Why does anyone need to explain anything? Splatoon was not the highest metascore Wii U game for the year. Both SMM and XCX got higher metascores. So it is completely expected that some of those review sites will give the Wii U GOTY to a game other then Splatoon. You know, it's called personal preference and it doesn;t have to be all the same, and even Nintendo fans are allowed to prefer different Nintendo games. Not everyone has to be on the same hype train.
In terms of IGN it gave Splatoon a 79, it gave XCX an 82 and it gave SMM a 90. I think if it didn't give SMM it's Wii U GOTY a please explain video would have been required.
So I'm wondering why IGN did a why they didn't give Splatoon the GOTY video.
“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” - Bertrand Russell
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
Jimi Hendrix
