The Game Awards 2023 shined a spotlight on a good many video games from the last twelve months, withMarvel’s Spider-Man 2being one of them. Insomniac’s thirdSpider-Mangame continues to build upon the foundations laid by its predecessors while setting up thenext chapter of Spider-Man’s storyand further pushing the capabilities of Sony’s PS5 hardware.
With so much going for the game, from its cinematic storytelling to its industry-leading graphics and dopamine-flooding gameplay, it’s no surprise thatMarvel’s Spider-Man 2received so many nominations. The superhero blockbuster got nods for an eye-watering seven awards in total, including Game of the Year, where it was up against other landmark releases likeBaldur’s Gate 3,The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, andAlan Wake 2. Ultimately, it lost out on theGame of the Year title toBaldur’s Gate 3, and while this may have been somewhat expected, what was less expected wereSpider-Man’s losses in every other category, which left Insomniac empty-handed at the end of the night.
All Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Nominations at TGA 2023
Marvel’s Spider-Man Leaves The Game Awards 2023 With No Trophies
Releasing near the tail end of the year,Marvel’s Spider-Man 2followed a series of top-selling, critically acclaimed games across just about every genre. Still, it managed to garner a good amount of positive attention, becoming Sony’s most successful exclusive 2023 release. It’s not just theSpider-Manname that drew players to the game, either, as it has been praised for its slick, fast-paced gameplay, entertaining story, and spectacular visuals,andSpider-Man 2’s Player Voice nominationfurther reinforces the notion that it was a success with players. However, it seemingly couldn’t compete with its fellow nominees.
Why Spider-Man 2 May Have Fallen Short at The Game Awards
Spider-Man 2’s story is similar to several other games released in 2023, in that it is an impressive achievement that probably would have been better received, and performed better at TGA, if it had been released during another year. As it stands, it’s simply difficult to placeMarvel’s Spider-Man 2over groundbreaking releases likeBaldur’s Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, andTears of the Kingdom.
Theaward for Best Narrativeprovides a good example of howSpider-Man 2measures up against its fellow nominees. The story ofSpider-Man 2is good, but it’s also a bit on the safe side, offering a superhero plot that is entertaining with a few good twists. Best Narrative winnerAlan Wake 2, by comparison, has an experimental and bold story, which helps to place it aboveSpider-Man 2. A similar pattern emerges across the other categories: Yuri Lowenthal gave a great performance, but Neil Newbon created an icon through his portrayal of Astarion;Spider-Man 2had excellent sound design, butHi-Fi Rushis a game built around sound; and so on.
It may have been a bit of a disappointing night forSpider-Man 2, but its lack of Game Awards isn’t indicative of its quality; it’s more an indication of how great 2023 was for gaming. Many have praised 2023 as one of the best years in gaming, and that fact is reinforced when such a landmark title likeSpider-Man 2can’t snag an award because of all the competition. Indeed, Insomniac seems to be firing on all cylinders in the era of the PS5, andMarvel’s Spider-Man 2is further evidence of this. Only time will tell what the future will hold for the series and how this version of the Marvel universe willevolve in futureSpider-Mangames, along with the studio’s upcomingMarvel’s Wolverine, which will hopefully manage to capture the same rock-solid gameplay, narrative flair, and polish of Insomniac’sSpider-Mantrilogy.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other and the ones they love, from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat.Explore an expansive Marvel’s New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear.Wield Peter’s symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains – including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues’ Gallery.
