Ladies and gentlemen, the moment we've all been waiting for has arrived! The results for the Golden Twig Awards 2023 are here.

Firstly, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in voting and shared their greetings and critical feedback. Your engagement has been invaluable, and we appreciate every moment of it.

Without further ado, let's dive into the Golden Twig Awards results, recognizing both the positive and challenging aspects of the gaming industry in 2023 – from innovation and creativity to acknowledging difficulties faced. Congratulations (and condolences) to all the winners! 🏆🌿

Listen to our Gaming Awards Show. Parental advisory: Explicit Content…

1. The Topic Year: UNITY RUNTIME FEE

In the fiercely contested Talk of the Year category, AI and Unity engaged in a real battle, reaching a point where they were face-to-face (the twig almost having to be split into two). The voting crowd was evenly divided, which is quite astonishing. However, a winner emerged, and it's none other than Unity. Despite the AI news bombarding us from every side, Unity managed to captivate the entire industry in Q4 with its introduction of Runtime Fee.

2. Correction of the year: MICROSOFT WON’T ACQUIRE ACTIVISION

Owning up to a bit of podcast humility here – we are not always spot-on with our predictions, but you know what? It spices up the conversation. Case in point: our major misfire of the year. Some of us (read: Kress) were pretty confident the Microsoft acquisition of Activision would not happen. Despite a few bumps, Microsoft powered through, reminding us that sometimes the most intriguing stories unfold when reality defies our predictions. 

3. Most Damage Taken: EMBRACER (repeat winner)

Embracer, previously recognized for the 'Most Skeptical Move' last year, has once again taken the lead, securing a unanimous win in the Most Damage Taken category by both the DoF crew and the community. Embracer's journey has been tumultuous, marked by questionable acquisitions, internal chaos, job cuts, and studio closures. The plot thickened in June with a $2 billion deal with Savvy Games falling through, exposing financial vulnerabilities. This strategy, flawed from the beginning, continues to backfire, and it's devastating to keep witnessing this horrendous mismanagement.

4. Most Disappointing Game (STARFIELD from Bethesda)

The Most Disappointing Game of the year is Starfield. Despite being a highly anticipated game, it fell short of moving the needle as needed for Microsoft. It failed to get us excited and clearly didn't win over the hearts of the DoF community either. The gameplay is repetitive, lacks innovation, and is simply boring.

5. Mice Nuts – best financially meaningless game: (PIKMIN 4)

And the champion in the Mice Nuts category goes to …Pikmin 4! This Nintendo Switch gem delivers an exceptional real-time strategy experience. Its gameplay is a masterpiece, celebrated for its strategic depth, diverse elements, and the power for players to tailor their adventures. With immersive features, new Pikmin types, and a polished presentation, Pikmin 4 stands out as a thrilling and engaging real-time strategy triumph! You should definitely check it out.

6. Most Questionable Move: NETFLIX GAMES  

Netflix claims the title of Most Skeptical Move this year. In 2022, their venture into gaming sparked questions, and 2023 only intensified our uncertainties. As we wait for answers, Netflix is focusing all of its effort on becoming a 'destination for must-play games,' with 40 releases in 2023 and 90 in development. This reignites the age-old conversation of quality versus quantity. We're eager to see how this will play out, but for now, skepticism looms large.

7. Most Brilliant Move: LEGO x FORTNITE 

Lego x Fortnite clinches the Brilliant Move title this year. Launched on December 6th, this dynamic duo racked up over 1 billion Lego impressions and hit 7.7 million hours watched in its first four days across platforms. Their successful blend of iconic brands sets a whole new bar for interactive marketing in gaming and emphasizes the potential of creative partnerships. Bravo!

8. Crushed It: MONOPOLY GO

Monopoly GO takes the crown in the Crushed It category as the undeniable hit of the year. With unanimous agreement from both the community and the TWIG crew, this game has soared to become the most downloaded and a billion-dollar franchise within just seven months of its April launch. Beyond financial success, Monopoly GO distinguishes itself as a decade-in-the-making hit, showcasing both strategic brilliance and creative innovation. 

9. The Worst Layoffs: EMBRACER 

Just when you thought we were done talking about Embracer, here it is again, claiming another title. This time, it's the indisputable winner of another category – and we promise, it's the last one. Embracer now earns the unfortunate distinction of having The Worst Layoffs of the year, shedding over 900 jobs to address a significant $1.3 billion debt. The fallout from a failed deal with Savvy Games Group, which we already mentioned, triggered these drastic cuts, impacting undisclosed projects and contributing to a broader industry trend of workforce reductions in 2023.

How should we call the annual awards show in the future?

As we wrap up the awards, we've turned to you for the all-important task of naming next year's event. The votes are split right down the middle between The Deconstructor of Fun Awards and The Golden Twigs. Choosing won't be a breeze, so we might just need to flip a coin or run another poll. Stay tuned for the grand reveal!