Guide of the Year Awards 2022 - Results!

[Dreggit 2,859]

 

- THE RESULTS -

 

Hello PSNProfiles! It's that time of year again, the 9th annual results for the Guide of the Year Awards. As with previous years, we award the top 3 guides a special seal on their guide, then award the 21 winning guides in the excellent categories. In the event of a tied position, or a winner with collaborators, the awarded prize money is split evenly.

 

This year, we would like to give some statistics of the 2022 year in terms of publications. In 2022, we published 658 guides, saw 234 authors, and published on 306 days of the year. We broke monthly records for publication counts in January, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, and December. We also broke the seasonal record for publications in Winter, Spring, and Summer. What an incredible year it has been. Now the moment you've all waited for, the winners!

 

Guide of the Year Winners

 

To start off as we have from the beginning, the first awards we'll give are for the top three guides this year from all of your votes for this category. The quality of guides this year has seen incredible heights and proved hard to decide for the community, but these are the bunch that stood out the most from the nominations! Here are the winners! Each non-staff member will receive a $100 (1st), $80 (2nd) or $60 (3rd) prize, or split the prize where applicable amongst winners!

 

 

 1st Place

Sol Cresta Trophy Guide

by CelestialRequiem

 

 

 2nd Place

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - 100% Walkthrough

by Argandalf_01

 

 

 3rd Place

 

God of War Ragnarök Trophy Guide

by MohandGamer7 and Charizarzar

 

It's been a crazy year for sure, and who would have thought that Sol Cresta would be so popular to beat out both God of War and Sekiro. Nevertheless, the community has spoken and these guides were the ones they've chosen. The past year has been a record breaking year, with over 1200 total reviews issued, what an insane number! Please do not feel disheartened if you did not win the GOTY, all guides that were nominated could have equally won this coveted prize and are all deserving of the highest of praises. Please! Pat yourself on the back for all you've achieved this year and join us in celebrating the winners this year.

 

The Exceptional Guide Winners

 

Four years ago we started the format of awarding 21 guides with the exceptional awards and it has done well, and has been well received by the community! This year we've decided to do that again, but also decided to continue last years choice of awarding an Exceptionally High Quality badge to all nominated guides, recognizing their efforts in going above and beyond in the work these authors created. We thought it made more sense to do this since all guides submitted were of incredible quality. Along with those however, your community votes will lead to some lucky authors earning some sweet cash prizes of $50 for 1st place, $40 for 2nd place, and $30 for third place in each category! Well done to the winners, these guides are incredible.

 

 

Exceptional Trophy Guides

These are guides that are impeccably well crafted to help earn the most dastardly of platinums.

1. Elden Ring Trophy Guide by ZOLANTON
2. God of War Ragnarök Trophy Guide by MohandGamer7 and Charizarzar
3. Sol Cresta Trophy Guide by CelestialRequiem
    

Exceptional Gameplay Guides

These are guides we've felt really shine with their organization, details, and ability to guide you through your games. Every year, it's been absolutely mind-blowing to see the quality rise.

1. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - 100% Walkthrough by Argandalf_01
2. Elden Ring - Platinum Walkthrough by Optinooby
3. Final Fantasy X HD - The Remaster Supplement Guide by The_Kopite

 

Exceptional DLC Trophy Guides

These three are some of the most detailed and intricate DLC guides from the past year, this category had a ton of competition.

1. Cuphead - The Delicious Last Course DLC Trophy Guide by MohandGamer7
2. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth - Repentance DLC Trophy Guide by BalefulFrog
3. Resident Evil Village - Winters' Expansion DLC Trophy Guide by angelbless45

 

New Author Excellence

These authors came onto the scene strong and showed excellence in guidewriting. Here we celebrate new authors who might become tomorrows legendary guidewriters writers.

1. Cult of the Lamb Trophy Guide by Septomor and OFFICER_OILDAB
2. (Tied!) Doom 2 Trophy Guide by Kramers001    
         Dying Light 2 by Lewis_Y123
3. Warhammer: Vermintide 2 Trophy Guide by hishomie1

 

 

Retro Enthusiast

These three can be considered the diamond in the rough, the hidden gems, the coveted treasures of the past. These three guides show that even the oldest of games still have secrets to tell!

