Since its debut in 2014, The Game Awards has solidified its place as the premier celebration of gaming excellence, drawing millions of viewers and generating unmatched excitement. While other award shows exist, none rival the anticipation surrounding The Game Awards’ Game of the Year (GOTY) category, where the industry’s finest compete for the ultimate accolade. Choosing the best game is never without controversy—passionate fans and critics often debate whether the right title took home the prize. Below, we revisit every GOTY winner from 2014 to 2024, their competitors, and the context of their victories. Did The Game Awards get it right, or were some deserving games overlooked? Let’s dive in and decide.
Game of the Year Winners: 2014–2024
Here’s a chronological look at every GOTY winner, their competition, and what made each victory stand out.
2014: Dragon Age: Inquisition
- Developer: BioWare
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
The Game Awards’ inaugural year set a high bar with a fiercely competitive field. Dragon Age: Inquisition, a sprawling RPG with rich storytelling and expansive world-building, clinched the GOTY title. Its victory highlighted BioWare’s ability to craft immersive narratives, but some argued that other nominees offered equally compelling experiences.
Nominees:
Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft (Blizzard Entertainment)
- Dark Souls II (FromSoftware)
- Bayonetta 2 (PlatinumGames)
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (Monolith Productions)
Why It Won: Inquisition’s blend of deep role-playing mechanics, memorable characters, and tactical combat resonated with voters. Its open-world design was groundbreaking for the series, outshining the innovative but niche Hearthstone and the punishing Dark Souls II.
Did It Deserve It?: Fans of Shadow of Mordor’s Nemesis system or Bayonetta 2’s stylish action might disagree, but Inquisition’s polish and scope made it a safe, crowd-pleasing choice.
2015: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Developer: CD Projekt Red
- Publisher: CD Projekt
Few games have dominated their release year like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This open-world RPG masterpiece, with its gripping narrative, vast world, and player-driven choices, was the clear favorite in 2015, earning near-universal acclaim.
Nominees:
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Kojima Productions)
- Bloodborne (FromSoftware)
- Super Mario Maker (Nintendo)
- Fallout 4 (Bethesda Game Studios)
Why It Won: The Witcher 3’s unparalleled storytelling, detailed world, and emotional depth set a new standard for RPGs. Its competitors, while excellent, couldn’t match its scope or cultural impact.
Did It Deserve It?: Bloodborne’s intense atmosphere and Metal Gear Solid V’s stealth innovation had strong cases, but The Witcher 3’s landslide victory felt inevitable.
2016: Overwatch
- Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
- Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard’s team-based shooter Overwatch took the GOTY crown in 2016, a testament to its vibrant characters, polished gameplay, and lasting appeal. Nine years later, its community remains active, a rarity for multiplayer titles.
Nominees:
- Titanfall 2 (Respawn Entertainment)
- Doom (id Software)
- Inside (Playdead)
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (Naughty Dog)
Why It Won: Overwatch’s accessibility, diverse roster, and addictive multiplayer dynamics captivated players and voters alike. It outshone single-player heavyweights like Uncharted 4 and the critically acclaimed indie Inside.
Did It Deserve It?: Titanfall 2’s stellar campaign and Uncharted 4’s cinematic storytelling were strong contenders, but Overwatch’s cultural impact gave it the edge.
2017: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Developer: Nintendo EPD
- Publisher: Nintendo
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild redefined open-world gaming with its boundless exploration and innovative mechanics. Released in 2017 alongside the Nintendo Switch, it became an instant classic and a GOTY shoo-in.
Nominees:
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG Corporation)
- Horizon Zero Dawn (Guerrilla Games)
- Super Mario Odyssey (Nintendo)
Persona 5 (Atlus)
Why It Won: Breath of the Wild’s freedom, physics-driven gameplay, and breathtaking world set it apart. Its influence is still felt in game design today, overshadowing Super Mario Odyssey’s charm and Horizon Zero Dawn’s visuals.
Did It Deserve It?: Persona 5’s deep narrative and Super Mario Odyssey’s polish had fervent fans, but Breath of the Wild’s revolutionary approach was hard to top.
2018: God of War
Developer: Santa Monica Studio
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
The 2018 God of War rebooted Kratos’s saga with a mature, emotional narrative and breathtaking visuals, revitalizing the franchise and earning GOTY honors.
Nominees:
- Monster Hunter: World (Capcom)
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (Ubisoft Quebec)
- Marvel’s Spider-Man (Insomniac Games)
- Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar Games)
Celeste (Matt Makes Games)
Why It Won: God of War’s seamless blend of storytelling, combat, and Norse mythology outshone Red Dead Redemption 2’s epic scope and Spider-Man’s web-slinging fun.
Did It Deserve It?: Red Dead Redemption 2’s massive world and Celeste’s heartfelt indie charm were strong contenders, but God of War’s polish won over voters.
2019: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Developer: FromSoftware
- Publisher: Activision
After nominations for Dark Souls II and Bloodborne, FromSoftware finally claimed GOTY with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Its punishing difficulty and precise combat won hearts, though it surprised some given Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s popularity.
