What does “Game of the Year” even mean?

[JRPGfan]

I see it as a "this stood out, amoung the crowd, for all the right reasons" thing.
(ei. its a crowd pleaser, that does something really well, in its genre)

IcaroRibeiro said:

I wanted to be disingenuous and answer "it's the best possible game considering the genre and gameplay loop the developers choose the game to be"

But this would be a lie. I'm a huge fan of turn based RPGs, I have been playing JRPGs and board games since I was a kid and started playing TTRPGs wince I was a teenager

So for me no matter how well made Mario Kart or any kart racer can possible be, it will never be as good as games like Persona, Final Fantasy, Baldurs Gate, Fire Emblem... I'm simply more attracted to strategic/tactical combat

So in the end GOTY is "The game you liked the most among the genres you already like". It's really simple as that

^ this.

More casual games.... typically arn't what I would rate "game of the year".
It needs to move you in someway.
(ei. it cannot just be a I'll pick it up, for a quick 10-20mins cuz I have some down time, then drop it... it needs to be the type of game, you pick up, and have trouble putting down again).


Games that win typically tell stories, and have good narrative.
When was the last kinda casual game that won?
Hell when was the last time, like a puzzle game won? or a Fighter?....  Like IcaroRiberio said, genre's do effect this.

And I agree, something like a good JRPG just hits differntly, than having a short good match of kart racing.
End of the day, when you look back at the time spent, and remember what happend in the game..... it's just not the same, for a more casual game.


Also they rate them differently at various places. 
BAFTA, D.I.C.E , "the game awards", Golden Joystick.... ect.

Last edited by JRPGfan - on 14 December 2025