Despite the hype around this year’s Game Awards, Sword of the Sea has been largely overlooked, becoming one of the most notable snubs even as discussions swirl about other deserving but unlisted games.

Figure 1. Sword of the Sea bafflingly snubbed at Game Awards

Developed by Matt Nava’s Giant Squid Studios (ABZÛ, The Pathless), Sword of the Sea has received widespread praise since its August release, boasting an 88 Metascore, an 8.5 user score on Metacritic, and a "very positive" rating on Steam. The game delivers a dreamlike adventure with stunning environments, fluid movement reminiscent of the Skate series, a polished New Game Plus mode, and a gorgeous soundtrack by Austin Wintory—yet it received no nominations at The Game Awards. Figure 1 shows Sword of the Sea bafflingly snubbed at Game Awards.

Despite widespread praise for its breathtaking visuals and environments, Sword of the Sea received no nominations for Best Art Direction, Best Score & Music, Best Action/Adventure Game, or Best Independent Game—likely overshadowed by Hollow Knight: Silksong.

Hollow Knight: Silksong launched unexpectedly on Aug [1]. 21, just two days after Sword of the Sea, instantly dominating online conversations. The sequel secured nominations for all major categories, including Game of the Year, overshadowing Sword of the Sea.

While Hollow Knight: Silksong understandably dominated attention, Sword of the Sea still feels overlooked. Limited nominee slots and Silksong’s massive press coverage likely caused The Game Awards voters to overlook Giant Squid’s visually stunning, musically rich, and immersive adventure.

Ironically, Sword of the Sea boasts a Grammy nomination for its ethereal, memorable soundtrack—highlighting that its music is receiving more recognition outside the gaming world than at The Game Awards, which feels both surprising and disappointing.

References:

1. https://www.polygon.com/sword-of-the-sea-the-game-awards-snub/

Cite this article:

Janani R (2025), Sword of the Sea’s Game Awards Snub Stuns, AnaTechMaz, pp. 338