1. Castlevania: Harmony of Despair Trophy Guide by angelbless45
2. Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z Trophy guide by Meurtor
3. Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders from Planet Space Trophy Guide by JFwibbles

 

Exceptional Guides With Original Content

Incredible picks of writers that went the extra mile and make their own videos, images, and combination of these within their guide.

1. Devil May Cry 4 - Bloody Palace Guide by UnhallowedBlood
2.  Borderlands 3 - O.T.D.H. Loot Maps by CountKarloff
3. Iconoclasts Trophy Guide by Ric_373

 

Exceptional use of Formatting

Fantastic examples of writers that noticeably master the art of guide resources like tables, headings, colors, spacing, & images.

1. Spelunky Trophy Guide by SquidGeneral10 and Uzi_wad
2. The King of Fighters XV Trophy Guide by Mikel93
3. DragonFang Z Trophy Guide by AihaLoveleaf

 

Random Vote Drawing Prize ($25)

This year, three random voters with valid entries were eligible to win a $25 prize. Click here and enter your PSNID as the "Entrant Identifier" for proof of entrance. Congratulations to the lucky winners below!

1. Meikoro
2. NCSFan001
3. speedomer

 

I would like to congratulate all guide writers this past year. Not just the authors that got published, but the writers too. This year has seen more activity than we've ever had before in the author community. If you have ever started writing, or have been writing a guide, I applaud you. To want help those around you is an incredible thing and deserves to be celebrated. So thanks to all of you out there, writers and authors both! As to all of our nominees, and those that did not make it into nomination, be proud of what you created and I thank you for all you do for this community and its members.

 

Please join me in congratulating all of our nominees and winners!

Spoiler

@Sebastian @ZOLANTON @ObsiEez @Aboelsas @MohandGamer7 @Charizarzar @residentgamer5 @Argandalf @ArkhamKnight895 @CelestialRequiem @eigen-space @Spacey_Dweeb @Xillynoc @Optinooby @Tentativeuser @The_Kopite @TugaSonic @ElHoxtinator @SquidGeneral10 @Tunnel1ngEffect @CountKarloff @Lil-Gameboy123 @NCSFan001 @MakoSOLIDER @AquaNSky @angelbless45 @Tothoro @BalefulFrog @Seamndel @Septomor @OFFICER_OILDAB @joaomsousa @Kramers001 @Lewis_Y123 @Kneekickers @MattPieti @MrGarland @hishomie1 @ChaoticFox9900 @Sarsky @johncnstntn__ @guyblade @JFwibbles @Jozxyqk_27 @X_RaceKing_X @langdon @Michael2399 @Darumacho @ixxiion @CountKarloff @UnhallowedBlood @Ric @Dsr8002 @FMJInertia @NemoG @Velvet @LuckySlime @Mertkaykay @coregamer1998 @coldhardcrash_ @AihaLoveleaf @igs63 @Shikotei-kun @Uzi_wad @Jelloycat @Mikel @NoMoreUpdates

 

Thank you everyone and we will see you next year for the tenth anniversary GOTY2023!

[Argandalf 167]

Congratulations to all winners, specially @CelestialRequiem for the deserved GOTY

Edited January 31 by Argandalf

[Tentativeuser 185]

Congratulations on your well-deserved win, @CelestialRequiem ! As always, a huge thanks to all nominees, authors, and the PSNProfiles community for another successful event. 

Edited February 14 by Tentativeuser

[AihaLoveleaf 4,721]

2022's awards proves that great work in niche games can be recognized. If you have extensive knowledge in an obscure game, don't be afraid to share it with the community.

 

 

Congrats to @CelestialRequiem for a well-deserved first place. 蘇れ！

[The_Kopite 963]

Firstly congratulations to @CelestialRequiem for winning GoTY! Very well deserved!

