The Game Awards 2024 celebrated its 10 year anniversary in a most glamorous way with the event being a sneak peek of future releases, new trailers and the best games of the year. Perhaps one of the most competitive categories that had the audience on their feet was the Best Ongoing Game award. This category recognises games that offer regular content updates and are able to engage players in the long run. 

Ongoing games are important in the modern world and they are not likely to disappear in the near future. They are not only products; they are the evolving platforms that provide the players with the reason to return with new content, updates and active community. These games have changed the industry and showed that the date of a game’s release is only the first day of its reign. In 2024, the nominees for this award highlighted how far live-service games have come, whether it is through persistent worlds or coop epicness.

Nominees for The Game Awards 

This year’s lineup of contenders for Best Ongoing Game highlighted the diversity and innovation in the live-service space:

• Destiny 2 (Bungie/SIE): With a decade of lore and gameplay under its belt, Destiny 2 introduced new expansions, thrilling seasonal narratives, and captivating endgame content.
• Diablo 4 (Blizzard): Blizzard’s dark and gritty ARPG kept its players hooked with regular updates, live events, and a steady infusion of content that expanded Sanctuary’s terror.
• Final Fantasy 14 (Square Enix): The critically acclaimed MMORPG continued to dazzle with a heartfelt community, an engaging story, and the ongoing success of its recent expansions.
• Fortnite (Epic Games): A pioneer in the live-service genre, Fortnite kept its crown with mind-blowing collaborations, dynamic storytelling, and groundbreaking gameplay updates.
• Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios/SIE): This tactical co-op shooter elevated the original’s formula with stunning graphics, intense gameplay, and a relentless focus on teamwork.

And the Winner Is… HELLDIVERS 2 

The award for Best Ongoing Game was given to Helldivers 2 which was an unexpected choice but a befitting one that every player and critic enjoyed. Arrowhead Game Studios released a game that changed the face of co-op games; it was a game that offered the players a taste of a fight while being able to have a good laugh at the same time. 

Why Helldivers 2 Stood Out 

It is possible to connect Helldivers 2’s triumph to the cooperative mechanics that the developers have perfected. The game transformed the conventional co-op shooter into a more complex and engaging system that emphasized on planning and communication. They cannot simply fire at their opponents and hope for the best; they must work together, which is a unique type of unity. 

It is important to note that the gameplay mechanics were effective due to the integration of hostile environment and squad support features that increased the challenge of every objective. The developers were always releasing new missions, new biomes, and new weapons to keep the game as fresh as the day it released. This effort to innovate and integrate the feedback from the community ensured that it earned its title as the winner. 

A Game-Changer for Co-op Experiences 

However, what made Helldivers 2 so special was the fact that it could bring people together. This was not just a slogan; it was the core of the game and the reason why people kept playing. Along with the strong frequency of updates, humorous events, and a strong bond between the developers and the gamers, Helldivers 2 became popluar in the live service category.