I just got started with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and I agree with the consensus that this is an extremely fun game. However, would I say that it is good enough to be considered my personal Game of the Year?

It’s a tricky question because… well… MarioKart World has been my GotY since launch. The highs of experiencing a system launch for the first time (since March 2017) and a brand new MarioKart are truly some of the highest highs I’ve ever experienced in all my years of gaming! The music, the visual presentation, the overwhelming evolution in course/gameplay design compared to MK8Deluxe — a game which I’ve poured over 200 hours into — it’s everything I could want from a game. But then there’s Claire Obscur, which contains some of the most fun moments I have ever experienced in a video game. How could a game that is so much fun NOT be considered my Game of the Year?

But, I mean, how do I even begin to compare these two games? How does one even decide on which game is worthy of their coveted “Personal Game of the Year” title? What does it even mean for MarioKart World to win Game of the Year over E33? Is it a better game? Is it better representative of your year in gaming?

That all to say: What even is the meaning of Game of the Year? How does one decide on this?

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

I appreciate the sentiment, but, personally, I believe you've overthinking it.

What is the title released in 2025 that you consider to be the best gaming experience, based on your subjective priorities and taste? That's it.

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)

^ 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.

It means someone powerful shook someone's hand, someone else powerful gave someone a nice little vacation get-a-away with some nice merch, and another person with extreme bias got into a position where they can influence real decisions. In other words, it's just politics and really means nothing.

Whatever each individual persons fave game that came out in the relevant year. Nothing more nothing less. Not a ad sponsored MTV Awards version of a game show. Never let a corporate 4 hour paid ad show tell you differently. My top 3 are Ninja Gaiden II Black. Raidou. Ninja Gaiden 4. So those are games of the year. If someone legit loved Mindseye then that is also Game of the Year. (I did not play it)

Well to The Game Awards it seems to mean the best game released from around November 20 to November 20 the next year even if the calendar year doesn't line up. I find that irritating.
The Academy Awards gets it right with January 1 through December 31 which is why their ceremonies are in February or March.
It may vary based on different awards shows or individuals, but for many it simply means the best game released in a year.
Right now, for me, that would either be Mario Kart World or Donkey Bananza (once I finish the final boss).

This

Nothing more to add.

Hear, hear. The Game Awards show has a bunch of problems, but its most glaring is that it doesn't even bother to cover the entire calendar year. But, alas, the event exists to sell the industry as much as it does to honor it, and taking place before Christmas makes a lot more financial sense. 

As a PC gamer, my “Game of the Year” contenders often don’t align because release windows differ across platforms.
For instance, I've played both "The Last of Us Part II Remastered" and "Stellar Blade", both arrived on Steam this year and with 2025 features such as multi-frame generation. As a result, I end up counting them as 2025 releases.