 

Congrats to everyone who got prizes in this event and to everyone who got nominated again in the first place. 

 

Finally, thank you to everyone who voted for my guide, I truly appreciate it and I am very grateful to have come 3rd in the Exceptional Gameplay Guides category.

 

Bring on another sensational guide writing year!

[Shikotei-kun 218]

Here’s to all the writers who dedicated their free time to give back to the community! Hip hip, hurray!

 

And congratulations to the winners of this year’s event. It is well earned as there has never been this much competition! You have all been tremendously outstanding.

[Destructor-8 1,905]

Congrats to all the guide writers this year! Huge Congrats to @CelestialRequiem on getting guide of the year! I know how hard you worked on making the guide as well as also making sure that the game was even obtainable too. The work you put in really paid off.

[serrated-banner9 1,030]

Congrats to everyone that won. give yourself a huge pat on the back  let's see what 2023 brings (More guides probably  )

[ZOLANTON 143]

Huge congratulations @CelestialRequiem It is greatly welcome and deserved that niche games get the recognition they deserve and that is shown with your guide earning #1 GOTY spot! Very well done!

Also congratulations to all winners and participants and a big "thank you" for everyone who voted for my Elden Ring guide and made it earn #1 spot in the Exceptional Trophy Guides category. Off to more guides in 2023!

[BlindMango 9,317]

Congratulations everyone!  I remember when I was a younger mango and we had just a few guides on the site, it's truly incredible how far we've come, I'm proud of you all

[Deadly_Ha_Ha 3,085]

Oh God, @CelestialRequiem I'll post later after I handle my gigantic business from all the excitement of this news... I'll be back in about two hours

[Joe Dubz 3,715]

Hey, a very hearty congratulations to everyone!! You are all amazing and these guides are second to none.

 

A very special congrats to @CelestialRequiem for GOTY!! Very happy for you bro and a well deserved win. 

 

I will say one more time how much I enjoy being a part of this community with so many skilled players and writers! You are all awesome and looking forward to many more exceptional guides from you all this year 😁

[Infected Elite 10,572]

congrats @CelestialRequiem 

[CelestialRequiem 4,693]

Looks like I'll be running out of rep here shortly... please don't be offended if I didn't give you rep -- but I'm about to exhaust this limit, certainly.

 

--

 

Wow. I'm speechless.

 

I know my guide isn't as visually detailed as others with lots of flair and imagery; but I went into developing the Sol Cresta guide to give new players an edge to combat the incredibly extreme nature of this monster of a Shoot-'Em-Up. This includes playing the game on PC, Switch and of course, the PS4/5. When I saw how abysmal the sales were for the game, I grew incredibly sad because this is, in my very radical opinion, the best game to have released in 2022, and PlatinumGames's best title to date (those who know me on a personal level may also be surprised by this, as they always knew me for having Vanquish as my favorite game of all-time). Sol Cresta usurped that by an extreme margin. Despite the initial buggy nature of the game, I realized it was quality before I had even completed my first playthrough (I have no doubt that I have beaten this game 200+ times at this point).

 

To those who voted for my guide -- I am eternally grateful and you have my sincere gratitude. Thank you so much. Seriously. Friend or otherwise, the fact that anyone voted for my guide means a great deal to me -- and I am so thankful for the Guide Team to even have it nominated in the first place (and thank you to @Dreggit for reviewing the guide and assisting me with the publication revisions).

 

I'd like to confess some of the blood, sweat and tears that went into this guide:

 

First, I have a bit of a personal relationship with PlatinumGames, including first visiting their studio in 2018:

 

 

Initially, I was invited by someone named JP Kellams (who sadly no longer works there, but thank you for everything, JP! You're an incredible Producer/Project Manager and an amazingly talented and creative individual. I say this politely, but your departure of PlatinumGames did indeed have an impact, and they lack a lot what made PG who they are. Thank you so much!) back in 2016. I was the only person who had earned all of the Platinum Trophies in every PlatinumGames title (this is almost true again... just need to platinum The Wonderful 101: Remastered).

