Gaming awards
From thecrankyhermit
This is a guide to the best games that gaming has to offer, year-by-year, all platforms considered.
Each year will start with a game of the year, followed by up to five other games that were serious contenders.
Then, I will list all notable gaming platforms that year (if there was more than one), and the best game for that platform (excluding games that are superior on other platforms which the game was released to that year). The overall GOTY is excluded from this, since it's already a given that the overall GOTY would also be the best game on that particular platform.
And then I will list all the major genres and sub-genres of games, the best game in that genre that year, and up to five nominees which where serious contenders. Like the platform awards, overall GOTY is excluded here.
When a genre is designated (misc), it means that the list is excluding all sub-genres, and that the notable sub-genres are evaluated separately in their own lists for that year. When a genre is not designated in this manner, it is including all games from all its sub-genres.
The genres considered are different from the norm, and may be inconsistent with casual use of the terms. For instance, adventure, action/adventure, and platformer are more inclusive than the terms often dictate, while "side-scrolling platformer" is much more exclusive than the term implies, and really refers to a particular breed of action-oriented semi-linear platformers typically found on 8-bit and 16-bit consoles. Other genres use terms that I made up, for lack of a more commonly used one that can describe the needed concept. I've created a master list of the genres and their cladastic diagram on a pamphlet called Genres used by The Cranky Hermit.
I hate MMORPGs, traditional sports games, and Maxis-style sim games. I don't include any of them.
1978 awards!
GOTY: Space Invaders (Arcade)
Nominees:
Beneath Apple Manor (Apple II)
Casino (Atari 2600)
Skydiver (Arcade)
Superman (Atari 2600)
Telengard (Mainframe)
1979 awards!
GOTY: Asteroids (Arcade)
Nominees:
Armor Battle (Intellivision)
Galaxian (Arcade)
Microsoft Adventure (TRS-80)
Star Raiders (Atari 800)
The Wizard's Castle (TRS-80)
1980 awards!
GOTY: Zork (TRS-80)
Nominees:
Adventure (Atari 2600)
Berzerk (Arcade)
Pac-Man (Arcade)
Warlords (Arcade)
Wizard of Wor (Arcade)
Best arcade game: Pac-Man
Best Atari 2600 game: Adventure
1981 awards!
GOTY: Donkey Kong (Arcade)
Nominees:
Kaboom! (Atari 2600)
Ms. Pac-Man (Arcade)
Ultima (Apple II)
Yars' Revenge (Atari 2600)
Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz (TRS-80)
Best arcade game: Ms. Pac-Man
Best Atari 2600 game: Kaboom!
Best personal computer game: Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz (TRS-80)
Best action/adventure: Castle Wolfenstein (Apple II)
Nominees:
Haunted House (Atari 2600)
Venture (Arcade)
Best platformer: Frogger (Arcade)
Nominees:
Apple Panic (Apple II)
Freeway (Atari 2600)
Best action game (misc): Kaboom! (Atari 2600)
Nominees:
Centipede (Arcade)
Defender (Arcade)
Galaga (Arcade)
Ms. Pac-Man (Arcade)
Yars' Revenge (Atari 2600)
Best adventure game: Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz (TRS-80)
Nominees:
Hi-Res Adventure #3: Cranston Manor (Apple II)
Hi-Res Adventure #4: Ulysses and the Golden Fleece (Apple II)
Softporn Adventure (Apple II)
Ultima (Apple II)
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (Apple II)
1982 awards!
GOTY: Pitfall! (Atari 2600)
Nominees:
Demon Attack (Atari 2600)
Dig Dug (Arcade)
Donkey Kong Junior (Arcade)
River Raid (Atari 2600)
Zork III: The Dungeon Master (TRS-80)
Best arcade game: Donkey Kong Junior
Best Atari 2600 game: River Raid
Best personal computer game: Zork III: The Dungeon Master (TRS-80)
Best adventure game: Zork III: The Dungeon Master (TRS-80)
Nominees:
Deadline (PC)
Executive Suite (PC)
Starcross (PC)
Transylvania (Apple II)
Wizardry: Knight of Diamonds - The Second Scenario (Apple II)
1983 awards!
GOTY: Alley Cat (Atari 800)
Nominees:
Archon (Atari 800)
Digger (PC)
Mario Bros. (Arcade)
M.U.L.E. (Atari 800)
Ultima III: Exodus (Apple II)
Best arcade game: Mario Bros.
Best PC game: Digger
Best action game: Digger (PC)
Nominees:
Dragon's Lair (Arcade)
Jumpman (Atari 800)
Lode Runner (Apple II)
Mario Bros. (Arcade)
Star Wars (Arcade)
Best adventure game: Ultima III: Exodus (Apple II)
Nominees:
Enchanter (PC)
Infidel (PC)
Planetfall (PC)
Troll's Tale (Apple II)
The Witness (PC)
Best strategy game: Archon (Atari 800)
Nominees:
Binary Land (PC-88)
Bomberman (PC-88)
M.U.L.E. (Atari 800)
1984 awards!
GOTY: Tetris (Mainframe)
Nominees:
Elite (BBC Micro)
Excitebike (NES)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (PC)
King's Quest (PC)
Paperboy (Arcade)
Best arcade game: Paperboy
Best Atari 2600 game: H.E.R.O.
Best NES game: Excitebike
Best PC game: King's Quest
Best action game: Excitebike (NES)
Nominees:
Elite (BBC Micro)
H.E.R.O. (Atari 2600)
Marble Madness (Arcade)
Paperboy (Arcade)
Pitfall II: Lost Caverns (Atari 2600)
1985 awards!
