The big winners of The Game Awards 2020

It's been hailed as the "Oscars of Gaming" by The Washington Post, and is the much-anticipated annual event by gamers to cap off the year.

The Game Awards 2020 faced some serious challenges this time around brought upon by the COVID-19 global pandemic, but even that didn't stop the awards body from celebrating the video games industry as it pushed through with an undeniably successful performance this year.

The Game Awards 2020 was completely online this year, with awardees staying at home and standing by in the new normal of the Zoom stream. Yearly host and awards creator Geoff Keighley was noticeably alone on the live stage, but he was joined later on by pre-show host Sydnee Goodman, voice talents Nolan North and Troy Baker, and others – all socially distanced, of course.

Everyone's presence may have been virtual but the thrill and energy of the awards remained basically the same. The awards started with a pre-show which awarded some initial trophies to Final Fantasy VII Remake for Best Score and Music; a Best Action/Adventure Game nod to the Last of Us Part 2 (an indicator of things to come, as past winners of this category have gone on to become Game of the Year); Best Family Game for Animal Crossing: New Horizons; Best Community Support went to Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout; and Best Debut Game honors were given to Phasmaphobia.

The main categories quickly followed at the end of the pre-show. As is the nature of the show, numerous world premiere game trailers debuted alongside the awards, and we'll have a separate story up for those. For now, here are the winners from each featured category.

Best Performance: Laura Bailey – Abby, The Last of Us Part II

Best Ongoing Game: No Man's Sky

Best Art Direction: Ghost of Tsushima

Best Action Game: Hades

Best VR/AR Game: Half-Life: Alyx

Best Sports/Racing Game: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2

Most Anticipated Game: Elden Ring

Best Narrative: The Last of Us Part 2

Games for Impact: Tell Me Why

Best Multiplayer Game: Among Us

Best Indie Game: Hades

Best Audio Design: The Last of Us Part 2

Best RPG: Final Fantasy VII Remake

Best Sim/Strategy Game: Microsoft Flight Simulator

Player's Voice: Ghost of Tsushima

Best Fighting Game: Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate

Innovation in Accessibility: The Last of Us Part 2

Best Mobile Game: Among Us

Content Creator of the Year: Valkyrae

Best Game Direction: The Last of Us Part 2

Game of the Year: The Last of Us Part 2

If you forgot to catch it this morning, check out the full Game Awards 2020 here:

(Images from the Game Awards)