Nominees:
- Resident Evil 2 (Capcom)
- The Outer Worlds (Obsidian Entertainment)
- Death Stranding (Kojima Productions)
- Control (Remedy Entertainment)
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Bandai Namco/Sora Ltd.)
Why It Won: Sekiro’s unique stealth-action and rewarding challenge stood out in a diverse field, edging out Resident Evil 2’s remake brilliance and Death Stranding’s ambition.
Did It Deserve It?: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s massive roster and Resident Evil 2’s nostalgia made strong cases, but Sekiro’s innovation prevailed.
2020: The Last of Us Part II
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
The Last of Us Part II was a polarizing masterpiece, lauded for its storytelling and technical prowess but divisive among fans. It dominated The Game Awards 2020, winning GOTY and multiple categories.
Nominees:
- Hades (Supergiant Games)
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo)
- Doom Eternal (id Software)
- Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch Productions)
Final Fantasy VII Remake (Square Enix)
Why It Won: Its narrative depth, accessibility features, and technical excellence carried it past Hades’s indie brilliance and Animal Crossing’s wholesome appeal.
Did It Deserve It?: Hades and Ghost of Tsushima had passionate support, but The Last of Us Part II’s ambition secured its win.
2021: It Takes Two
Developer: Hazelight Studios
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Hazelight’s It Takes Two, a co-op adventure blending creative gameplay and heartfelt storytelling, was a surprise GOTY winner in a competitive 2021 field.
Nominees:
- Resident Evil Village (Capcom)
- Metroid Dread (MercurySteam/Nintendo)
- Deathloop (Arkane Studios)
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)
- Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine Productions)
Why It Won: It Takes Two’s innovative co-op mechanics and universal appeal outshone Deathloop’s time-bending action and Metroid Dread’s revival.
Did It Deserve It?: Psychonauts 2’s creativity and Ratchet & Clank’s polish were strong, but It Takes Two’s unique co-op focus won voters over.
2022: Elden Ring
- Developer: FromSoftware
- Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Elden Ring, FromSoftware’s open-world evolution of the Souls formula, was a juggernaut in 2022, beating out God of War Ragnarök in a highly anticipated showdown.
Nominees:
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Monolith Soft)
- A Plague Tale: Requiem (Asobo Studio)
- Horizon Forbidden West (Guerrilla Games)
- Stray (BlueTwelve Studio)
- God of War Ragnarök (Santa Monica Studio)
Why It Won: Elden Ring’s vast world, deep lore, and challenging gameplay captivated players, narrowly surpassing Ragnarök’s cinematic spectacle.
Did It Deserve It?: God of War Ragnarök’s polish and Stray’s charm had fans, but Elden Ring’s scope was unmatched.
2023: Baldur’s Gate 3
Developer: Larian Studios
Publisher: Larian Studios
Baldur’s Gate 3 took 2023 by storm, with 875,343 peak concurrent Steam players and perfect scores from outlets like IGN and GameSpot. Its deep RPG systems and replayability made it a GOTY standout.
Nominees:
- Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment)
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games)
- Resident Evil 4 (Capcom)
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo)
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo)
Why It Won: Baldur’s Gate 3’s narrative depth, player freedom, and polish outshone Tears of the Kingdom’s innovation and Spider-Man 2’s action.
Did It Deserve It?: Tears of the Kingdom and Alan Wake 2 were stellar, but Baldur’s Gate 3’s monumental impact was undeniable.
2024: Astro Bot
Developer: Team Asobi
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
In a year packed with stellar releases, Astro Bot charmed players with its joyful platforming, nostalgic tributes, and polished gameplay, earning GOTY in 2024.
Nominees:
Balatro (LocalThunk)
- Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (FromSoftware)
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (Atlus)
Why It Won: Astro Bot’s universal appeal, tight design, and pure fun stood out against Black Myth: Wukong’s spectacle and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s ambition.
Did It Deserve It?: Metaphor: ReFantazio and Shadow of the Erdtree had strong RPG credentials, but Astro Bot’s accessibility won hearts.
Reflecting on the Winners
The Game Awards’ GOTY winners reflect gaming’s evolution, from Dragon Age: Inquisition’s RPG dominance to Astro Bot’s platforming revival. Each year’s choice sparked debate—did Sekiro deserve to beat Super Smash Bros. Ultimate? Was It Takes Two a surprise over Deathloop? Standouts like The Witcher 3 and Elden Ring felt like locks, while Overwatch and Astro Bot proved that multiplayer and family-friendly titles can shine.
Were There Snubs?
Some argue Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018), The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023), or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2019) were robbed due to their massive impact. Others believe indie gems like Celeste or Hades deserved more recognition. What do you think? Share your thoughts below—did The Game Awards nail it, or did they miss the mark?
What’s Next for The Game Awards?
As gaming evolves, The Game Awards continues to spotlight innovation, from AI-driven experiences to blockchain esports. With 2025 promising new releases, the GOTY race will only get fiercer. Stay tuned for what’s next!
