Just when you thought Astro Bot's trophy shelf couldn't get any more crowded, the lovable robot's apparently eyeing four more awards. Fresh off its Game of the Year sweep at The Game Awards (along with Best Game Direction, Best Action/Adventure, and Best Family Game), Astro Bot's now caught the attention of the New York Videogame Critics Circle.
The robot platformer that had stores scrambling to restock before Christmas is up for some of the biggest honors at the upcoming New York Game Awards, including another shot at Game of the Year. The January 21st ceremony, now in its 14th year, could see Astro Bot adding Best World, Best Music, and Best Kids Game to its already impressive collection.
It's facing some serious competition though. The Big Apple Award for Game of the Year has Astro Bot going up against heavy hitters like Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The Best World category is particularly stacked – Astro Bot's charming environments are competing with the haunting expanses of STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl and the much-anticipated Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
Looking through the nominees, each category tells its own story. Balatro took the indie scene by storm with its poker-meets-roguelike mashup, while the cyberpunk narrative of 1000xResist has been turning heads for its bold storytelling. The Critics Circle has cast a wide net this year, recognizing everything from Troy Baker's turn as Indiana Jones to smaller gems like Vampire Therapist across their 14 categories. Some surprising entries catching eyes include the vampire-counseling simulator aptly named "Vampire Therapist" in the Hidden Gems category, and the promising "Mars After Midnight" from the creator of Undertale.
For those keeping score, this could be a historic awards season for Astro Bot. We'll know if it can pull off another clean sweep when the New York Videogame Critics Circle announces their picks on January 21st, 2025. If its Game Awards momentum is anything to go by, don't be surprised if our favorite robot needs an even bigger trophy case.
