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Forums - Gaming - What does “Game of the Year” even mean?

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Jumpin 1 day ago

My game of the year is easily Xenoblade Chronicles X.

But, I’m in agreement with people who say that it is based on your subjective opinion. And would add that any organization’s opinion or selection process, IGN’s Game of the Year, or VGChartz Game of the Year…
“The game of the year”, without any kind of noun modifier or determiner, is just a way to make an opinion sound more authoritative/important than it actually is (AKA, pretentiousness).

I think that if the site or magazine says “Game of the Year” without their name being in it, it’s fine as long as we’re clear on the determiner. Like if Nintendo Power puts “Game of the Year” we know it’s “Nintendo Power’s Game of the Year” and will likely say/imply somewhere in the print the determiner.

Last edited by Jumpin - 1 day ago

I describe myself as a little dose of toxic masculinity.

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HoloDust 17 hours ago

There's no meaning to it, other than it will boost sales of winners (just like in board games when you see Spiel des Jahres/Kennerspiel des Jahres logo or Dice Tower Seal of Excellence on the box).

Last edited by HoloDust - 11 hours ago

TheTitaniumNub 7 hours ago

Just a bunch of fluff that doesn't matter. Game of the year would imply it's the best in everything it does, so why does it need to win every other category if it's already game of the year? Yet, Red Dead 2 took home every award, then GOTY goes to God of War? It makes no sense. It's bunch of fake awards to generate hype. Haven't watched the game awards in a long time.



JWeinCom 3 hours ago
JRPGfan said:

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.

Balatro got a lot of goty buzz.