Phantom Blade Zero Nearly Won a GOTY Award Days After Launch, but That Isn't the Story

With the awards season well underway, all the best titles of the year are battling it out to be crowned Game of the Year, but there is an interesting discussion to be had about eligibility and voter reviews. More specifically, Phantom Blade Zero has found itself in a strange position at the Golden Joystick Awards, where it was only eligible for nominations through an exception that allows games released in the voting window to be counted, meaning that despite most of the perception coming from early previews, it could have potentially taken home GOTY.