The Game of the Year (GOTY) title has been handed out by multiple award shows over the past two decades. But in 2014, whether you love it or hate it, the Game Awards became the main stage where we crown the year’s best. For this list, we’re only focusing on winners from The Game Awards. Sure, there are other major ceremonies, such as the Golden Joystick Awards and the BAFTAs, as well as a variety of indie outlets, but they often crown very different champions.

11 Astro Bot

Game of the Year (2024)

Nominees: Metaphor: ReFantazio, Black Myth: Wukong, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Balatro

2024 was a controversial year at the Game Awards. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was technically a remake, and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree was just DLC — two factors that sparked heated debate among fans. Astro Bot winning felt strange. It’s a charming game with clever mechanics that make creative use of the PlayStation controller, but compared to the other nominees, it didn’t quite feel like a true GOTY.

Black Myth: Wukong, for instance, was a visually stunning Soulslike from an indie studio in China, inspired by the legendary tale of Journey to the West. And Balatro? A roguelike deck-builder so mind-numbingly addictive it felt like a black hole in your free time. With nominations tied up by DLC and remakes, we lost out on more original full releases like Indiana Jones, Palworld, Helldivers 2, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Space Marine II, any of which could’ve easily made the shortlist instead.

10 Overwatch

Game of the Year (2016)

Nominees: Titanfall 2, Doom, Inside, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

This one hurt. Overwatch is a great game that brought fresh ideas to the FPS genre, and it undeniably had an impact. But 2016 was stacked with heavy hitters, and in retrospect, it’s hard to say Overwatch was the best of the bunch.

Uncharted 4 wrapped up Nathan Drake’s saga beautifully. Doom brought back classic shooter chaos in style. Titanfall 2 delivered a shockingly brilliant campaign and, in my opinion, it was the first-person shooter that truly deserved the crown. Beyond shooters, there were standout games like Stardew Valley, Final Fantasy XV, Dark Souls III, Dishonored 2, and Battlefield 1. Overwatch winning felt a bit premature, especially considering the controversies Blizzard would face down the line.

9 Dragon Age: Inquisition

Game of the Year (2014)

Nominees: Bayonetta 2, Dark Souls II, Heartstone, Shadow of Mordor

Dragon Age: Inquisition was the third entry in the beloved BioWare series, and arguably the last great game they’d put out before their fall from grace (R.I.P. Anthem and Andromeda). It’s a deep, sprawling RPG with strong characters, a rich world, and hundreds of hours of content. So why is it ranked low? Simple. It didn’t stand out at least, not in the way other 2014 releases did.

Shadow of Mordor introduced the groundbreaking Nemesis system, one of the most original mechanics in modern gaming. Alien: Isolation, which somehow didn’t even get nominated, was a terrifying masterclass in atmospheric survival horror. And then there was South Park: The Stick of Truth, a hilarious, weird, and surprisingly solid RPG that perfectly translated the show’s irreverent humor into gameplay. I love Inquisition; I’ve easily sunk over a hundred hours into it. However, looking at the broader landscape that year, it just didn’t move the needle like some of its peers.

8 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Game of the Year (2019)

Nominees: Control, Resident Evil 2, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, The Outer Worlds, Death Stranding

Sekiro was a surprise pick in a stacked year. FromSoftware took a break from traditional Soulsborne mechanics and gave us something faster and meaner. It was a game about mastery, not builds. The parry system punished hesitation, and boss fights felt like brutal dances that required actual rhythm.

But it’s not the easiest game to recommend. Whereas Elden Ring invited more people into the fold, Sekiro slammed the door shut and told you to get good. That gatekeeping vibe is what pushes it a little further down the list. It was also up against some big names. Control was Remedy at its weird best. Death Stranding was divisive, but undeniably ambitious. And Resident Evil 2 showed how to do a remake right. Sekiro deserved the win, but it didn’t feel as worthy as FromSoftware's other games did.

7 It Takes Two

Game of the Year (2021)

Nominees: Resident Evil Village, Psychonauts, Metroid Dread, Deathloop, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

No one saw this coming. A split-screen co-op game about a couple getting a divorce? Made by the same guy who yelled “F**k the Oscars” on stage? And somehow... It worked. It Takes Two is a brilliant co-op experience. Every level introduces a new mechanic. You never get bored. It's creative, heartfelt, and a blast to play with someone, as long as they’re not terrible at platformers.