GOTY: Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Nominees:
A Mind Forever Voyaging (PC)
The Bard's Tale (Apple II)
Ghosts 'N Goblins (Arcade)
King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne (PC)
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (Apple II)
Best arcade game: Ghosts 'N Goblins
Best personal computer game: Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (Apple II)
Best action game: Ghosts 'N Goblins (Arcade)
Nominees:
Balloon Fight (NES)
Battle City (NES)
Gauntlet (Arcade)
World Karate Championship (ZX Spectrum)
Yie Ar Kung-Fu (Arcade)
Best adventure game: Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (Apple II)
Nominees:
A Mind Forever Voyaging (PC)
The Bard's Tale (Apple II)
Deja Vu: A Nightmare Comes True!! (Macintosh)
King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne (PC)
Wishbringer (PC)
Best strategy game: Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (Apple II)
Nominees:
Balance of Power (PC)
Bomberman (NES)
Mail Order Monsters (Commodore 64)
Star Fleet I: The War Begins! (PC)
Wrecking Crew (NES)
1986 awards!
GOTY: The Legend of Zelda (NES)
Nominees:
Castlevania (NES)
Dragon Warrior (NES)
King's Quest III: To Heir is Human (PC)
Metroid (NES)
Space Quest: Chapter I - The Sarien Encounter (PC)
Best arcade game: Bubble Bobble
Best NES game: Castlevania
Best PC game: Space Quest: Chapter I - The Sarien Encounter
Best SEGA Master System game: Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Best action game: Castlevania (NES)
Nominees:
Adventure Island (NES)
Alex Kidd in Miracle World (SEGA Master System)
Bubble Bobble (Arcade)
Kid Icarus (NES)
Metroid (NES)
Best RPGlike: Dragon Warrior (NES)
Nominees:
Alter Ego (Commodore 64)
The Bard's Tale II: The Destiny Knight (Apple II, Commodore 64)
Might and Magic: Book One - Secret of the Inner Sanctum (Apple II)
Starflight (PC)
Wizard's Crown (Apple II)
Best quest adventure: Space Quest: Chapter I - The Sarien Encounter (PC)
Nominees:
The Black Cauldron (PC)
King's Quest III: To Heir is Human (PC)
Best adventure game (misc): Trinity (PC)
Nominees:
Amnesia (PC)
James Bond 007: Goldfinger (PC)
Leather Goddesses of Phobos (PC)
Moonmist (PC)
Uninvited (Macintosh)
Best strategy game: Defender of the Crown (Amiga)
Nominees:
The Chessmaster 2000 (Amiga)
The King of Chicago (Macintosh)
Nobunaga's Ambition (PC-88)
Ogre (Apple II)
Roadwar 2000 (Apple II)
1987 awards!
GOTY: Maniac Mansion (Commodore 64)
Nominees:
F-19 Stealth Fighter (Commodore 64)
Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards (PC)
Phantasy Star (SEGA Master System)
Sid Meier's Pirates! (Commodore 64)
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
Best arcade game: Double Dragon
Best NES game: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Best personal computer game: Sid Meier's Pirates! (Commodore 64)
Best SEGA Master System game: Phantasy Star
Best action/adventure: Sid Meier's Pirates! (Commodore 64)
2nd place:
Metal Gear (MSX)
Best platformer: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
Nominees:
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES)
Faxanadu (NES)
Mega Man (NES)
Shinobi (Arcade)
Wizards & Warriors (NES)
Best competitive action game: Rad Racer (NES)
Nominees:
California Games (Commodore 64)
Enduro Racer (SEGA Master System)
Skate or Die (Commodore 64)
Super Hang-On (Arcade)
Test Drive (Amiga)
Best vehicular action game: F-19 Stealth Fighter (Commodore 64)
Nominees:
After Burner (Arcade)
Echelon (Commodore 64)
Mach 3 (Atari ST)
Top Gun (NES)
Best action game (misc): Double Dragon (Arcade)
Nominees:
Airborne Ranger (Commodore 64)
Arkanoid: Revenge of DOH (Arcade)
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! (NES)
Operation Wolf (Arcade)
R-Type (Arcade)
Best RPGlike: Phantasy Star (SEGA Master System)
Nominees:
Dragon Warrior II (NES)
Dungeon Master (Atari ST)
Final Fantasy (NES)
NetHack (PC)
Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna (Apple II)
Best quest adventure: Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards (PC)
Nominees:
Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel (PC)
Space Quest II: Vohaul's Revenge (PC)
Best adventure game (misc): The Fool's Errand (Macintosh)
Nominees:
Beyond Zork: The Coconut of Quendor (PC)
Bureaucracy (PC)
The Lurking Horror (PC)
Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It (PC)
Shadowgate (Macintosh)
1988 awards!
GOTY: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Nominees:
Contra (NES)
Mega Man 2 (NES)
Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (PC)
Wasteland (PC)
Best arcade game: Double Dragon II: The Revenge
Best NES game: Mega Man 2
Best PC game: Wasteland
Best action game: Mega Man 2 (NES)
Nominees:
Bionic Commando (NES)
Contra (NES)
Double Dragon II: The Revenge (Arcade)
Ninja Gaiden (NES)
Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)
Best RPGlike: Wasteland (PC)
Nominees:
The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate (Apple II)
BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception (PC)
Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World (PC)
Pool of Radiance (PC)
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (PC)
Best quest adventure: Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders (Commodore 64)
Nominees:
Gold Rush! (PC)
King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella (PC)
Leisure Suit Larry Goes Looking for Love (In Several Wrong Places) (PC)
Police Quest 2: The Vengeance (PC)
Best adventure game (misc): Snatcher (PC-88)
Nominees:
Captain Blood (Atari ST)
Manhunter: New York (PC)
Neuromancer (Commodore 64)
Treasure Island Dizzy (ZX Spectrum)
Zork Zero: The Revenge of Megaboz (Macintosh)
Best strategy game: Battle Chess (Amiga)
Nominees:
BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception (PC)
Carrier Command (Amiga)
Gain Ground (Arcade)
Laser Squad (ZX Spectrum)
Life & Death (PC)
1989 awards!
