In the vibrant and ever-evolving world of mobile gaming, recognition at prestigious ceremonies like The Game Awards stands as a testament to a title's impact, innovation, and player devotion. HoYoverse's dynamic action RPG, Zenless Zone Zero, etched its name into this legacy in late 2024 when it received a coveted nomination for Best Mobile Game. This moment marked the game's official arrival on the global awards stage, following in the footsteps of its acclaimed siblings, Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail. As we look toward the horizon of 2026, the journey from that initial nomination has been one of growth, community building, and solidified reputation within the competitive gacha action genre.
The path to The Game Awards 2024 stage was a significant milestone. The nominations were unveiled during a dedicated livestream on November 18, 2024, placing Zenless Zone Zero among an elite group of contenders. 
This nomination was particularly special as it represented the game's debut at the prestigious ceremony. It joined a fierce lineup of nominees that reflected the diverse excellence in mobile gaming that year:
🏆 Best Mobile Game Nominees (The Game Awards 2024):
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Zenless Zone Zero (HoYoverse)
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Wuthering Waves (Kuro Games)
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AFK Journey
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Balatro
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Pokemon TCGP
This was not, however, Zenless Zone Zero's first brush with award recognition in 2024. Earlier that year, it had already garnered attention at the Gamescom Awards, where it was also nominated for Best Mobile Game—a category ultimately won by its stablemate, Genshin Impact. This dual nomination in a single year signaled HoYoverse's continued dominance and the distinct identity Zenless Zone Zero was carving with its unique urban fantasy setting and fast-paced, proxy-based combat system.
The culmination of the 2024 awards season arrived on December 12, 2024, when the winners were announced during a global livestream across platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook. The final results were determined by a combined vote from a selected jury (90%) and public fan voting (10%), offering the community a direct voice in the outcome. While the specific winner of the Best Mobile Game category that year is now part of gaming history, the nomination itself served as a powerful launchpad for Zenless Zone Zero's future.
Fast forward to 2026, and the landscape shaped by those 2024 nominees is fascinating. The recognition at The Game Awards acted as a catalyst, propelling Zenless Zone Zero into a period of sustained content expansion and deepening player engagement. The game's narrative, set in the post-apocalyptic metropolis of New Eridu, has expanded through major updates, introducing new characters, story arcs, and challenging end-game content. Characters like the highly anticipated Miyabi and Harumasa, whose kits and materials were subjects of much discussion back in 2024, have become integral parts of team-building strategies and the meta.
| Aspect | 2024 Context | Evolution by 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Award Recognition | First nomination at TGA; second at Gamescom. | Established contender; potential follow-up nominations for ongoing support. |
| Community Role | Fans could vote (10% weight) for TGA. | Community is central to feedback, content creation, and celebrating anniversaries. |
| Content Depth | Early leaks about character kits and materials. | Multiple major expansions, new regions, and deep end-game systems in place. |
| Competitive Landscape | Nominated alongside Wuthering Waves, AFK Journey. | Co-exists and competes with these titles in a mature, feature-rich market. |
The legacy of that 2024 nomination extends beyond trophies. It validated HoYoverse's venture into a more stylized, urban-centric action RPG and assured players of the developer's commitment to quality across its portfolio. In the years since, the game has built a formidable reputation for:
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✨ Stylish Visuals & Design: Its distinct comic-book and anime-inspired aesthetic remains a standout feature.
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⚡ Innovative Combat: The proxy combat system offers a fresh take on action RPG mechanics.
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🌆 Immersive World: New Eridu has grown into a living, breathing city full of stories and secrets.
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🤝 Strong Community: The player base has solidified, with active discussions on team compositions, like optimal partners for agents such as Yanagi, and strategic gameplay.
Looking at the broader picture, the 2024 Best Mobile Game category highlighted a trend toward high-fidelity, console-like experiences on mobile devices—a trend that has only accelerated. Games like Wuthering Waves have also thrived, creating a healthy and competitive ecosystem that benefits players with constant innovation and quality. For Zenless Zone Zero, the journey from nominee to established pillar of HoYoverse's lineup is a story of how award recognition can be a beginning, not an end. It set the stage for the game to fulfill its potential, rewarding the developers' vision and the community's faith with a thriving, ever-expanding universe to explore. As The Game Awards continue to spotlight excellence, the legacy of those nominated in 2024, including Zenless Zone Zero, continues to resonate in the rich tapestry of 2026's mobile gaming world.
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