 

In 2019, I was invited to the meet Hideki Kamiya while I was living in Osaka (I have a picture that I share privately among friends/peers) and I mentioned that it was PlatinumGames's titles that inspired me and carried me through the hardest periods of my life (the death of my parents, the death of my grandfather, especially -- who I considered to be my "real" parent) and Kamiya signed all of my games for me, and had some other stuff that was shared that I won't disclose.

 

This part I'll word carefully, but Sol Cresta's functionality was questionable at best. Many glitches, and an impossible platinum/100% for months until June 30th of 2022. I'll just say that I was never shy about giving PlatinumGames feedback on the game, and was hyper-specific on the issues I discovered, and issues I deliberately replicated, even if it took me hours to prove that it existed. Thank you very much to the Sol Cresta team -- and I look forward to the next galactic adventure ; )

 

--

 

Congratulations to all of the winners! @AihaLoveleaf made an extreme splash with his first ever guide published. Admittedly, seeing guides pop up for incredibly esoteric games are the most exciting aspect for me with this hobby. Lots of information for the extremely popular titles, but authors getting inspired and developing information for the few who have nothing... it's really a thankless job, I'd say. Proud of you, dude. I'm sure your next guide will be for something even more unknown (and hopefully even weebier).

 

Oh, and if you're a PlatinumGames fan, we do have a Discord that I run!

 

You're welcome to let me know if you'd like to be a part of it.

[hishomie1 79]

Major congratulations to everyone! @CelestialRequiem that is a very well deserved GOTY! @Kramers001 you too buddy what a fantastic guide 🔥

[VoidVictorious 791]

Congratulations to all winners, especially @CelestialRequiem. Completing both that game and guide are both big accomplishments.

[Lil-Gameboy123 344]

Congratulations to all the winners this year! And a huge congratulations to CelestialRequiem for their hard earned GOTY win! See you all next year for the 10 year celebration of PSNProfiles! 🎉🥳

[Mikel 301]

Congratulations to everyone and a huge congrats to @CelestialRequiem for their amazing GOTY win this year! Everyone did great this year, and I'm really thankful to see that everyone's hard work has really paid off!

 

Can't wait to see what next year has in store for us as we reach the 10th anniversary of PSNP's guide system!

[DatZoolander 750]

Congrats to all the winners and everyone who was in the running!  A big "hell yea" to @CelestialRequiem for the biggie - GOTY!

 

And congrats to the winners of the random drawing.  

 

I LOVE the guides on PSNP, and thanks to all who take the time to write these outstanding guides.

[Sauron-The-Great 36]

Congrats to the winners!

[Lewis_Y123 29]

Congrats everyone and @CelestialRequiem on winning GOTY!

Edited January 31 by Lewis_Y123

[Charizarzar 1,949]

A huge congrats, everyone! It's been an outstanding year of guides, including the ones that didn't quite make it to the final round - there are many I'd have personally loved to see celebrated with the rest. It's also been nice to have the overall winner be a fantastic passion project for a niche game that will hopefully bring many others to it, and to see a strong final 3 placement for Argandalf for the second year running, which is well deserved and no easy feat! I've also had the opportunity to work closely with some very talented authors this year, who I won't all tag and annoy, but I'm proud of the blood, sweat, tears, and long nights put into those projects.

 

Another favourite aspect of the 2022 awards was the introduction of the New Author category, as we've had some fantastic first-timers joining the ranks of our brilliant community of writers, and it's great to see this group finally celebrated properly. I hope to see even more new faces this year! (anyone interested is welcome to join our Discord server).

 

Anyway, here's to seeing what excitements this year brings. 😁

[HuntingFever 8,945]

Congrats to all the winners .

[Meikoro 96]

Congrats to all the Winners.

 

Can't believe on my first Vote here i already Win. I guess 2023 is finally a lucky Year for me. (planning to rebuild my House a little) i  need every Penny now

 

Thanks for selecting Winners on Voting and the Writers well deserved rewards. ❤️

[zulqarmessi 1,712]

Congratulations to all the winners 

God bless you all 😍