GOTY: Prince of Persia (Apple II)
Nominees:
Disney's DuckTales (NES)
Golden Axe (Arcade)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (PC)
Quest for Glory (PC)
Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon (PC)
Best arcade game: Golden Axe
Best Gameboy game: Super Mario Land
Best Genesis game: The Revenge of Shinobi
Best Lynx game: Chip's Challenge
Best NES game: Disney's DuckTales
Best PC game: Quest for Glory
Best sidescrolling platformer: Disney's DuckTales (NES)
Nominees:
Batman: The Video Game (NES)
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES)
The Revenge of Shinobi (Genesis)
Strider (Arcade)
Super Mario Land (Gameboy)
Best platformer (misc): Shadow of the Beast (Amiga)
Nominees:
The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle (NES)
David Crane's A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia (NES)
Fire Hawk: Thexder - The Second Contact (PC-88)
IronSword: Wizards & Warriors II (NES)
Best competitive action game: Indianapolis 500 (PC)
Nominees:
Budokan: The Martial Spirit (PC)
The Cycles: International Grand Prix Racing (PC)
Deathtrack (PC)
The Duel: Test Drive II (Amiga)
Street Rod (PC)
Best action game (misc): Golden Axe (Arcade)
Nominees:
Final Fight (Arcade)
River City Ransom (NES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Arcade)
U.N. Squadron (Arcade)
Xenon 2: Megablast (Atari ST)
Best RPGlike: Phantasy Star II (Genesis)
Nominees:
Curse of the Azure Bonds (PC)
Dragon Wars (Apple II)
Hillsfar (PC)
Starflight 2: Trade Routes of the Cloud Nebula (PC)
Sword of Vermilion (Genesis)
Best quest adventure: Quest for Glory (PC)
Nominees:
Code-Name: Iceman (PC)
The Colonel's Bequest (PC)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (PC)
Leisure Suit Larry III: Passionate Patti in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals (PC)
Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon (PC)
Best adventure game (misc): Mean Streets (PC)
Nominees:
Chamber of the Sci-Mutant Priestess (Atari ST)
Manhunter 2: San Francisco (PC)
Project Firestart (Commodore 64)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (NES)
Willow (NES)
Best strategy game: Populous (Amiga)
Nominees:
Adventures of Lolo (NES)
Blockout (PC)
Chip's Challenge (Lynx)
North & South (Amiga)
Nuclear War (PC)
1990 awards!
GOTY: Super Mario World (SNES)
Nominees:
Commander Keen: Invasion of the Vorticons (PC)
Loom (PC)
Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire (PC)
The Secret of Monkey Island (PC)
Wing Commander (PC)
Best arcade game: Columns
Best NES game: Mega Man 3
Best PC game: The Secret of Monkey Island
Best SNES game: ActRaiser
Best Turbografx game: Bomberman
Best action/adventure: Sid Meier's Covert Action (PC)
Nominees:
Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (MSX)
Snake's Revenge (NES)
StarTropics (NES)
Best platformer: Commander Keen: Invasion of the Vorticons (PC)
Nominees:
ActRaiser (SNES)
Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers (NES)
Little Nemo: The Dream Master (NES)
Mega Man 3 (NES)
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (Genesis)
Best competitive action game: Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe (Atari ST)
Nominees:
Bomberman (Turbografx)
F-Zero (SNES)
Ski or Die (PC)
Stunts (PC)
Test Drive III: The Passion (PC)
Best vehicular action game: Wing Commander (PC)
Nominees:
LHX: Attack Chopper (PC)
Pilotwings (SNES)
Red Baron (PC)
Silent Service II (PC)
Wings (Amiga)
Best action game (misc): Smash T.V. (Arcade)
Nominees:
Alien Storm (Arcade)
Crime Wave (PC)
Ghostbusters II (NES)
M.U.S.H.A. (Genesis)
Solar Jetman: Hunt for the Golden Warpship (NES)
Best RPGlike: Ultima VI: The False Prophet (PC)
Nominees:
Champions of Krynn (PC)
Crystalis (NES)
Final Fantasy III (NES)
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom (Genesis)
Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire (PC)
Best quest adventure: The Secret of Monkey Island (PC)
Nominees:
Conquests of Camelot: The Search for the Grail (PC)
King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder (PC)
Loom (PC)
Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire (PC)
Rise of the Dragon (PC)
Best war strategy game: Centurion: Defender of Rome (PC)
Nominees:
Command H.Q. (PC)
Overlord (Amiga)
PowerMonger (Amiga)
Star Control (Amiga)
Warlords (PC)
Best economic sim: Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon (PC)
2nd place:
A-Train (PC-98)
Best strategy game (misc): Dr. Mario (NES)
Nominees:
Adventures of Lolo 2 (NES)
Bomberman (Turbografx)
Columns (Arcade)
King's Bounty (PC)
Rampart (Arcade)
1991 awards!
