Psychonauts 2 is your Xbox Game of the Year at the Golden Joysticks 2021
No need for mind manipulation with a game this good
Psychonauts 2 has invaded all the minds of voters to secure its position as the Xbox Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards.
Of course, the brilliance of Double Fine's long-anticipated sequel meant that no mind manipulation was required to ensure the win. No, Raz's latest adventure didn't need help at all to win out over the likes of Yakuza spin-off Lost Judgment or stunning Annapurna title The Artful Escape.
The full list of nominees was as follows:
- Lost Judgment
- Microsoft Flight Simulator
- Psychonauts 2 (winner)
- The Artful Escape
- The Ascent
- 12 Minutes
Psychonauts 2 is the long-awaited sequel to the cult classic title released in 2005. It was originally funded via Kickstarter in 2015, but was eventually published this year under the Microsoft Game Studios banner after it acquired Double Fine in June 2019. However, it turned out it was more than worth the wait, with Double Fine delivering a game that's an utterly brilliant, constantly creative, plaformer.
In our review, we called Psychonauts 2 a "time sink", before clarifying that's not a negative thing at all.
"Developer Double Fine has delivered a generous and expansive adventure full of heart and humor. Psychonauts 2 is a time sink in the truest sense, in that your time will sink into the ether as you play. Minutes will turn to hours with ease, and before you know it, the credits are rolling and your cheekbones are sore from all the smiling. Double Fine's psychodyssey defies all expectations. And what expectations they were."
Psychonauts 2 is available now on PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X. It is also available on Game Pass for Xbox and PC.
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Sam Loveridge is the Global Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar, and joined the team in August 2017. Sam came to GamesRadar after working at TrustedReviews, Digital Spy, and Fandom, following the completion of an MA in Journalism. In her time, she's also had appearances on The Guardian, BBC, and more. Her experience has seen her cover console and PC games, along with gaming hardware, for a decade, and for GamesRadar, she's in charge of the site's overall direction, managing the team, and making sure it's the best it can be. Her gaming passions lie with weird simulation games, big open-world RPGs, and beautifully crafted indies. She plays across all platforms, and specializes in titles like Pokemon, Assassin's Creed, The Sims, and more. Basically, she loves all games that aren't sports or fighting titles! In her spare time, Sam likes to live like Stardew Valley by cooking and baking, growing vegetables, and enjoying life in the countryside.