- Zenless Zone Zero
How The Winner Is Decided (Deliberations Summary)
One of the hardest awards to give out, and one of the longest deliberations every year, Best Aesthetic for 2024 was easier to nail down, for the most part.
1000xResist makes use of its striking artstyle to distinguish the two different points of time players explore, one in the past, and one in the messed-up future laden in red.
Schim, meanwhile, uses what’s essentially high-contrast art. The shadow-jumping platformer has its art informed by its gameplay, as the monochrome colour scheme makes the “platforms” you can jump to much clearer in day or night. The soundtrack is also pretty bouncy which adds to the light-hearted but full-of-heart slice-of-life platformer.
Baladins is our sole representation of cosy/cozy/wholesome games, and it’s aesthetic is as inviting as you’d expect. Cute hand-drawn 2D sprites juxtaposed on low-poly 3D dioramas with those rounded fonts for texts really is a good look, and more importantly, a well-executed one.
Zenless Zone Zero, contrary to the name, is probably the biggest money spender in the aesthetic department. The many custom graphics, logos, and graphic motions to serve as in-world brands seen as just ads is astounding. And the urban world itself, filled with informed streetwear styles and that cool anime vibes really makes this free-to-play action game a standout.
However, some of us still yearn for the 80’s. And there’s definitely a game here that nail down the retrowave look. And plus points for nailing down that 80’s anime presentation as well.
Best Aesthetic Winner
Congratulations to Mullet MadJack for winning Best Aesthetic! The “Tick-Tock Shooter” unquestionably oozes in style and their efforts in making what we all like to think of as the 80’s alive deserves accolades. Like this one.
Check out the Gamer Malaya and Gamer Matters Game Of The Year Awards 2024 hub for full list of awards.