GOTY: Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge (PC)
Nominees:
Civilization (PC)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
Lemmings (Amiga)
Out of This World (Amiga)
Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis)
Best arcade game: Street Fighter II
Best Gameboy game: Metroid II: Return of Samus
Best Genesis game: Sonic the Hedgehog
Best NES game: Battletoads
Best PC game: Civilization
Best SEGA Master System game: Sonic the Hedgehog
Best SNES game: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Best action/adventure: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
Nominees:
Alien Breed (Amiga)
Golden Axe Warrior (SEGA Master System)
The Legend of the Mystical Ninja (SNES)
ToeJam & Earl (Genesis)
ZZT (PC)
Best hop & bop platformer: Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis)
Nominees:
Sonic the Hedgehog (SEGA Master System)
Tiny Toon Adventures (NES)
Best run & gun platformer: Commander Keen in Goodbye Galaxy! (PC)
Nominees:
Commander Keen: Aliens Ate My Baby Sitter! (PC)
Duke Nukem (PC)
Sunset Riders (Arcade)
Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts (SNES)
Turrican II: The Final Fight (Commodore 64)
Best sidescrolling platformer (misc): Super Castlevania IV (SNES)
Nominees:
Adventure Island II (NES)
Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge (Gameboy)
Commander Keen: Keen Dreams (PC)
DEcapAttack (Genesis)
Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom (NES)
Best platformer (misc): Out of This World (Amiga)
Nominees:
Battletoads (NES)
Gods (Amiga)
Metroid II: Return of Samus (Gameboy)
QuackShot starring Donald Duck (Genesis)
The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants (NES)
Best competitive action game: Street Fighter II (Arcade)
Nominees:
Lotus Turbo Challenge 2 (Amiga)
Micro Machines (NES)
Road Rash (Genesis)
Street Rod 2: The Next Generation (PC)
World Circuit (Amiga)
Best vehicular action game: Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi (PC)
Nominees:
Chuck Yeager's Air Combat (PC)
F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter 2.0 (PC)
Falcon 3.0 (PC)
Gunship 2000 (PC)
Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe (PC)
Best action game (misc): Streets of Rage (Genesis)
Nominees:
Golden Axe II (Genesis)
Paganitzu (PC)
The Simpsons (Arcade)
Supaplex (Amiga)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (Arcade)
Best RPGlike: Eye of the Beholder (PC)
Nominees:
Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon (PC)
Final Fantasy IV (SNES)
Knights of Xentar (PC-98)
Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra (PC)
Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2 - Martian Dreams (PC)
Best quest adventure: Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers (PC)
Nominees:
The Adventures of Willy Beamish (PC)
Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood (PC)
Leisure Suit Larry 1: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards (PC)
Police Quest 3: The Kindred (PC)
Space Quest I: Roger Wilco in the Sarien Encounter (PC)
Best adventure game (misc): Gobliiins (PC)
Nominees:
Castle of Dr. Brain (PC)
Spellcasting 201: The Sorcerer's Appliance (PC)
Timequest (PC)
Best strategy game: Civilization (PC)
Nominees:
Jones in the Fast Lane (PC)
Lemmings (Amiga)
Oh No! More Lemmings (Amiga)
Paganitzu (PC)
Scorched Earth (PC)
1992 awards!
GOTY: Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (PC)
Nominees:
Alone in the Dark (PC)
The Incredible Machine (Macintosh)
King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow (PC)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis)
Star Control II (PC)
Best arcade game: Virtua Racing
Best Gameboy game: Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Best Genesis game: Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Best NES game: Disney's Darkwing Duck
Best PC game: Star Control II
Best Sega CD game: Lunar: The Silver Star
Best SEGA Master System game: Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Best SNES game: Contra III: The Alien Wars
Best action/adventure: Wolfenstein 3D (PC)
Nominees:
The Catacomb Abyss (PC)
Ecco the Dolphin (Genesis)
Landstalker: Treasure of King Nole (Genesis)
Soul Blazer (SNES)
Spear of Destiny (PC)
Best hop & bop platformer: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis)
Nominees:
Kid Chameleon (Genesis)
The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse (SNES)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (SEGA Master System)
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (Gameboy)
Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose! (SNES)
Best run & gun platformer: Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES)
Nominees:
Bucky O'Hare (NES)
Contra Force (NES)
Disney's Darkwing Duck (NES)
Mega Man 5 (NES)
The Terminator (Genesis)
Best sidescrolling platformer (misc): Kirby's Dream Land (Gameboy)
Nominees:
Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure (PC)
Jill of the Jungle (PC)
Secret Agent (PC)
Super Star Wars (SNES)
World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck (Genesis)
Best platformer (misc): Flashback: The Quest for Identity (Amiga)
Nominees:
Alien³ (Genesis)
Krusty's Super Fun House (PC)
Road Runner's Death Valley Rally (SNES)
Shadow of the Beast III (Amiga)
Ugh! (PC)
Best competitive action game: Super Mario Kart (SNES)
Nominees:
Car and Driver (PC)
Lotus III: The Ultimate Challenge (Amiga)
Mortal Kombat (Arcade)
Road Rash II (Genesis)
Virtua Racing (Arcade)
Best vehicular action game: Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf (Genesis)
Nominees:
Aces of the Pacific (PC)
B-17 Flying Fortress (PC)
F-15 Strike Eagle III (PC)
Sewer Shark (Sega CD)
Stunt Island (PC)
Best action game (misc): Pinball Fantasies (Amiga)
Nominees:
Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (Genesis)
Pinball Dreams (Amiga)
Splatterhouse 2 (Genesis)
Super Double Dragon (SNES)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist (Genesis)
Best open party CRPG: Ultima VII: The Black Gate (PC)
Nominees:
The Dark Queen of Krynn (PC)
Darklands (PC)
Might and Magic: Clouds of Xeen (PC)
Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny (PC)
Wizardry: Crusaders of the Dark Savant (PC)
Best JRPG: Final Fantasy V (SNES)
Nominees:
Cobra Mission (PC)
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (SNES)
Lunar: The Silver Star (Sega CD)
Shin Megami Tensei (SNES)
Best RPGlike (misc): Star Control II (PC)
Nominees:
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers (PC)
The Legacy: Realm of Terror (PC)
Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss (PC)
Best quest adventure: King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow (PC)
Nominees:
The Dagger of Amon Ra (PC)
The Legend of Kyrandia (PC)
The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Serrated Scalpel (PC)
Quest for Glory III: Wages of War (PC)
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary (PC)
Best survival horror: Alone in the Dark (PC)
Best adventure game (misc): Dune (PC)
Nominees:
Frederik Pohl's Gateway (PC)
Gobliins 2: The Prince Buffoon (Amiga)
The Island of Dr. Brain (PC)
KGB (PC)
WaxWorks (Amiga)
Best strategy game: The Incredible Machine (Macintosh)
Nominees:
Castles II: Siege & Conquest (PC)
Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty (PC)
Pushover (Amiga)
Shining Force (Genesis)
Ugh! (PC)
1993 awards!
