The Outer Worlds Wins Game of the Year at 9th Annual New York Videogame Awards

Both Disco Elysium and Sayonara Wild Hearts take home multiple awards

Reggie’s acceptance speech focuses on The Circle’s community work.

New York City, January 22, 2020 – Hosted last night by Emmy Award winning writers from The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, the New York Videogame Critics Circle celebrated the best in gaming at the 9th annual New York Videogame Awards at SVA Theatre in NYC. The organization bestowed its highest honor, the Big Apple Award for Best Game of the Year, to The Outer Worlds. Games that won two awards each include Disco Elysium (receiving the Off Broadway Award for Best Indie Game and the Herman Melville Award for Best Writing), as well as Sayonara Wild Hearts (winning the A-Train Award for Best Mobile Game and the Tin Pan Alley Award for Best Music in a Game). Additionally, FPX (League of Legends) was awarded the Captain Award for Best Rookie Esports Team alongside a new award category for 2020, the Joltin’ Joe Award for Best Esports Player of the Year won by Arslan Ash.

Full List of Winners: 2020 New York Videogame Awards

• Big Apple Award for Best Game of the Year:
• The Outer Worlds
• Andrew Yoon Legend Award: 
• Reggie Fils-Aimé

• Statue of Liberty Award for Best World:
• Outer Wilds
• Herman Melville Award for Best Writing: 
• Disco Elysium
• Coney Island Dreamland Award for Best AR/VR Game:
• Minecraft Earth
• Tin Pan Alley Award for Best Music in a Game:
• Sayonara Wild Hearts
• Central Park Children’s Zoo Award for Best Kids Game:
• Luigi’s Mansion 3
• A-Train Award for Best Mobile Game: 
• Sayonara Wild Hearts
• Off Broadway Award for Best Indie Game: 
• Disco Elysium
• Freedom Tower Award for Best Remake: 
• Resident Evil 2

• Great White Way Award for Best Acting in a Game:
• Courtney Hope as Jesse in Control
• Captain Award for Best Rookie Esports Team: 
• FPX (League of Legends)  

• Joltin’ Joe Award: Best Esports Player of the Year:
• Arslan Ash

• Knickerbocker Award for Best Games Journalism: 
• Khee Hoon Chan for their story in Rock Paper Shotgun: 
• China Forced One Horror Game Publisher to Close, But the Whole Region Felt It.

Former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé offered up a heartfelt acceptance speech for his Andrew Yoon Legend Award (above video). It focused upon why he joined the Board of the New York Videogame Critics Circle. Reggie also thanked his former colleagues at Nintendo, and the journalists in The Circle. The crowd stood in appreciation.

Click here to watch the New York Videogame Awards, and here for more information on the New York Videogame Critics Circle. Follow the New York Videogame Critics Circle on Facebook and Twitter. 

New York Videogame Critics Circle Programs Include: 

• DreamYard Project at DreamYard Prep School in the Bronx: Offering mentoring, internships, workshops, job information and college scholarships for intelligent, but underserved students.

• Journalism classes at The Henry Street Settlement: The New York Videogame Critics Circle brings games education to community events as well.

• Mentoring at, and consulting for, Older Adult Technology Services (O.A.T.S.), at their Senior Planet tech center in Manhattan’s Chelsea-area.

• The New York Public Library system and American Museum of Natural History panels: Talks and discussions about jobs in games, games history and how games bring people together.

NYVGCC members are a culturally diverse and passionate group of videogame journalists from media outlets including Tom’s Guide, CNET, Time and The Washington Post; view a full list of members here. For more information on getting involved through volunteering or fundraising with the NYVGCC, click here. Click here for more information on the New York Videogame Critics Circle, or contact founder Harold Goldberg at mediacur@gmail.com. What the New York Videogame Critics Circle earns from ticket sales goes directly back into the non-profit organization to help with mentoring, scholarships and workshops in New York City.

About the New York Videogame Critics Circle

Based in New York City, the New York Videogame Critics Circle is a not-for-profit organization, stemming from the need for community in the often-cut-throat world of journalism. This multicultural group is comprised of the finest videogame critics, designers, writers, reporters, bloggers and videographers in New York City. Members of the New York Videogame Critics Circle give back to their communities with programs like at DreamYard Prep School in the Bronx, NY where the group offers mentoring, internships, lectures, job information and college scholarships for intelligent, but underserved students. The organization also holds community events, mentoring and classes in partnership with the Henry Street Settlement. At SVA Theatre, the group holds the annual New York Game Awards, which benefits their community service work. They also mentor seniors at O.A.T.S., Older Adult Technology Services at their tech center in NYC. The New York Game Awards Scholarship and Mentoring donors include Sony, Wizards of the Coast, HyperX, Samsung, MSK, and Ubisoft, with more to be announced.