While Geoff Keighley hosts the industry's most prestigious annual ceremony, many legendary titles fail to secure the Game of the Year title. High-profile games like Bloodborne and Ghost of Tsushima have left fans questioning why such critical successes remain without the top honor.
The 2015 clash between Bloodborne and The Witcher 3
FromSoftware’s 2015 masterpiece Bloodborne remains one of the most significant "near misses" in gaming history. As the source reports, while the game's Lovecraftian atmosphere and challenging combat defined a new era of "Soulslike" titles, it ultimately lost the top prize to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
The game's setting—a decrepit city plagued by a virus that transforms citizens into monsters—offered a unique, terrifying experience. Players navigating this world must contend with cosmic horrors and Lovecraftian gods, a tone that many fans argue was unmatched at the time. This loss highlights a recurring theme in the industry where genre-defining , atmospheric experiences are sometimes overshadowed by massive, sprawling open-world RPGs.
The uphill climb for indie titles like Celeste and Hades
Independent developers face a significant barrier when competing for the highest honors at The Game Awards. The report notes that while indie games are seeing increased recognition, titles like Celeste (2018) and Hades (2020) have struggled to cross the finish line into the top spot.
Celeste earned immense acclaim for its fluid platforming and a narrative centered on a protagonist climbing a mountain to face an evil doppelgänger. Despite its polished controls and relatable themes, it remains a sybol of the "indie ceiling." This patteern suggests that while the industry is becoming more diverse, the Game of the Year award still leans heavily toward high-budget AAA productions.
Ghost of Tsushima and the 2020 pandemic gaming surge
The 2020 gaming landscape was uniquely shaped by the global pandemic, which saw a massive increase in player engagement. During this period, Ghost of Tsushima emerged as a standout title, following a lone warrior's defense of Japan against a Mongol invasion.
According to the report, the game's unmatched swordplay and immersive setting made it a primary candidate for the top award, even though a different title took the trophy that year. The pandemic era provided a unique backdrop where high-quality,solo-driven experiences like Ghost of Tsushima became essential for a homebound audience, yet the official recognition still eluded its developers.
Will genre bias keep Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Alan Wake 2 from the top prize?
Specific genre characteristics often act as a gatekeeper for the Game of the Year title. For instance, it is rare for a fighting game to win the top honor, a fact that impacted Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in 2018. Despite featuring one of the most sprawling character rosters in gaming history, the chaotic nature of the genre may have worked against it in a winner-take-all vote.
Furthermore, the report raises questions about why narrative-heavy, surreal experiences like Alan Wake 2 might struggle to secure the win despite their immense prestige. The 2023 title, which follows an FBI agent and a novelist trapped in an alternate dimension, uses a mix of 3D animation and live action to create a disorienting mystery. It remains unclear whether the awards favor certain gameplay loops over experimental storytellig, or if the sheer volume of high-quality releases simply makes the competition too fierce to overcome.
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