Story Highlights
  • Starfield didn’t receive any major nominations at The Game Awards and was snubbed for best RPG title.
  • The gameplay was criticized for not standing out enough compared to other Bethesda games.
  • Despite mixed reviews, Starfield has been nominated for the Most Innovative Gameplay by Steam.

Starfield was supposed to be the Microsoft release to counter Sony’s mammoth exclusives. The marketing for the release was massive, and the potential seemed immense. However, to severe disappointment from fans, the RPG turned out quite underwhelming.

Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t nominated for the Game of the Year award, but the Steam Awards have somehow managed to nominate Starfield for the ‘Most Innovative Gameplay’ award in 2023.

Why it matters: Many have considered Bethesda’s game design outdated after its latest release. This RPG has highlighted the many flaws in the studio’s approach when compared to more modern releases.

Starfield nomination for most innovative gameplay
 Source: Steam

Bethesda could have gone places with Starfield, but it kept the gameplay rather generic.

The scope is undoubtedly huge, but seamless space travel does not exist in a game whose selling point is exploration. Despite Steam’s nomination, the RPG has mixed reviews on the platform.

There is also not much innovation in the gameplay. The shooting, melee combat, and RPG mechanics are nothing new. Many have dubbed it ‘Skyrim in Space,’ highlighting that Bethesda still relies on decade-old fundamentals.

Despite these problems, Starfield is not without its plus points. The game features deep ship-building mechanics, allowing a high level of customization rarely seen in other games.

Other strengths include the space battles, but these parts are often held back by the overall mediocrity surrounding them.

Starfield NPC

Anyhow, Steam has picked the latest Bethesda release for this honor. Competing with Starfield are games like Remnant 2.

This title was critically acclaimed and praised for delivering a different take on Souls-like mechanics and procedural generation, selling 1 million units within a week to eclipse its predecessor.

Starfield has also won a major award in the past. Winning the Xbox Game of the Year at Golden Joystick, this RPG is now in the race for another massive title, but it remains to be seen if it can pull off another victory.

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Abdullah Waseem
[How-To Guides Expert] Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city's aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity! Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com Google IT Certificate Shehryar Khan