GOTY: Day of the Tentacle (PC)
Nominees:
DOOM (PC)
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers (PC)
Master of Orion (PC)
Myst (PC)
Secret of Mana (SNES)
Best arcade game: Mortal Kombat II
Best Gameboy game: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Best Genesis game: Phantasy Star IV
Best NES game: Kirby's Adventure
Best PC game: DOOM
Best SNES game: Secret of Mana
Best Turbografx game: Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Best action/adventure: DOOM (PC)
Nominees:
Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold (PC)
Ken's Labyrinth (PC)
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Gameboy)
Pirates! Gold (PC)
Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES)
Best hop & bop platformer: Disney's Aladdin (SNES)
Nominees:
Bubsy in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind (Genesis)
Disney's DuckTales 2 (NES)
Sonic CD (Sega CD)
Superfrog (Amiga)
Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster's Hidden Treasure (Genesis)
Best run & gun platformer: Gunstar Heroes (Genesis)
Nominees:
Alien Carnage (PC)
Bio Menace (PC)
Duke Nukem II (PC)
Mega Man X (SNES)
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (Genesis)
Best sidescrolling platformer (misc): Disney's Aladdin (Genesis)
Nominees:
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (Turbografx)
Jurassic Park (Genesis)
Kirby's Adventure (NES)
Rocket Knight Adventures (Genesis)
Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (SNES)
Best platformer (misc): Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow & the Flame (PC)
Nominees:
Fury of the Furries (Amiga)
The Lost Vikings (Genesis)
SkyRoads (PC)
Sonic the Hedgehog: Spinball (Genesis)
ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron (Genesis)
Best competitive action game: Mortal Kombat II (Arcade)
Nominees:
Eternal Champions (Genesis)
Ridge Racer (Arcade)
Rock n' Roll Racing (SNES)
Super Bomberman (SNES)
Super Street Fighter II (Arcade)
Best vehicular action game: Privateer (PC)
Nominees:
Frontier: Elite II (PC)
Star Fox (SNES)
Star Wars: Rebel Assault (PC)
Strike Commander (PC)
X-Wing (PC)
Best action game (misc): Streets of Rage 2 (Genesis)
Nominees:
Battletoads / Double Dragon (NES)
Epic Pinball (PC)
Final Fight 2 (SNES)
Golden Axe III (Genesis)
Splatterhouse 3 (Genesis)
Best open party CRPG: Betrayal at Krondor (PC)
Nominees:
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands (PC)
Might and Magic: Darkside of Xeen (PC)
Ultima VII: Part Two - Serpent Isle (PC)
Best JRPG: Secret of Mana (SNES)
Nominees:
The 7th Saga (SNES)
Breath of Fire (SNES)
Illusion of Gaia (SNES)
Lufia & the Fortress of Doom (SNES)
Phantasy Star IV (Genesis)
Best RPGlike (misc): Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos (PC)
Nominees:
Castle of the Winds (PC)
Dungeon Hack (PC)
Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor (PC)
Shadowrun (SNES)
Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds (PC)
Best quest adventure: Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers (PC)
Nominees:
The Legend of Kyrandia: Hand of Fate (PC)
Quest for Glory: Shadows of Darkness (PC)
Sam & Max: Hit the Road (PC)
Simon the Sorcerer (PC)
Space Quest V: The Next Mutation (PC)
Best survival horror: Iron Helix (PC)
2nd place:
Alone in the Dark 2 (PC)
Best adventure game (misc): Myst (PC)
Nominees:
The 7th Guest (PC)
BloodNet (PC)
Companions of Xanth (PC)
Eric the Unready (PC)
Lost in Time (PC)
Best war strategy game: Master of Orion (PC)
Nominees:
Serf City: Life is Feudal (Amiga)
Warlords II (PC)
Best strategy game (misc): Syndicate (PC)
Nominees:
Cannon Fodder (Amiga)
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (Genesis)
Lemmings 2: The Tribes (Amiga)
Shining Force II (Genesis)
Sid & Al's Incredible Toons (PC)
1994 awards!
