The Game Awards recognize the best video games of the year, with the most prestigious award being Game of the Year. Since its inception in 2014, the award has been given to some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful games of all time.
History of the Game of the Year Award
The Game of the Year award was first awarded in 2014 to Grand Theft Auto V. Since then, the award has been given to a diverse range of games, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Overwatch, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and God of War.
The award is voted on by a jury of over 100 video game journalists from around the world. The jury considers a variety of factors when selecting the winner, including gameplay, graphics, story, and overall impact.
Past Winners of the Game of the Year Award
Year | Winner |
---|---|
2014 | Grand Theft Auto V |
2015 | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt |
2016 | Overwatch |
2017 | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |
2018 | God of War |
2019 | Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice |
2020 | The Last of Us Part II |
2021 | It Takes Two |
The Importance of the Game of the Year Award
The Game of the Year award is one of the most prestigious awards in the video game industry. It is a recognition of the best that the industry has to offer, and it can have a significant impact on sales and critical acclaim.
Winning the Game of the Year award can also help to raise the profile of a game and its developers. It can lead to increased sales, more awards, and even more recognition from the industry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the criteria for winning the Game of the Year award?
The criteria for winning the Game of the Year award are not explicitly stated, but the jury considers a variety of factors, including gameplay, graphics, story, and overall impact.
Who votes for the Game of the Year award?
The Game of the Year award is voted on by a jury of over 100 video game journalists from around the world.
What is the most common type of game to win the Game of the Year award?
Action-adventure games are the most common type of game to win the Game of the Year award.
What is the most recent game to win the Game of the Year award?
Elden Ring is the most recent game to win the Game of the Year award.
Conclusion
is one of the most prestigious awards in the video game industry. It is a recognition of the best that the industry has to offer, and it can have a significant impact on sales and critical acclaim.
Winning the Game of the Year award can also help to raise the profile of a game and its developers. It can lead to increased sales, more awards, and even more recognition from the industry.
References:
History of the Game Award for Game of the Year
Since its inception in 2014, the Game Awards’ Game of the Year award has recognized outstanding achievements in the video game industry. Here is a summary of its history:
- 2014: Dragon Age: Inquisition is crowned the inaugural Game of the Year.
- 2015: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt surpasses strong contenders like Fallout 4 and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain to claim the prize.
- 2016: Overwatch becomes the first online game to win the award, beating out candidates such as Titanfall 2 and Uncharted 4.
- 2017: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild earns widespread critical acclaim and secures the Game of the Year trophy.
- 2018: God of War (2018) triumphs over contenders like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, setting new standards for storytelling and action.
- 2019: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice outshines other nominees like Control and Resident Evil 2 Remake with its unique blend of action and stealth.
- 2020: The Last of Us Part II garners the award despite its controversial narrative, while Ghost of Tsushima and Animal Crossing: New Horizons are also highly recognized.
- 2021: It Takes Two becomes the first cooperative game to win Game of the Year, a testament to its innovative gameplay and emotional storytelling.
- 2022: Elden Ring emerges as the latest winner, with its vast open world, challenging combat, and memorable characters.
Nominees
The Game Awards, an annual event celebrating the best in video gaming, has announced its nominees for Game of the Year:
- Elden Ring: An epic open-world action RPG featuring a vast, detailed world to explore and formidable challenges to overcome.
- God of War Ragnarök: The thrilling sequel to the 2018 God of War, continuing the Norse mythology-based story with stunning graphics and engaging gameplay.
- Horizon Forbidden West: A vast and visually stunning open-world action RPG set in a post-apocalyptic world, featuring a compelling story and innovative combat system.
- Stray: A heartwarming and immersive adventure game where players control a stray cat navigating a futuristic, neon-lit city.
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3: A JRPG with a vast world to explore, a deep combat system, and a captivating story that continues the acclaimed Xenoblade Chronicles series.
The Game Awards for Game of the Year
2014: Dragon Age: Inquisition
2015: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
2016: Overwatch
2017: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
2018: God of War
2019: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
2020: The Last of Us Part II
2021: It Takes Two
2022: Elden Ring
2023
The ninth annual Game Award ceremony honored the best video games of 2023. The event was hosted by Geoff Keighley and broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, on December 8, 2023.
The Game of the Year award went to "Elden Ring," developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game received critical acclaim for its open-world gameplay, challenging combat, and gripping storyline.
Other notable winners included:
- Best Action Game: "God of War Ragnarök"
- Best Role-Playing Game: "Xenoblade Chronicles 3"
- Best Indie Game: "Stray"
- Best Multiplayer Game: "Apex Legends"
- Best Mobile Game: "Marvel Snap"
The Game Awards also recognized achievements in gaming innovation, accessibility, and impact. The recipient of the Industry Icon Award was Hideo Kojima, creator of the "Metal Gear" and "Death Stranding" franchises.
The Game Awards for Game of the Year 2022
The Game Awards 2022, held on December 8, 2022, recognized the year’s best video games. Elden Ring emerged victorious, claiming the coveted Game of the Year Award. Other notable winners included God of War Ragnarök, Horizon Forbidden West, and Stray. The ceremony also featured special awards, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Hideo Kojima.
The Game Awards 2021: Game of the Year
The Game Awards 2021 celebrated the best video games of the year, with It Takes Two claiming the coveted Game of the Year award. Developed by Hazelight Studios, It Takes Two is a co-op adventure that follows the story of a couple who have been transformed into dolls. The game was praised for its innovative gameplay, heartwarming story, and beautiful art style.
Other nominees for Game of the Year included Deathloop, Psychonauts 2, Forza Horizon 5, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. Deathloop, a time-looping action game, won the award for Best Game Direction, while Psychonauts 2, a platformer with a dark and twisted story, won the award for Best Narrative. Forza Horizon 5, a racing game set in Mexico, won the award for Best Racing/Sports Game, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, a platformer with stunning visuals, won the award for Best Family Game.
2020
2020 was awarded to The Last of Us Part II during the 2020 Game Awards. Other nominees included Ghost of Tsushima, Doom Eternal, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Hades.
The Last of Us Part II is a third-person action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. It was released on June 19, 2020, and received widespread critical acclaim for its story, graphics, gameplay, and performances.
is one of the most prestigious awards in the video game industry. It is awarded to the game that is judged to be the best of the year by a panel of industry experts.
The Game Awards 2019: Game of the Year
The Game Awards 2019 presented its coveted Game of the Year award to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Developed by FromSoftware and published by Activision, Sekiro is an action-adventure game set in a fictionalized version of 16th-century Japan.
Other nominees for the award included:
- Control
- Death Stranding
- Resident Evil 2
- The Outer Worlds
2018
The Game Awards 2018 recognized the best video games released between November 2017 and November 2018. The award for Game of the Year went to God of War, with Red Dead Redemption 2 taking home the most awards overall with six. Other nominees for Game of the Year included:
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
- Celeste
- Marvel’s Spider-Man
- Monster Hunter: World