For the past decade,The Game Awardshave celebrated each year’s top video games in various categories.
10 Games That Deserved GOTY, But Lost
Yes, Red Dead Redemption II is on the list.
However, the most coveted has always been theGame of the Year, which recognizes the best title according to a panel of experts and part of the gaming community.
Although there has always been controversy, the entire industry stops to see which games have been selected for the award thanks to the volume the organization has gathered.
Therefore, it’s time to review history, remember the winners, andrank them from worst to best in this list with every GOTY of the last decade.
This list will focus exclusively on the winners, without evaluating the conditions of their selection (like other nominees, for example) as GOTY.
11Overwatch
While I understand the arguments aboutOverwatch’s impact on modern multiplayer, it’s the only GOTY that’s literally unplayable, and I think that weighs too heavily.
10 Most Undeserving GOTY Nominees Ever
These ten occasions where The Game Awards lost my faith are egregious and perhaps controversial.
Following its replacement byOverwatch 2, Blizzard’s hero shooter disappeared from digital and physical platforms, leaving the original experience unavailable to everyone.
Beyond popularizing whatTeam Fortress 2established years ago, its great audiovisual identity, and the overall polish of its proposal, I don’t think it is particularly special.
Overwatchhelped shape the online gaming landscape, but I don’t know if for the better. Its influence is undeniable,but that alone isn’t enough to make it the most outstanding.
10It Takes Two
Charming Co-op For Couples
It Takes Two
It Takes Twois one of the best co-op games of recent years, with itspuzzle platformerapproach feeling fresh and accessible to all kinds of players.
Nevertheless, after experiencing it with a close friend, I couldn’t help but see the notable deficiencies it shows as a cooperative title, despite its strong charm and essence.
With a forgettable story, a poorly paced campaign given its lengthy duration, and irregular chapters due to prioritizing quantity over quality,I wouldn’t say it’s even Hazelight’s best game.
I appreciate that The Game Awards sought to give credit to a different type of video game, far removed from the big blockbusters, but there have been much better opportunities thanIt Takes Twoto do so.
9God of War
A Potential Not Yet Fulfilled
God of War
God of Waris an impressive title that I deeply admire Santa Monica Studio for. Taking an established franchise and giving it such a massive facelift is both laudable and bold, something I will always appreciate.
That said, the potential of the 2018 reboot wasn’t fulfilled untilGod of War: Ragnarök, which surpasses its predecessor in every single detail it presents.
On the other hand, theNordic series' original title presents many shortcomings in design and gameplay, with many repeated enemies, a lack of variety in combat, an unintelligible interface, and an open semi-world that doesn’t work well.
It pains me to admit it because the original trilogy is one of my favorites, butGod of Warlacks the precision and overall quality expected of the IP. It’s a project with great ideas, but not so much in execution.
8The Last of Us Part 2
Among the Greatest Sequels
The Last of Us Part 2
The consensus tends to point toThe Last of Usas the best of the franchise, though I likeThe Last of Us Part 2considerably more.
It’s not as compact and has pacing issues, butit’s a great sequel that improves on everything its precursor did.
The Last of Us Part 2is the culmination of the style Naughty Dog has developed over the last few years.Uncharted 4: A Thief’s Endseems to me to be their masterpiece, but this one is a close second.
It wouldn’t have been my choice for the GOTY, but the fact that it was acknowledged as such is a recognition of boldness in the AAA landscape, so I support it.
7Astro Bot
Controversial But Deserved
While theplatforming genrehas been relegated to a secondary role within the industry,Astro Botcame along to remind us of the great quality this kind of game can offer.
Being an ode to PlayStation as a brand and to platforming as a gameplay structure,Team ASOBI’s work is exceptional in practically all departments.
Both for nostalgia and natural quality,Astro Botis a fantastic experience, with stellar design and creativity that really takes advantage of the console’s features.
I’d like to think this is the turning point that will lead Sony to return to its old identity and lower the emphasis on third-person cinematic games, as they have very talented studios to do so.
6Dragon Age: Inquisition
BioWare’s Gem
Dragon Age: Inquisition
When the eighth generation of video game consoles arrived, it took a long time beforeDragon Age: Inquisitionarrived to truly make me feel the change of era.
Along withMass Effect 2, I think it’s the best video game BioWare has ever created, as it excels in everything it sets out to do without leaving any aspect aside.
With the series' best and most epic gameplay, artistic direction, level design, story, and progression,it became the high point of RPGs at the time.
Numerous successors took and improved on what was seen inDragon Age: Inquisitionbut, even today, it’s a great role-playing title that entertains and enchants wonderfully.
5Baldur’s Gate 3
A Necessary GOTY
Baldur’s Gate 3
Occasionally, the video game industry enters periods where certain genres or styles take center stage, leaving innovation aside to capitalize on the market opportunity.
For this reason,Baldur’s Gate 3isn’t only a role-playing masterpiece, but also a very relevant product because it sets positive precedents for future projects in the medium.
Larian Studios followed the creative vision that has characterized them for years and positioned them in the hearts of millions of people, offering their formula’s absolute version in 2023.
Baldur’s Gate 3is among the most outstanding games in the RPG genre, with infinite gameplay and narrative possibilities that make it a historical reference I will never be able to forget.
4The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Unique and Unmatched
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
In a player’s life, there are specific video games that leave such a mark on you that you can’t look at their genres the same way again. In my case, that happened to me withThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
After playing CD Projekt RED’s creation, my standards rose to such an extent that I have rarely been able to truly enjoy an RPG again.
Aside from its gameplay simplicity, the depth of its immersive universe is unmatched, even so many years afterThe Witcher 3’s initial release.
The characters, quests, spontaneity, lore, and possibilities build an unprecedented adventure that is never the same for everyone. Geralt of Rivia is as multifaceted as the game it represents,which undeniably belongs in the museum of the best titles in history.
3Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Perfection Achieved
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Aside from indies, onlySekiro: Shadows Die Twicehas made me say that a video game is perfect, which is a unique feat in my career as a writer.
10 Games You’ll Either Love Or Hate
Games like Death Stranding and Fortnite can be extremely divisive, with sizable groups of both fans and detractors.
If you consider the gameplay, the plot, the visuals, or the sound, I can’t find flaws of any kind in FromSoftware’s fantastic creation, which reaches a level of polish completely unusual in titles of its magnitude.
Between having the best combat system and the most natural replayability in the history of video games,Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis an interactive milestone I doubt we will see again in the near future.
Of course, being perfect in a genre does not undoubtedly make you superior to the great works of other styles, where subjectivity also makes an appearance, but it’s a demonstration of transcendence almost no title can achieve.
2The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Turning Point of Open Worlds
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
For many people, 2017 is one of thebest years in gaming, and we can’t denyThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildis broadly responsible for it.
Saying it’s the best video game in Nintendo’s history wouldn’t be far-fetched at all because it’s a revolutionary experience that changes the way you value the interactive medium.
Even I, who don’t followThe Legend of Zeldaseries fanatically, can’t help but feel captivated by theimmersion and beauty of its world. It’s a unique voyage, and no game in the genre will manage to escape its titanic shadow until a long, long time from now.
Aside from the Korok Seeds, which honestly make me cry with boredom,Breath of the Wildis a video game for posterity and the most suitable representative of Nintendo’s greatness.