GOTY: X-COM: UFO Defense (PC)
Nominees:
DOOM II (PC)
Final Fantasy VI (SNES)
Super Metroid (SNES)
System Shock (PC)
TIE Fighter (PC)
Best 3DO game: The Need for Speed
Best arcade game: Killer Instinct
Best Gameboy game: Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Best Genesis game: Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Best PC game: TIE Fighter
Best Sega CD game: Mickey Mania
Best SNES game: Super Metroid
Best FPSlike: System Shock (PC)
Nominees:
Alien Vs Predator (Jaguar)
Corridor 7: Alien Invasion (PC)
DOOM II (PC)
Heretic (PC)
Rise of the Triad: Dark War (PC)
Best open world action/adventure: Relentless: Twinsen's Adventure (PC)
2nd place:
Quarantine (PC)
Best action/adventure (misc): Ecco: The Tides of Time (Genesis)
Nominees:
Beyond Oasis (Genesis)
Crusader of Centy (Genesis)
Ghoul Patrol (SNES)
Robinson's Requiem (PC)
Best hop & bop platformer: Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
Nominees:
Bubsy In: Fractured Furry Tales (Jaguar)
The Lion King (PC)
Mickey Mania (Sega CD)
Sonic 3 & Knuckles (Genesis)
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (Gameboy)
Best run & gun platformer: Hocus Pocus (PC)
Nominees:
Contra Hard Corps (Genesis)
Earthworm Jim (Genesis)
Jazz Jackrabbit (PC)
Mega Man X2 (SNES)
Best sidescrolling platformer (misc): Castlevania Bloodlines (Genesis)
Nominees:
Boogerman: A Pick and Flick Adventure (Genesis)
Dynamite Headdy (Genesis)
Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures (SNES)
Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure (Sega CD)
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (SNES)
Best platformer (misc): Super Metroid (SNES)
Nominees:
Blackthorne (PC)
Demon's Crest (SNES)
Donkey Kong (Gameboy)
Lode Runner: The Legend Returns (PC)
Super Adventure Island II (SNES)
Best competitive action game: One Must Fall 2097 (PC)
Nominees:
Killer Instinct (Arcade)
The Need for Speed (3DO)
Tekken (Arcade)
Virtua Fighter 2 (Arcade)
Wacky Wheels (PC)
Best vehicular action game: TIE Fighter (PC)
Nominees:
Magic Carpet (PC)
Star Wars Arcade (Arcade)
Urban Strike (Genesis)
Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger (PC)
Wing Commander: Armada (PC)
Best action game (misc): Raptor: Call of the Shadows (PC)
Nominees:
Dark Legions (PC)
Streets of Rage 3 (Genesis)
Super Punch-Out!! (SNES)
Tempest 2000 (Jaguar)
Virtua Cop (Arcade)
Best RPGlike: Final Fantasy VI (SNES)
Nominees:
EarthBound (SNES)
The Elder Scrolls: Arena (PC)
Lunar: Eternal Blue (Sega CD)
Shadowrun (Genesis)
Ultima VIII: Pagan (PC)
Best quest adventure: Beneath a Steel Sky (PC)
Nominees:
Dragonsphere (PC)
King's Quest VII: The Princeless Bride (PC)
The Legend of Kyrandia: Book 3 - Malcolm's Revenge (PC)
Noctropolis (PC)
Under a Killing Moon (PC)
Best survival horror: Alone in the Dark 3 (PC)
2nd place:
Ečstatica (PC)
Best adventure game (misc): DreamWeb (PC)
Nominees:
Alien Legacy (PC)
Commander Blood (PC)
Cyberia (PC)
Death Gate (PC)
Reunion (PC)
Best war strategy game: Master of Magic (PC)
Nominees:
Alien Legacy (PC)
Battle Bugs (PC)
Panzer General (PC)
Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire (PC-98)
WarCraft: Orcs & Humans (PC)
Best economic sim: Colonization (PC)
Nominees:
Outpost (PC)
Pizza Tycoon (PC)
Theme Park (PC)
Transport Tycoon (PC)
Best strategy game (misc): The Incredible Machine 2 (PC)
Nominees:
Cannon Fodder 2 (Amiga)
Dark Legions (PC)
Kirby's Dream Course (SNES)
Reunion (PC)
Wolf (PC)
1995 awards!
GOTY: Chrono Trigger (SNES)
Nominees:
Dark Forces (PC)
Descent (PC)
The Dig (PC)
Full Throttle (PC)
WarCraft II: Tides of Darkness (PC)
Best arcade game: Tekken 2
Best Genesis game: Comix Zone
Best PC game: Full Throttle
Best Saturn game: Panzer Dragoon
Best SNES game: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Best action/adventure: Dark Forces (PC)
Nominees:
Crusader: No Remorse (PC)
CyberMage: Darklight Awakening (PC)
Hexen (PC)
Marathon 2: Durandal (Macintosh)
The Terminator: Future Shock (PC)
Best hop & bop platformer: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES)
Nominees:
Donkey Kong Land (Gameboy)
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES)
Best run & gun platformer: Abuse (PC)
Nominees:
The Adventures of Batman & Robin (Genesis)
Mega Man 7 (SNES)
Mega Man X3 (SNES)
Metal Warriors (SNES)
VectorMan (Genesis)
Best sidescrolling platformer (misc): Rayman (Saturn)
Nominees:
Castlevania: Dracula X (SNES)
Earthworm Jim 2 (Genesis)
Kirby's Dream Land 2 (Gameboy)
Ristar (Genesis)
X-Men 2: Clone Wars (Genesis)
Best platformer (misc): Comix Zone (Genesis)
Nominees:
Jumping Flash! (Playstation)
Sonic Labyrinth (Game Gear)
Best competitive action game: Tekken 2 (Arcade)
Nominees:
Destruction Derby (PC)
Grand Prix II (PC)
Hi-Octane (PC)
Mortal Kombat 3 (Arcade)
Street Fighter Alpha (Arcade)
Best vehicular action game: Descent (PC)
Nominees:
Frontier: First Encounters (PC)
Magic Carpet 2: The Netherworlds (PC)
MechWarrior 2 (PC)
Panzer Dragoon (Saturn)
Terminal Velocity (PC)
Best action game (misc): Tyrian (PC)
Nominees:
Extreme Pinball (PC)
Kirby's Block Ball (Gameboy)
Pinball Illusions (Amiga)
Terranigma (SNES)
Virtua Cop 2 (Arcade)
Best RPGlike: Albion (PC)
Nominees:
Secret of Evermore (SNES)
Seiken Densetsu 3 (SNES)
Stonekeep (PC)
Suikoden (Playstation)
Terranigma (SNES)
Best quest adventure: Full Throttle (PC)
Nominees:
The Dig (PC)
Discworld (PC)
Gabriel Knight II: The Beast Within (PC)
I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream (PC)
Phantasmagoria (PC)
Best survival horror: BioForge (PC)
2nd place:
Clock Tower (SNES)
Best strategy game: WarCraft II: Tides of Darkness (PC)
Nominees:
Ascendancy (PC)
Command & Conquer (PC)
Jagged Alliance (PC)
Worms (Amiga)
X-COM: Terror from the Deep (PC)
1996 awards!
