Ghost of Tsushima and Ori and the Will of the Wisps each received four nominations. Both claim to be the best game of the year and the project with the best visual component. Action Sucker Punch Productions will also be awarded for technical achievement and storytelling, and Moon Studios’ Metroidvania for game design and soundtrack.

In the Game of the Year category, Ghost of Tsushima and Ori and the Will of the Wisps will compete with DOOM Eternal, Hades, and The Last of Us Part II. All three projects, as well as Star Wars: Squadrons, got three mentions each. The id Software shooter can be rewarded for its music score and sound design. The last category is considered Star Wars: Squadrons, besides, declared in the categories “Best VR Game” (along with Half-Life: Alyx and The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners) and “Supremacy in Multiplayer

Hades and The Last of Us Part II will compete against Ghost of Tsushima in the Story Superiority category. Roguelike Supergiant Games was also nominated for a Game Design Prize. Naughty Dog is eligible for the Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award, featuring the PlayStation 5-inspired platformer Astro’s Playroom and the Dreams Constructor. The last two games will compete with  Microsoft Flight Simulator in the Technical Superiority category.

The largest number of nominees (ten) includes the category “Best Indie Game.” It includes, among others, the Bugsnax adventure on the island of edible insects, the futuristic adventure of the courier Cloudpunk and the co-op shooter about space gnomes  Deep Rock Galactic.

Cyberpunk 2077 has received only one nomination for Best Soundtrack.

The full list (43 nominees in 12 categories) is presented below.

Game of the Year:

• DOOM Eternal;
• Ghost of Tsushima;
• Hades;
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps;
• The Last of Us Part II.

Best Indie Game

• Bugsnax;
• Cloudpunk;
• Crown Trick;
• Deep Rock Galactic;
• Huntdown;
• Ikenfell;
• Monster Sanctuary;
• Raji: An Ancient Epic;
• Risk of Rain 2;
• The Last Campfire.

Best Board Game

• Calico;
• Fort;
• Oceans;
• The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine;
• The Search for Planet X.

Best VR Game

• Down the Rabbit Hole;
• Half-Life: Alyx;
• Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond;
• Star Wars: Squadrons;
• The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners.

Matthew Crump Award for Cultural Innovation:

• Astro’s Playroom;
• Dreams;
• If Found …;
• Tell Me Why;
• The Last of Us Part II.

Excellence in animation, art, and graphics:

• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla ;
• Cloudpunk;
• Final Fantasy VII Remake ;
• Ghost of Tsushima;
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

Excellence in Game Design:

• Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time ;
• Desperados III ;
• Hades;
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps;
• Watch Dogs: Legion.

Excellence in Soundtrack:

• Cyberpunk 2077;
• DOOM Eternal;
• Final Fantasy VII Remake;
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps;
• Trials of Mana.

Superiority in multiplayer:

• Deep Rock Galactic;
• Huntdown;
• Risk of Rain 2;
• Star Wars: Squadrons;
• Valiant.

Narrative Excellence:

• Ghost of Tsushima;
• Hades;
• Immortals Fenix Rising ;
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales ;
• The Last of Us Part II.

Excellence in Sound Design:

• Bugsnax;
• DOOM Eternal;
• Observer: System Redux;
• Star Wars: Squadrons;
• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2.

Technical superiority:

• Astro’s Playroom;
• Dreams;
• Genshin Impact;
• Ghost of Tsushima;
• Microsoft Flight Simulator.

The winners will be determined by a jury consisting of an advisory board (including experts from the gaming industry) and SXSW employees, LLC. The results will be influenced by the results of the open user voting. The eighth SXSW Gaming Awards 2021 will kick off on March 21 at 3:00 AM ET. The ceremony will be broadcast live on Twitch channels IGN  and SXSW Gaming.

In 2020, the award winners were announced without a ceremony. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was named the  best game ..”