Game of the Year (GotY) is an award given to a video game by various award events and media publications that they feel represented the pinnacle of gaming that year.
Of these award events, five are considered the most significant, those being the Golden Joysticks, the Game Awards, the D.I.C.E. Awards, the Game Developer Choice Awards, and the BAFTA Games Awards. Only two games have won all five in a given year: Baldur's Gate 3 in 2023 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in 2025.
Events and ceremonies
British Academy Games Awards (BAFTA Games Awards)
The British Academy Games Awards are an annual British awards ceremony honoring "outstanding creative achievement" in the video game industry. First presented in 2004 following the restructuring of the BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards, the awards are presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), and are thus commonly referred to as the BAFTA Games Awards.
Year Game Genre Developer(s) 1998 GoldenEye 007 First-person shooter Rare 1999 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Action-adventure Nintendo EAD 2000 Console: 2 Action-adventure SCE Studio Cambridge Handheld: Pokémon Yellow Role-playing Game Freak PC: Deus Ex Action role-playing Ion Storm 2001 Console: Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec Racing Polyphony Digital Handheld: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 Sports Vicarious Visions PC: Max Payne Third-person shooter Remedy Entertainment 2002 Console: Halo: Combat Evolved First-person shooter Bungie Handheld: SMS Chess Purple Software PC: Neverwinter Nights Role-playing BioWare 2003 Call of Duty First-person shooter Infinity Ward 2004 Half-Life 2 First-person shooter Valve 2006 Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter Tactical shooter Ubisoft Paris 2007 BioShock First-person shooter Irrational Games 2008 Super Mario Galaxy Platformer Nintendo EAD 2009 Batman: Arkham Asylum Action-adventure Rocksteady Studios 2010 Mass Effect 2 Action role-playing BioWare 2011 Portal 2 Puzzle-platformer Valve 2012 Dishonored Action-adventure Arkane Studios 2013 The Last of Us Action-adventure Naughty Dog 2014 Destiny Action role-playing Bungie 2015 Fallout 4 Action role-playing Bethesda Game Studios 2016 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End Action-adventure Naughty Dog 2017 What Remains of Edith Finch Adventure Giant Sparrow 2018 God of War Action-adventure Santa Monica Studio 2019 Outer Wilds Action-adventure Mobius Digital 2020 Hades Action role-playing Supergiant Games 2021 Returnal Third-person shooter Housemarque 2022 Vampire Survivors Roguelike Poncle 2023 Baldur's Gate 3 Role-playing Larian Studios 2024 Astro Bot Platformer Team Asobi 2025 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Role-playing Sandfall Interactive
Czech Game of the Year Awards The Czech Game of the Year Awards were annual awards that recognize accomplishments in video game development. The awards have been dormant since 2021. Year Game Genre Developer(s) 2010 Mafia II Action-adventure game 2K Czech 2011 Family Farm Strategy video game Hammerware2012 Dead Trigger First-person shooter Madfinger GamesBotaniculaAdventure Amanita Design2013 ArmA III Tactical shooter Bohemia Interactive Lums: The Game of Light and Shadows Arcade game Hyperbolic Magnetism2014 Medieval Engineers Sandbox Keen Software House Dex Action RPG Platformer Dreadlocks LtdMonzo Simulation video game Madfinger GamesCoraabia Online Card ARK82015 Factorio Real-time strategy Wube SoftwareRememoriedArt Adventure Vladimír Kudělka Czechoslovakia 1938–89: The Assassination Educational Charles University 2016 Samorost 3 Adventure Amanita Design 2017 Attentat 1942 Adventure Charles University 2018 Beat Saber Rhythm Beat Games 2019 Pilgrims Graphic adventure Amanita Design 2020 Creaks Graphic adventure Amanita Design2021Svoboda 1945: LiberationGraphic adventureCharles Games
D.I.C.E. Awards
The D.I.C.E. Awards are awarded by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), a non-profit organization of industry professionals. The awards were previously known as the Interactive Achievement Awards until 2013.
