Honestly, trying to pick a winner for Best Ongoing Game these days feels like trying to choose your favorite child… if all your children were constantly getting epic glow-ups every few months! 🤯 As a regular player just vibing in 2026, I look back at the 2024 Game Awards nominees and it's wild. That year wasn't just a competition; it was a masterclass in how to keep a game alive and kicking. Every single nominee brought their A-game, making the choice feel almost impossible. Let's break it down, shall we?

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A Category Stacked with Legends (and One Newbie)

This list was no joke. We had:

  • Destiny 2 🪐 - Said a beautiful, epic goodbye with The Final Shape. A masterpiece of an ending, but… you know, endings mean fewer updates. Kinda bittersweet for an 'ongoing' award.

  • Diablo 4 😈 - Dropped its first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, and baby, it delivered! New class (Spiritborn, my beloved!), deeper story. It was the 'we heard you' update fans dreamed of.

  • Final Fantasy 14 🌌 - Dawntrail launched and took the story to a whole new, vibrant world. This MMO is the definition of consistency—it's basically having a great year, every year. A past winner reminding everyone how it's done.

  • Helldivers 2 🪖 - The spunky newcomer! Burst onto the scene in 2024 and made waves. Had some… let's say 'passionate community moments'… but kept fighting with updates. The underdog story we all love.

And then, there was Fortnite. Oh, Fortnite.

Why My Money Was on Fortnite

Look, I'm not just saying this because I spent an ungodly amount of hours there. In 2024, Fortnite was pure, unadulterated chaos in the best way possible. It wasn't just adding a skin or a new gun; it was creating whole moments.

  • Absolute Doom Season? Pure Marvel madness. Dropping into a battle royale alongside your favorite heroes and villains? Chef's kiss. 👨‍🍳💋

  • The OG Map Return? A permanent mode! They brought back the nostalgia bomb as a full-time feature. That's not just an update; that's listening to your community's heart.

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Here's the tea ☕: While every other game had a killer expansion or a defining chapter, Fortnite's year felt like a non-stop festival. It was the game that refused to sit still. When you're already the biggest party on the planet, how do you get bigger? You invite everyone, from Marvel heroes to your own past, and you make sure the fun never stops.

The others had phenomenal stories to tell (and they told them beautifully!), but Fortnite's story was the constant, joyful, unpredictable ride. It's the safe bet, sure, but sometimes the safe bet is just… correct. In a category celebrating the grind of staying fresh and relevant, Fortnite in 2024 was like that friend who always has the wildest plans—exhausting, but you can't help but join in.

So, Who Really Wins? (Spoiler: We Do)

Fast forward to 2026, and looking back… the real winner was us, the players. That year proved that 'ongoing' doesn't have to mean 'grindy' or 'monotonous'. It can mean epic conclusions, stunning new beginnings, and yes, glorious, beautiful chaos.

Each game showed a different path:

  1. The Grand Finale Path (Destiny 2)

  2. The Redemption Arc Path (Diablo 4)

  3. The Consistent Excellence Path (FFXIV)

  4. The Meteoric Rise Path (Helldivers 2)

  5. The Ever-Evolving Party Path (Fortnite)

Picking one feels almost reductive. But if we're talking about which game embodied the relentless, update-driven, community-shaping spirit of 'Best Ongoing' in that specific moment? Yeah, the island took the crown. 👑 But hey, that's just my two cents from the trenches! What's your pick?