But while it's a great game, 2021 had some heavy hitters. Psychonauts 2 brought back one of the most creative platformers ever. Metroid Dread was a flawless return to form. Even Returnal and Resident Evil Village could’ve made a strong case. It Takes Two was a surprise win, and a good one, and I'm glad that Hazelight Studio is getting the recognition it deserves for single-handedly keeping the co-op genre alive.

6 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Game of the Year (2017)

Nominees: Super Mario Odyssey, Horizon Zero Dawn, Persona 5, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a masterclass in how to reinvent a franchise. Breath of the Wild broke almost every Zelda tradition: no dungeons, no hearts, no linear story, and it worked. It gave players the freedom to go anywhere, solve problems however they wanted, and explore a world that felt alive.

Still, this was a monster year. Horizon Zero Dawn introduced a fresh post-apocalyptic setting filled with robotic dinosaurs. Persona 5 oozed style and brought turn-based RPGs back to the mainstream. Super Mario Odyssey was pure, joyful platforming. Even PUBG changed gaming forever by igniting the battle royale craze. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was the right call for GOTY.

5 Baldur’s Gate 3

Game of the Year (2023)

Nominees: Alan Wake II, Spider-Man 2, Resident Evil 4, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Tears of the Kingdom

Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the most impressive RPGs ever made, but let’s be honest, 2023 was an RPG gold rush. Spider-Man 2 refined everything from the first game. Alan Wake II was the best horror game in years. And Nintendo released two bangers in the same year, with Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

Still, Baldur’s Gate 3 stood out. Larian Studios brought the D&D universe to life in a way that felt personal. Every choice mattered. The dialogue was sharp. The characters were memorable. And somehow, despite the overwhelming scale, the game ran surprisingly well on release, a miracle in 2023. The only reason it ranks lower here is that its genre doesn’t click for everyone. Not everyone wants to sit through a 100-hour turn-based RPG. But for those who did, it was unforgettable.

4 Elden Ring

Game of the Year (2022)

Nominees: Stray, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, A Plague Tale: Requiem, Horizon Forbidden West, God of War Ragnarök

Elden Ring was the moment FromSoftware went mainstream, without selling out. It kept the core of what made Soulsborne games great: punishing fights, hidden lore, and bosses that make you scream. But the open world, mounted combat, and sheer scale made it feel like a new frontier. It’s the only game where you can explore for 100 hours and still get blindsided by a castle you somehow missed.

2022 wasn’t short on competition. God of War Ragnarök was a direct follow-up to a previous GOTY and arguably more polished. A Plague Tale: Requiem upped the ante for cinematic indies, and Stray was a refreshing surprise. Xenoblade 3 brought peak JRPG storytelling. But let’s be honest, from the moment Elden Ring launched, it was the frontrunner. It brought Soulslike gameplay to the masses without dumbing it down.

3 The Last of Us Part II

Game of the Year (2020)

Nominees: Ghost of Tsushima, Hades, Doom Eternal, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Final Fantasy VII Remake

The Last of Us Part II split the gaming community in two, but it still landed the win, and rightfully so. It was bold, violent, narratively risky, and technically flawless. Some hated where the story went, but nobody could deny the craft. And yeah, it was a bummer that the first game never had a shot at a Game Awards trophy (it came out in 2013), but this win made up for it.

That said, 2020 wasn’t an easy year to dominate. Ghost of Tsushima had gorgeous visuals and a combat system that just felt good. Hades basically reinvented roguelikes. Doom Eternal was chaos in the best way. Final Fantasy VII Remake gave fans what they’d waited decades for, and Animal Crossing was a pandemic lifeline for many. The Last of Us Part II still won because it pushed storytelling further than anything else that year, even if it left a few fans behind.

2 God of War

Game of the Year (2018)

Nominees: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Celeste, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Monster Hunter: World, Red Dead Redemption 2

God of War’s reboot was unreal. Kratos went from taking down entire Pantheons to a fully developed father, trying (and often failing) to raise a son in a brutal world, with some of the best combat and cinematic moments in all gaming history. It's no surprise Kratos took home the award for both game of the year and father of the year.

Still, Red Dead Redemption 2 was right there. Rockstar’s open world was massive, detailed, and emotionally powerful in its own right. Monster Hunter: World was Capcom finally cracking the western market. Spider-Man revived the character in games better than most of the movies ever did. Celeste was a small, pixelated powerhouse. It was a stacked year. Honestly, it could’ve gone either way between God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2, but Kratos’ comeback was just too iconic.