Year Game Genre Developer(s) 1997/1998 GoldenEye 007 First-person shooter Rare 1998/1999 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Action-adventure Nintendo EAD 1999/2000 The Sims Life simulation Maxis 2000 Diablo II Action role-playing Blizzard North 2001 Halo: Combat Evolved First-person shooter Bungie 2002 Battlefield 1942 First-person shooter Digital Illusions CE 2003 Call of Duty First-person shooter Infinity Ward 2004 Half-Life 2 First-person shooter Valve 2005 God of War Action-adventure Santa Monica Studio 2006 Gears of War Third-person shooter Epic Games 2007 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare First-person shooter Infinity Ward 2008 LittleBigPlanet Puzzle-platformer Media Molecule 2009 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Action-adventure Naughty Dog 2010 Mass Effect 2 Action role-playing BioWare 2011 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Action role-playing Bethesda Game Studios 2012 Journey Adventure Thatgamecompany 2013 The Last of Us Action-adventure Naughty Dog 2014 Dragon Age: Inquisition Action role-playing BioWare 2015 Fallout 4 Action role-playing Bethesda Game Studios 2016 Overwatch First-person shooter Blizzard Entertainment 2017 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Action-adventure Nintendo EPD 2018 God of War Action-adventure Santa Monica Studio 2019 Untitled Goose Game Puzzle–stealth House House 2020 Hades Action role-playing Supergiant Games 2021 It Takes Two Action-adventure Hazelight Studios 2022 Elden Ring Action role-playing FromSoftware 2023 Baldur's Gate 3 Role-playing Larian Studios 2024 Astro Bot Platformer Team Asobi 2025 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Role-playing Sandfall Interactive
Electronic Gaming Awards (formerly Arcade Awards) The Arcade Awards, also known as the Arkie Awards, was one of the first video game awards, dating back to the golden age of arcade video games and lasting up until the video game crash of 1983. It was held since 1980 (for games released in 1979 and earlier) and were announced annually by Electronic Games magazine since 1981, covering several platform categories. Following the magazine's revival in 1992, it published the Electronic Gaming Awards in January 1993 for the best video games released in 1992. The 1992 and 1993 award were voted on by readers.
Year Arcade Standalone Console Computer 1979 Space Invaders 1980 Asteroids Superman 1981 Pac-Man Asteroids Star Raiders 1982 Tron Galaxian Demon Attack David's Midnight Magic 1983 Pole Position Q*bert Under 16K: Ms. Pac-Man Over 16K: Lady Bug Lode Runner 1984 Star Wars Zaxxon Space Shuttle Ultima III: Exodus 1992 Street Fighter II 1993 Disney's Aladdin
Famitsu Awards The Grand Prize winners of the annual Famitsu Awards, voted by Famitsu magazine's readers. An annual award ceremony has been held since 2005. Prior to 2005, the results were published in the magazine's annual "Best Hit Game Awards" feature since early 1987 (for games released in 1986).
