As one of gaming’s biggest nights came to a close, several of the Game Awards' categories were spearheaded by Naughty Dog’s latest critically acclaimed title:The Last of Us 2almost won every single category it was nominated for. With the exception of the “Best Score and Music” and “Best Art Direction” categories,The Last of Us 2claimed seven awards from the nine categories it was nominated for. The ambitious sequel snagged wins from some of the biggest categories at the entire show, even in the face of the game’s divisive reception between gaming critics and players.
Even if this year has been unusual to say the least, 2020 has been an incredible year for gaming in particular. Heavy hitters likeFinal Fantasy 7 Remake,Ghost of Tsushima,Hades,Doom Eternal,Spider-Man: Miles Morales, all of these were nominated in multiple categories shared byThe Last of Us 2. However, in the face of all of these games from new and established franchises, many of which sold millions of copies as well,The Last of Us 2still made a statement at this year’s show.
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Every Award The Last of Us 2 Received
At this year’s show, Naughty Dog’sThe Last of Us 2won seven total awards from the nine it was nominated for. Voting is determined by a 90/10 split, with the majority of the vote determined by the Game Awards voting jury. That jury is comprised of 95 gaming-affiliated media outlets and influencers from around the world. The remaining 10 percent is determined by fan voting on the Game Awards website.
Again, lots of heavy hitters here, many of which would’ve been great picks for each respective category. However, given how much of the conversation in June/July surrounded the merits (and divisive nature) ofThe Last of Us 2, for it to gain such widespread recognition makes a lot of sense.
The Critical Reception of The Last of Us 2
The 93 Critic score and the 5.7 user score encapsulates exactly what the conversation entailed when the game was first released. Critics from media and influencer outlets came to recognizeThe Last of Us2as a triumph in gaming. Public reception was a bit more mixed, though the score here wasnotably affected by review bombing whenThe Last of Us 2released in June. The user score has since climbed much higher than the initial 3.4 it received from disgruntled gaming fans, but the disparity between critic and user reviews has been a recurring topic wheneverThe Last of Us 2is brought up in conversation.
Combining critical reception with the voting jury split for the Game Awards, that’s what led toThe Last of Us 2’s impressive performance at the show. Even iffans are still split on their reception ofThe Last of Us 2, the game’s critic Metascore was a big determinant factor for the game’s sweep. Many of the other nominees have quickly become beloved video games in their own right; whether it was from established franchises likeFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, or brand new hits from independent studios likeHades. Arguably, regardless of which game had won each category, all of these games are great additions to anyone’s respective gaming library.
That being said,The Last of Us 2’s hugely positive critical reception certainly influenced itsshowing at the 2020 Game Awards. Once again, Naughty Dog has created a momentous and contentious video game worthy of the heated conversations it’s received this year.
