Nebula Awards 2024 Announces Nominations for Video Game Writing

The Nebula Awards have announced their nominations for video game writing, continuing their tradition of honoring excellence in “science fiction and fantasy storytelling.”

The awards, which added a video game category in 2018, recognize the growing importance of games as a powerful medium for narrative expression.

This year’s nominations feature a diverse mix of eight games from both major and indie studios.

Key Points About This Year’s Nominations

The 2024 nominees represent various storytelling approaches, from atmospheric world-building to choice-driven narratives.
FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki returns with a nomination for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, after previously winning in 2022 for the base game.
Indie titles like 1000xResist, Slay the Princess, and Pacific Drive earned well-deserved recognition despite being overlooked at some other major awards events.
Interactive fiction (Restore, Reflect, Retry, and The Ghost and the Golem) and tabletop games (Yazeba’s Bed & Breakfast) continue to maintain a strong presence in the nominations.

About the Nebula Awards for Game Writing

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) established the game writing category to acknowledge interactive storytelling.
The nomination process involves SFWA members submitting their choices between December 15 and January 31.
Works must be published in English in the United States during the previous calendar year to be eligible.
This marks the 60th anniversary of the Nebula Awards, making it a significant milestone for recognizing excellence across various media.

Previous Winners

2018: Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (Netflix)
2019: The Outer Worlds (Obsidian Entertainment)
2020: Hades (Supergiant Games)
2021: Thirsty Sword Lesbians (Evil Hat Productions)
2022: Elden Ring (FromSoftware)
2023: Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)

This Year’s Complete Nominations

1000xRESIST by Remy Siu, Pinki Li, and Conor Wylie (Fellow Traveler Games) – A narrative-driven sci-fi adventure praised for its intricate storytelling and emotional depth.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree by Hidetaka Miyazaki (FromSoftware) – An expansion to the 2022 award-winning game, noted for its expanded lore and atmospheric narrative.
Pacific Drive by Karrie Shao and Paul Dean (Ironwood Studios) – A survival game with a supernatural twist, lauded for its immersive world-building and narrative integration.
Restore, Reflect, Retry by Natalia Theodoridou (Choice of Games) – An interactive fiction title exploring time loops and personal reflection.
Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut by Tony Howard-Arias and Abby Howard (Black Tabby Games) – A horror-infused visual novel celebrated for its dark, branching storylines.
The Ghost and the Golem by Benjamin Rosenbaum (Choice of Games) – An interactive fiction work blending fantasy and mystery with rich character-driven writing.
Yazeba’s Bed & Breakfast by Jay Dragon, M Veselak, Mercedes Acosta, and Lillie J. Harris (Possum Creek Games) – A tabletop RPG noted for its whimsical yet poignant storytelling.
A Death in Hyperspace by Stewart C Baker, Phoebe Barton, James Beamon, Kate Heartfield, Isabel J. Kim, Sara S. Messenger, Naca Rat, Natalia Theodoridou, and Merc Fenn