Racing Games are Finally Getting Recognition in The Game Awards 2023

It’s that time again when we look back at the last year of gaming and vote for our favourite games of the year in the annual Game Awards. The Game Awards 2023 nominations list has been revealed, covering a wide range of categories and game genres.

Unsurprisingly, Alan Wake II and Baldur's Gate 3 lead the list, with eight nominations each. What is surprising, though, is the increased number of racing game nominees this year.

The Game Awards 2023: Best Sports/Racing Game nominations

Racing games are usually underrepresented in the The Game Awards. Instead of having a standalone category, racing games are shoehorned with sports titles. This year is no different, but the racing genre is getting some long overdue spotlight in this year’s Game Awards. Out of the five nominees in the Best Sports/Racing category, four are racing games.

2023 has been a strong year for racing games, with major releases like the Forza Motorsport reboot and F1 23. Other Best Sports/Racing Game nominees include Ubisoft’s open-world racer The Crew Motorfest and Milestone’s Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 - Turbocharged. Sadly, EA Sports WRC didn't make the nominations list.

Here’s the full list of Best Sports/Racing Game nominations:

• EA Sports FC 24 (EA Vancouver/EA Romania/EA Sports)
• F1 23 (Codemasters/EA Sports)
• Forza Motorsport (Turn 10 Studios/Xbox Game Studios)
• Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged (Milestone)
• The Crew Motorfest (Ubisoft Ivory Tower/Ubisoft)

Forza Motorsport is also nominated for the Innovation in Accessibility award, while Gran Turismo 7 is up for the Best VR/AR Game award for its phenomenal PSVR2 support.

Elsewhere, the Gran Turismo movie and Twisted Metal TV show also nominated for Best Adaptation alongside The Last of Us, Castlevania: Nocturne, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Alan Wake 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Resident Evil 4, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom make up the Game of the Year award nominees.

How to vote for Best Sports/Racing Game

You can vote for the Best Sports/Racing Game on the official The Game Awards website. A voting jury will decide the winner combined with fan votes.

Last year, Gran Turismo 7 was crowned Best Sports/Racing title in the Game Awards 2022. However, F1 22 was the only other racing game up for the award alongside FIFA 23, NBA 2K23, and OlliOlli World. We’re glad to see the racing genre finally get the recognition it deserves in the The Game Awards 2023, though it still deserves its own category.

We’ll find out the winner when The Game Awards 2023 is streamed live from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, 7 December. Which racing game gets your vote?

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