PlayStation 4 sensation Death Stranding and multi-platform thriller Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice look set to go head-to-head in the prestigious NME Awards next month.

The heavyweight pair are on the shortlist for ‘Game of the Year’ together with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Super Smash Bros Ultimate and The Outer Worlds.

Although the Hideo Kojima creation may not have received an avalanche of plaudits in the UK and US, it has been a massive hit elsewhere throughout the world, making it a bookies’ favourite for top honours at the February 12 show.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, on the other hand has had a warm reception from hardcore gamers, placing it as the most likely contender to vie for honours with Death Stranding. From Software’s action-packed adventure has had consistently top-rated reviews across PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows.

Fallen Order and Ultimate, while worthy of making the shortlist, haven’t quite had the same edge as the other nominations, but The Outer World’s could prove to be the spirited contender among the judges.

The classy first-person RPG has become something of a global phenomenon since its release across PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows in October 2019.

With writers Leonard Boyarsky, Megan Starks, Kate Dollarhyde and Chris L’Etoile, The Outer Worlds could prove to have the thoroughbred heritage to topple Death Stranding in what many might perceive to be a one-horse race.

The NME Awards take place at London’s O2 Academy Brixton.

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