GOTY: Civilization II (PC)
Nominees:
Command & Conquer: Red Alert (PC)
Duke Nukem 3D (PC)
Mario Kart 64 (N64)
Quake (PC)
Super Mario 64 (N64)
Best arcade game: Metal Slug
Best Gameboy game: Pokémon
Best N64 game: Super Mario 64
Best PC game: Quake
Best Playstation game: Crash Bandicoot
Best Saturn game: NiGHTS into Dreams...
Best SNES game: Super Mario RPG
Best FPSlike: Quake (PC)
Nominees:
Die Hard Trilogy (Playstation)
Duke Nukem 3D (PC)
Final DOOM (PC)
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (N64)
Strife (PC)
Best action/adventure (misc): Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain (Playstation)
Nominees:
Crusader: No Regret (PC)
Re-Loaded (Playstation)
Best platformer: Super Mario 64 (N64)
Nominees:
Crash Bandicoot (Playstation)
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! (SNES)
Kirby Super Star (SNES)
Metal Slug (Arcade)
Tomb Raider (PC)
Best competitive action game: Mario Kart 64 (N64)
Nominees:
Death Rally (PC)
Soul Edge (Arcade)
Street Fighter Alpha 2 (Arcade)
Twisted Metal 2 (Playstation)
Wave Race 64 (N64)
Best vehicular action game: Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom (PC)
Nominees:
Descent II (PC)
MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries (PC)
Panzer Dragoon II: Zwei (Saturn)
Privateer 2: The Darkening (PC)
Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri (PC)
Best action game (misc): NiGHTS into Dreams... (Saturn)
Nominees:
Guardian Heroes (Saturn)
The House of the Dead (Arcade)
PaRappa the Rapper (Playstation)
Time Commando (PC)
Time Crisis (Arcade)
Best RPGlike: Super Mario RPG (SNES)
Nominees:
Diablo (PC)
The Elder Scrolls: Chapter II - Daggerfall (PC)
Pokémon (Gameboy)
Realms of Arkania III: Shadows over Riva (PC)
Wild Arms (Playstation)
Best quest adventure: Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars (PC)
Nominees:
Discworld II: Mortality Bytes! (PC)
Leisure Suit Larry: Love for Sail! (PC)
The Pandora Directive (PC)
Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh (PC)
Toonstruck (PC)
Best survival horror: Resident Evil (Playstation)
2nd place:
Clock Tower (Playstation)
Best adventure game (misc): Bad Mojo (PC)
Nominees:
Lighthouse: The Dark Being (PC)
The Neverhood (PC)
Spycraft: The Great Game (PC)
Star Trek: Borg (PC)
Zork Nemesis: The Forbidden Lands (PC)
Best strategy game: Command & Conquer: Red Alert (PC)
Nominees:
Deadly Rooms of Death (PC)
Heroes of Might and Magic II: The Succession Wars (PC)
Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares (PC)
The Settlers II (PC)
Syndicate Wars (PC)
1997 awards!
GOTY: Fallout (PC)
Nominees:
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Playstation)
The Curse of Monkey Island (PC)
Final Fantasy VII (Playstation)
Riven: The Sequel to Myst (PC)
Star Fox 64 (N64)
Best arcade game: Tekken 3
Best N64 game: Star Fox 64
Best PC game: The Curse of Monkey Island
Best Playstation game: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Best freelook FPS: GoldenEye 007 (N64)
Nominees:
Chasm: The Rift (PC)
Quake II (PC)
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter (N64)
Best third person shooter: MDK (PC)
Best FPSlike (misc): Blood (PC)
Nominees:
DOOM 64 (N64)
Hexen II (PC)
Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II (PC)
Outlaws (PC)
Redneck Rampage (PC)
Best open world action/adventure: Grand Theft Auto (PC)
2nd place:
Twinsen's Odyssey (PC)
Best platformer: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Playstation)
Nominees:
Bomberman 64 (N64)
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (Playstation)
Mega Man X4 (Playstation)
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee (PC)
Tomb Raider II (PC)
Best competitive action game: Tekken 3 (Arcade)
Nominees:
Bushido Blade (Playstation)
Carmageddon (PC)
Diddy Kong Racing (N64)
Gran Turismo (Playstation)
Mortal Kombat 4 (Arcade)
Best vehicular action game: Star Fox 64 (N64)
Nominees:
Blast Corps (N64)
iM1A2 Abrams (PC)
Interstate '76 (PC)
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (PC)
Wing Commander: Prophecy (PC)
Best RPGlike: Final Fantasy VII (Playstation)
Nominees:
Alundra (Playstation)
Breath of Fire III (Playstation)
Grandia (Saturn)
Lands of Lore: Guardians of Destiny (PC)
Magic: The Gathering (PC)
Best quest adventure: The Curse of Monkey Island (PC)
Nominees:
Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror (PC)
Hollywood Monsters (PC)
The Last Express (PC)
Tex Murphy: Overseer (PC)
Zork: Grand Inquisitor (PC)
Best survival horror: Realms of the Haunting (PC)
Best adventure game (misc): Riven: The Sequel to Myst (PC)
Nominees:
Blade Runner (PC)
Dark Earth (PC)
Jack Orlando: A Cinematic Adventure (PC)
John Saul's Blackstone Chronicles: An Adventure in Terror (PC)
Shivers Two: Harvest of Souls (PC)
Best war strategy game: Age of Empires (PC)
Nominees:
Dark Reign: The Future of War (PC)
Myth: The Fallen Lords (PC)
Panzer General II (PC)
Sid Meier's Gettysburg! (PC)
Total Annihilation (PC)
Best economic sim: Theme Hospital (PC)
Nominees:
Constructor (PC)
Dungeon Keeper (PC)
Outpost 2: Divided Destiny (PC)
Best strategy game (misc): Final Fantasy Tactics (Playstation)
Nominees:
Atomic Bomberman (PC)
Incubation: Time is Running Out (PC)
Tetrisphere (N64)
Worms 2 (PC)
X-COM: Apocalypse (PC)
1998 awards!
