Well, let's do this.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (GOTY)
Human Revolution was a sweet surprise in a time where old IPs were being resurrected, tainted and merely used to sell more by plastering a recognizable name in otherwise mediocre entries. Not Human Revolution, which basically brough Deus Ex back from the dead (as painful as that might sound, considering how brilliant the first game was -and I'm one of those who thinks the second one was great as well-), gave it a respectful homenage while mixing old-school conventions and modern gameplay design in a nice, engaging way. While there were flaws, the core elements shine through; here's where Mankind Divided enters the picture: the only thing this game really needs is polishing up what was established in the previous game and offer the same engaging narrative/gameplay. Sure there's room for a massive screw-up, but if anything the gameplay videos and previews so far suggest that we have another gem in our hands, one that understands the mistakes his predecessor did and will overcome them. And if that happens, there's nothing in the way for Mankind Divided to become a timeless tale of transhumanism, espionage, conspiracy and conflicting morals, while altogether being critically acclaimed and universally loved.
Final Fantasy XV (runner-up)
Passion, time and money have gone into this game. While it's not a combination that inmediately gives you all the right to create a widely-loved game, FFXV is shaping up to be one heck of an experience (even if I find myself conflicted between loving or hating its combat system). A japanese love-letter to all RPG fans; one that tries to add a mixture of cultures into its DNA while at the same time retaining its unique personality for the player to experience. All I can hope is that this game pays off for Square- Enix, and that it is also an enjoyable game to play.
Gears of War 4 (runner-up)
Ahh, classic GeoW. Visceral gameplay, divided between the singular, terrifying survival experience of the son of a famous hero, and the chaotic and hexic multiplayer affair the franchise went to be known. With our gnashers ready, we can only hope this new entry on what became one of the most loved Xbox franchises maintains all the flavour and blood its predecessors did. Which in essence, already grants it the benefit of doubt for the GOTY awards.
No Man's Sky (runner-up)
I dunno. I'm not feeling it with this one, but I guess it might be a contender because people is hyped for it to no end, it's done by four people and sci-fi is always an alluring genre.
Uncharted 4 (runner-up)
The Thief's End is already widely-loved by critics, so no need to explain why it is an important contender in these nominations.