Latest article · 26 August 2026
Do readers and critics pick the same Game of the Year?
They split in 7 of 23 seasons — 6 times before 2013, once since. Cyberpunk 2077 is the readers' game of the era.
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41 articles, newest first. The date is when the piece was published — which has nothing to do with the season it examines, so a look at 1977 may well sit above one about 2025.
The 7 seasons where players overruled the press
Halo 2 over Half-Life 2, Mass Effect 2 over Red Dead Redemption: every season the public crowned a different game, ranked by how deep the revolt ran.
Which game franchise has won the most GOTY awards?
The Last of Us leads with 584 awards across 3 games — 95 series compared.
How many Game of the Year awards are given out each year?
From 40 tracked awards in 2003 to 765 in 2025 — and why raw totals mislead.
Which countries disagree with the world about Game of the Year?
Singapore backs the eventual winner only 26.9% of the time.
Who won the third console generation?
Family Computer/Nintendo Entertainment System took it with 61.9 million units of 83.9 million sold across 4 machines.
Reach or intensity
What an award total hides about where a game was liked.
Game of the Year 2011 country by country
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim took 55% worldwide but lost 12 of 39 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Game of the Year 2015 country by country
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt took 58% worldwide but lost 6 of 48 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Game of the Year 2018 country by country
God of War took 51% worldwide but lost 20 of 54 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
The closest Game of the Year races ever
2007 was decided by 1 awards — a lead of 2.1%.
Game of the Year 2014 country by country
Dragon Age: Inquisition took 32% worldwide but lost 16 of 41 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Who won the fifth console generation?
PlayStation took it with 102.5 million units of 146.7 million sold across 4 machines.
Game of the Year 2009 country by country
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves took 51% worldwide but lost 11 of 30 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Game of the Year 2016 country by country
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End took 40% worldwide but lost 19 of 49 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Game of the Year 2010 country by country
Red Dead Redemption took 37% worldwide but lost 17 of 33 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Game of the Year 2017 country by country
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild took 57% worldwide but lost 12 of 47 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Who won the sixth console generation?
PlayStation 2 took it with 160.0 million units of 214.9 million sold across 4 machines.
The years nobody could agree on a Game of the Year
2012: the winner took just 18.7% while 28 games won something.
Who won the second console generation?
Atari 2600 took it with 30.0 million units of 33.8 million sold across 2 machines.
The media outlets that never pick the winner
Diehard Gamefan matched the consensus on 0% of its 13 picks.
Game of the Year 2006 country by country
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion took 35% worldwide but lost 9 of 14 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Game of the Year 2004 country by country
Half-Life 2 took 41% worldwide but lost 2 of 11 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Game of the Year 2013 country by country
The Last of Us took 47% worldwide but lost 19 of 45 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Who won the fourth console generation?
Super Famicom/Super Nintendo Entertainment System took it with 49.1 million units of 82.8 million sold across 3 machines.
Game of the Year 2008 country by country
Fallout 3 took 31% worldwide but lost 13 of 21 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Who won the eighth console generation?
Nintendo Switch took it with 156.6 million units of 369.0 million sold across 5 machines.
Game of the Year 2021 country by country
It Takes Two took 20% worldwide but lost 30 of 48 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Who won the seventh console generation?
Wii took it with 101.6 million units of 273.0 million sold across 3 machines.
Who won the ninth console generation?
PlayStation 5 took it with 95.3 million units of 130.3 million sold across 2 machines.
Game of the Year 2007 country by country
BioShock took 28% worldwide but lost 12 of 16 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Game of the Year 2012 country by country
The Walking Dead: The Game took 19% worldwide but lost 29 of 38 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Who won the first console generation?
Magnavox Odyssey² took it with 2.0 million units of 2.0 million sold across 1 machines.
Game of the Year 2020 country by country
The Last of Us Part II took 50% worldwide but lost 16 of 58 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Game of the Year 2005 country by country
Resident Evil 4 took 54% worldwide but lost 7 of 13 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Game of the Year 2019 country by country
Death Stranding took 25% worldwide but lost 33 of 51 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Game of the Year 2003 country by country
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic took 42% worldwide but lost 3 of 6 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Game of the Year 2022 country by country
Elden Ring took 72% worldwide but lost 4 of 58 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Game of the Year 2023 country by country
Baldur's Gate 3 took 53% worldwide but lost 13 of 49 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Game of the Year 2024 country by country
Astro Bot took 36% worldwide but lost 18 of 45 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.
Game of the Year 2025 country by country
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took 71% worldwide but lost 7 of 59 countries. Every nation, region and outlet.