Did Dispatch DeserveΒ Game of the Year?
What is Dispatch?
Dispatch was released on October 22nd, 2025, and is available on Playstation 5, PC Via Steam, and Windows. The gameplay for Dispatch is an episodic adventure game developed by AdHoc Studio. In this game, players are in control of the decisions of the main character, Robert Robertson III. This game could be described as a superhero workplace comedy known for its witty and well flowing script between characters. There are many emotions that occur during this game. At some points it gives people a thrill, while sometimes it can bring people to tears.
What is the backstory of Robert Robertson?
Robertβs grandfather was the original Mecha Man (Superhero) and the person who made the original mech suit. Then, after his passing, it was Robertβs father who was more widely known as Astral. However, after his death, Robert Robertson III inherited the suit and became the new Mecha Man, a superhero despite his lack of real superpowers. He spent his entire inheritance (millions of dollars) on keeping the Mecha suit functional.
Outside of his normal hero work, Robert is on the hunt for the infamous villain Shroud, a former member of the Brave Brigade who is responsible for his father’s death. During a fight, the Mechanic suit was damaged to the point of being destroyed for Robert Robertson. This is when Blonde Blazer (a well-known superhero working for the SDN (Superhero Dispatch Network) makes a deal with Robert Robertson. If he were to work for the SDN as a Dispatcher for the Phoenix Program, they would support the funds to repair the Mecha suit. The destruction of the Mechaman suit is the narrative role in this game for the main character. For Robertson, itβs not only his generational gift but also a main source of his identity and the motivation for his actions. The suit is also a gameplay mechanic. Players can use the strategy map to deploy heroes and manage missions, and upgrade the suit and its abilities to become more effective once rebuilt and ready for combat.
What is the Phoenix Program?
The Phoenix Program is a group of Ex-Villains that are either supernatural beings or humans with supernatural powers, with Robert Robertson as the commander and Blonde Blazer as the manager. This program consists of ten members: CoupΓ©, Flambae, Golem, Invisigal, Malevola, Phenomaman, Prism, Punch Up, Sonar, and Waterboy. In this program, Robertson not only is the commander for the team, but is also becoming a friend of most of its members.
What are the nominees for Game of the Year 2025?
Other nominees for Game of the Year 2025 at The Games Award are Claire Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades II, and Hollow Knight: Silk Song. Although Dispatch hasnβt been nominated for Game of the Year 2025, it has been nominated for Best Debut Indie Game 2025, but has not won any awards. Fans of this game believe that from the spike of the game’s popularity over such a short time after being released on October 22nd, and has already sold over 2 million copies in its first month, and reaching a peak of over 222,000 plays on Steam, it has been robbed of other nominations like βBest Narrative.β
Interview with Video Game Club Host, Mr. Cornell
In an email sent interview with Blake’s Video Game Club host, Mr. Cornell, his point of view on the topic of Dispatch being βrobbedβ from other nominees was nothing but open-minded and positive. But when he was asked if he agrees with Dispatch being βrobbedβ during the awards, his response was, βI haven’t played either game, and I haven’t looked into the sales or player responses either. I’m not really sure what makes one game more of a ‘winner’ and any other.β Which isnβt wrong. What makes one video game better than another? Especially if theyβre from totally different genres. He continues on with, βThe controversy gets people talking about both games, though, so it’s kind of a good thing for both. Almost like both win!β
Although Mr. Cornell isnβt familiar with either Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 or Dispatch, he still had a brief opinion on both. Recently, CO: E33 has been leaked for using AI in the foundations of their artwork and for their generative characters. When he was asked if their rewards should be taken away because of this, he disagreed, saying, βThe use of AI as a tool is going to continue to increase unless new laws prevent its use. Because it is likely to be used in the development of so many games, I don’t think the Game Awards should exclude any games that make use of AI tools.β Many followers of the Game Awards have had mixed feelings about the use of AI in game development, but the vast majority feel that the use of AI shouldnβt be accepted or allowed when competing in events like the Game Awards. When it comes to the Game Awards or even game development itself, Mr. Cornell is right about how the use of AI will increase if no laws are in place. But does that still make it right to use AI in competitions despite the absence of laws in place to prevent it?
The last question that was asked to Mr. Cornell was not a question related to Dispatch or Clair Obscure: Expedition 33, but instead to get to know a little of his opinions on the Game Awards. The question asked was what game he believes shouldβve won βBest Independent Game of the Yearβ. He brought up how he canβt pick what game was best out of all the games this year, but mentions one of the games that was nominated for the title and has been βa little obsessionβ of his recently. He said, βThe game Blue Prince has been a little obsession of mine since I picked it up a few weeks ago. If you like strategy, puzzles, and adventure, you’ll like Blue Prince. I recommend you play with a friend as two heads are better than one.β Mr. Cornell had been a great help to this article when unpacking the takes of Dispatch and CO: E33, but one response he gave does stick out from most, what makes a video game the βbestβ one out of all?
