'Thirsty Suitors' picked up two well-deserved prizes at the 2024 Gayming Awards.
Just when you thought its awards season domination was over, Baldur’s Gate 3 has once again claimed the top awards at another ceremony, taking home Game of the Year, the Readers’ Award, and another gong for Best LGBTQ Character at the 2024 Gayming Awards last night (June 25).
Despite last year’s line-up of big-hitting AAA releases, Baldur’s Gate 3’s main competition came from one of 2023’s best indie games: the excellent Thirsty Suitors, which received the Best LGBTQ Indie Game Award and the Authentic Representation Award.
The Gayming Awards, which were livestreamed and hosted by DEERE and MiladyConfetti, had nine honors in total, recognizing video games, TV shows, esports players, and content creators that have “championed diversity and inclusivity globally” in 2023 and 2024.
Jeremy Crawford, the lead rules designer for Dungeons & Dragons, picked up the Gayming Icon Award recognising his contribution to the LGBTQ community within tabletop gaming. Trans gamer Emma “Emzii” Rose, who won gold at the 2023 ESI Film Festival for an inspiring 14-minute documentary charting her rise to success in eFootball, overcame strong competition to win the Best LGBTQ+ Contribution to Esports Award.
Robin Gray, founder of Gayming Magazine and the Gayming Awards, said: “Each year I’m thrilled at what new stories of success we unearth. The Gayming Awards are on a journey of evolution, and I’m honored that we’re able to celebrate the best our community has to offer.
“We’re a small company that has been greatly affected by the global economy and this has caused some issues within our community. I’m determined to continue our growth and our journey, making good on our outstanding issues. Gayming is a platform for all, and we will always keep fighting for inclusivity and representation.”
2024 Gayming Awards winners and nominees in full
Game of the Year Award: Baldur’s Gate 3
Runners up: Final Fantasy XVI, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Thirsty Suitors, Spider-Man 2, Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical
Gayming Magazine Readers’ Award: Baldur’s Gate 3
Runners up: Final Fantasy XVI, Goodbye Volcano High, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Tchia, This Bed We Made
Gayming Icon Award: Jeremy Crawford (Wizards of the Coast)
Industry Diversity Award: Latinx In Gaming
Runners up: Humble Games, Larian Studios, Qweerty Gamers, Roll7, Women in Games International
Authentic Representation Award: Thirsty Suitors
Runners up: Baldur’s Gate 3, Coral Island, The Sims 4, The Expanse: A Telltale Series, This Bed We Made
Best LGBTQ+ Character Award: Shadowheart (Baldur’s Gate 3)
Runners up: Aloy (Horizon: Forbidden West), Dame Aylin (Baldur’s Gate 3), Dion Lesage (Final Fantasy XVI), Jala (Thirsty Suitors), Tchia (Tchia)
Shadowheart was once again named a fan favorite.
Best LGBTQ+ Indie Game Award: Thirsty Suitors
Runners up: Coral Island, In Stars and Time, Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical, Tchia, This Bed We Made
LGBTQ+ Streamer of the Year Award: SpringSims
Runners up: Apothicdecay, Eevoh, Elix, EspeSymone, Halfmoonjoe, Maisy, Sheilur
Best LGBTQ+ Contribution to Esports Award: Emma “Emzii” Rose
Runners up: Bailey McCann, Bethany “Indyburgh” Pyles, Cora Kennedy, Slaypex / Kylie Gabor
LGBTQ+ Geek Entertainment Moment of the Year: The Last of Us: “Long, Long Time”
Runners up: Doctor Who: “The Star Beast,” Harley Quinn, Nimona, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, The Legend of Vox Machina (Season 2)
LGBTQ+ Streamer Rising Star Class of 2024
DEVOGLAER, PearlTeese, SimplyAretha, Sinarynn, Sukar Baba