Year Game Genre Developer(s) 1986 Dragon Quest Role-playing Chunsoft 1987 Dragon Quest II Role-playing Chunsoft 1988 Dragon Quest III Role-playing Chunsoft 1989 Final Fantasy II Role-playing Squaresoft 1990 Dragon Quest IV Role-playing Chunsoft 1991 Final Fantasy IV Role-playing Squaresoft 2004 Monster Hunter Action role-playing Capcom 2005 Resident Evil 4 Survival horror Capcom Kingdom Hearts II Action role-playing Square Enix 2006 Final Fantasy XII Role-playing Square Enix Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Role-playing Game Freak 2007 Super Mario Galaxy Platformer Nintendo EAD Monster Hunter Portable 2nd Action role-playing Capcom 2008 Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G Action role-playing Capcom 2009 Dragon Quest IX Role-playing Level-5 2010 Monster Hunter Portable 3rd Action role-playing Capcom 2011 Monster Hunter Tri G Action role-playing Capcom 2012 Animal Crossing: New Leaf Life simulation Nintendo EAD 2013 Monster Hunter 4"ファミ通アワード2013授賞式が開催 ゲーム・オブ・ザ・イヤーは『モンスターハンター4』 ." Famitsu.com. 23 April 2014. Action role-playing Capcom 2014 Yo-kai Watch 2 Role-playing Level-5 2015 Splatoon Third-person shooter Nintendo EAD 2016 Pokémon Sun and Moon Role-playing Game Freak 2017 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Action-adventure Nintendo EPD Dragon Quest XI Role-playing Square Enix 2018 Monster Hunter: World Action role-playing Capcom Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighting Bandai Namco Studios / Sora Ltd. 2019 Pokémon Sword and Shield Role-playing Game Freak 2020 Animal Crossing: New Horizons Life simulation Nintendo EPD 2021 Monster Hunter Rise Action role-playing Capcom 2022 Elden Ring Action role-playing FromSoftware 2023 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Action-adventure Nintendo EPD 2024 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Action role-playing Square Enix Creative Business Unit I 2025 Silent Hill f Survival horror NeoBards Entertainment
The Game Awards
Geoff Keighley, producer and host of the Spike Video Game Awards, created The Game Awards in 2014. The winners are determined by a blended vote between the voting jury (90%) and public fan voting (10%); the jury panel consists of members from around 100 global media outlets.
Year Game Genre Developer(s) 2014 Dragon Age: Inquisition Action role-playing BioWare 2015 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt CD Projekt Red 2016 Overwatch First-person shooter Blizzard Entertainment 2017 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Action-adventure Nintendo EPD 2018 God of War Santa Monica Studio 2019 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice FromSoftware 2020 The Last of Us Part II Naughty Dog 2021 It Takes Two Hazelight Studios 2022 Elden Ring Action role-playing FromSoftware 2023 Baldur's Gate 3 Role-playing Larian Studios2024 Astro Bot Platformer Team Asobi2025 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Role-playing Sandfall Interactive
Game Developers Choice Awards
The Game Developers Choice Award for Game of the Year is announced during the Game Developers Choice Awards at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), the largest annual gathering of professional video game developers.
Year Game Genre Developer(s) 2000 The Sims Life simulation Maxis 2001 Grand Theft Auto III Action-adventure DMA Design 2002 Metroid Prime Action-adventure Retro Studios 2003 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Role-playing BioWare 2004 Half-Life 2 First-person shooter Valve 2005 Shadow of the Colossus Action-adventure Japan Studio, Team Ico 2006 Gears of War Third-person shooter Epic Games 2007 Portal Puzzle-platformer Valve 2008 Fallout 3 Action role-playing Bethesda Game Studios 2009 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Action-adventure Naughty Dog 2010 Red Dead Redemption Action-adventure Rockstar San Diego 2011 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Action role-playing Bethesda Game Studios 2012 Journey Adventure Thatgamecompany 2013 The Last of Us Action-adventure Naughty Dog 2014 Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Action-adventure Monolith Productions 2015 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Action role-playing CD Projekt Red 2016 Overwatch First-person shooter Blizzard Entertainment 2017 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Action-adventure Nintendo EPD 2018 God of War Action-adventure Santa Monica Studio 2019 Untitled Goose Game Puzzle–stealth House House 2020 Hades Action role-playing Supergiant Games 2021 Inscryption Roguelike deck-building Daniel Mullins Games 2022 Elden Ring Action role-playing FromSoftware 2023 Baldur's Gate 3 Role-playing Larian Studios 2024 Balatro Roguelike deck-building LocalThunk 2025 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Role-playing Sandfall Interactive
Golden Joystick Awards
The Golden Joystick Awards is the second oldest gaming award ceremony and is the longest-running video game award. The inaugural ceremony took place in 1984 in London's Berkeley Square.