Does Starfield Have a Shot at Game of the Year Title in 2023 in This Star-Studded Lineup?

Published 09/03/2023, 1:08 PM EDT

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Starfield recently launched, without a doubt, one of the largest games of this year, both in size and fanbase. Its success is owed to the fact that, like any of their previous games, Bethesda has stuck to the formula and given fans a well-designed world to explore with deep lore.

This is not the only game that launched this year to such a fanfare. There have been other games, and they have been either equally or even more inventive. And so, fans wonder, What are the chances of Starfield winning a GOTY this year?

Can Starfield defeat other massive launches in 2023 to win GOTY?

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It was in development for around eight years; it has been mentioned a number of times that Starfield was in the planning phase when Fallout 4 was about to launch. Bethesda announced it in 2018, and ever since then, the game has developed a very large fanbase.

And now that the game has launched, many fans agree that even though it’s a very good game, Bethesda has still failed to give everyone a true next-gen experience. There are a bunch of limitations to this game that are jarring, but again, the game has everything that Bethesda’s previous games had to offer. A world worth exploring, numerous sidequests, and a bunch of other distractions.

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All this is combined with a decent story supported by some really deep lore. All in all, the game is exactly what Bethesda’s fans have come to expect from them over the years. And that’s why the question of this game winning a GOTY comes down to one small thing: Does it matter if it does not have those next-gen features? Do seamless space travel and uninterrupted exploration of planets matter in any way?

Fans would say no, and they might even be right; a game does not need fancy bells and whistles to be counted amongst the greats. And that’s why there are chances of it winning a GOTY, it might even be one of the strongest contenders for that title this year.

What about the competition?

Besides Starfield, there are a bunch of games that are being listed as Game of the Year contenders. Nintendo’s blockbuster, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, is the most prominent of them. The game, despite being released on a much weaker system, the Nintendo Switch, offered fans a really cool world to explore. The abilities that it offered, such as Ultrahand, etc., blew away numerous developers online. The game’s innovative ideas alone make it a very strong competitor to Starfield.

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Baldur’s Gate 3 comes next, a CRPG that might be one of the biggest surprises in the gaming industry in the past few years. This is the game that has taken some steps to revolutionize the RPG genre. Developer Larian has made it so that even newcomers can step into it without getting overwhelmed. Over that, its implementation of a Co-op and some elements from Dungeons and Dragons have really made it a standout title. We would not be surprised if it ended up giving others’ tough competition this year.

And finally, Spider-Man 2. There’s not much to say about it as of yet; it has yet to launch. But the track record of its developer, Insomniac Games, is pretty spot on. Its prequel won a GOTY too; hence, it would come as no surprise if this game ends up being as flawless as its prequel. It might even get a GOTY nomination; we cannot comment on it winning as we have yet to get our hands on it.

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This year, the fight will be tough; last year it was just Elden Ring against a bunch of mediocre games. In 2023, it’s quality galore, and pretty much every game belongs to a different platform. The only game that’s multiplatform is Baldur’s Gate 3. Let’s see which one of them comes out as the winner.

Watch This Story: Xbox Players Will Be Able To Enjoy Starfield Anywhere They Want!

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Written by:

Rohit Sejwal

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Rohit Sejwal is a veteran eSports writer at EssentiallySports, with a passion for gaming that has been fueled by over a decade of experience in both playing and writing about games. His deep understanding of gaming and its finer nuances is evident in his engaging and insightful coverage of eSports. With a Masters degree in Science in film-making, Rohit brings a unique perspective to gaming, viewing it as a perfect blend of science and art.
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Edited by:

Ananya Giri