Commenting on their selection, the Dublin Literary Award judges remarked that "its originality, its power, its lyricism, as well as its humane appeal all mark De Niro's Game as the work of a major literary talent and make Rawi Hage a truly deserving winner."
The judges of the Dublin Literary Award lauded De Niro's Game for its distinctive features: originality, power, lyricism, and humane appeal, which they attributed to Rawi Hage's exceptional talent and his well-deserved victory.