GOTY: Half-Life (PC)
Nominees:
Fallout 2 (PC)
Grim Fandango (PC)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
SoulCalibur (Arcade)
StarCraft (PC)
Best arcade game: SoulCalibur
Best Dreamcast game: Sonic Adventure
Best Gameboy Color game: Wario Land II
Best N64 game: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Best PC game: Grim Fandango
Best Playstation game: Metal Gear Solid
Best Saturn game: Radiant Silvergun
Best FPSlike: Unreal (PC)
Nominees:
Blood II: The Chosen (PC)
Heretic II (PC)
Rainbow Six (PC)
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division (PC)
SiN (PC)
Best open world action/adventure: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
Nominees:
Dink SmallWood (PC)
The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard (PC)
Best action/adventure (misc): Thief: The Dark Project (PC)
Nominees:
Die by the Sword (PC)
MediEvil (Playstation)
Metal Gear Solid (Playstation)
Mission: Impossible (N64)
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins (Playstation)
Best sidescrolling platformer: Jazz Jackrabbit 2 (PC)
Nominees:
Mega Man & Bass (SNES)
Metal Slug 2: Super Vehicle - 001/II (Arcade)
Skullmonkeys (Playstation)
Best 3D platformer adventure: Banjo-Kazooie (N64)
2nd place:
Spyro the Dragon (Playstation)
Best platformer (misc): Sonic Adventure (Dreamcast)
Nominees:
Crash Bandicoot: Warped (Playstation)
Heart of Darkness (PC)
Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus (PC)
Space Bunnies Must Die! (PC)
Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft (PC)
Best fighting game: SoulCalibur (Arcade)
Nominees:
Bushido Blade 2 (Playstation)
Ehrgeiz: God Bless the Ring (Arcade)
The King of Fighters '98: The Slugfest (Arcade)
Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes (Arcade)
Street Fighter Alpha 3 (Arcade)
Best racing game: Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit (PC)
Nominees:
1080° Snowboarding (N64)
Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now (PC)
F-Zero X (N64)
Grand Prix Legends (PC)
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (Playstation)
Best competitive action game (misc): Mario Party (N64)
Nominees:
Cyber Troopers Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram (Arcade)
Jump 'n Bump (PC)
Starsiege: Tribes (PC)
Best vehicular action game: Descent: Freespace (PC)
Nominees:
Battlezone (PC)
European Air War (PC)
Falcon 4.0 (PC)
Hardwar (PC)
Rogue Squadron 3D (PC)
Best action game (misc): Radiant Silvergun (Saturn)
Nominees:
Army Men (PC)
Centipede (PC)
Gunbird 2 (Arcade)
The House of the Dead 2 (Arcade)
R-Type Delta (Playstation)
Best open party CRPG: Fallout 2 (PC)
Nominees:
Baldur's Gate (PC)
Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven (PC)
Best JRPG: Xenogears (Playstation)
Nominees:
Jade Cocoon: Story of the Tamamayu (Playstation)
Panzer Dragoon Saga (Saturn)
Parasite Eve (Playstation)
Star Ocean: The Second Story (Playstation)
Suikoden II (Playstation)
Best RPGlike (misc): Pokémon Trading Card Game (Gameboy Color)
Nominees:
Rage of Mages (PC)
Return to Krondor (PC)
Warhammer: Dark Omen (PC)
Best quest adventure: Grim Fandango (PC)
Nominees:
Black Dahlia (PC)
The Journeyman Project 3: Legacy of Time (PC)
Nightlong: Union City Conspiracy (PC)
Quest for Glory V: Dragon Fire (PC)
Sanitarium (PC)
Best survival horror: Resident Evil 2 (Playstation)
Best war strategy game: StarCraft (PC)
Nominees:
Dune 2000 (PC)
Myth II: Soulblighter (PC)
The Settlers III (PC)
Star Wars: Rebellion (PC)
Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate (PC)
Best economic sim: Caesar III (PC)
Nominees:
Airline Tycoon (PC)
Railroad Tycoon II (PC)
Best strategy game (misc): Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines (PC)
Nominees:
Army Men (PC)
Mech Commander (PC)
Police Quest: SWAT 2 (PC)
Populous: The Beginning (PC)
Rainbow Six (PC)
1999 awards!
GOTY: Planescape: Torment (PC)
Nominees:
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings (PC)
Quake III: Arena (PC)
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (PC)
System Shock 2 (PC)
Unreal Tournament (PC)
Best arcade game: Crazy Taxi
Best Dreamcast game: Shenmue
Best Gameboy Color game: Pokémon Gold/Silver
Best N64 game: Super Smash Bros.
Best PC game: Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
Best Playstation game: Silent Hill
Best freelook FPS: System Shock 2 (PC)
Nominees:
Aliens Versus Predator (PC)
Kingpin: Life of Crime (PC)
Medal of Honor (Playstation)
Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear (PC)
SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle (PC)
Best third person shooter: Jet Force Gemini (N64)
Nominees:
Slave Zero (PC)
Syphon Filter (Playstation)
WinBack: Covert Operations (N64)
Best open world action/adventure: Outcast (PC)
2nd place:
Grand Theft Auto 2 (PC)
Best action/adventure (misc): Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (PC)
Nominees:
Drakan: Order of the Flame (PC)
Silver (PC)
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (PC)
Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage (Dreamcast)
Urban Chaos (PC)
Best platformer: Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (PC)
Nominees:
Donkey Kong 64 (N64)
Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine (PC)
Prince of Persia 3D (PC)
Rayman 2: The Great Escape (PC)
Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! (Playstation)
Best fighting game: Super Smash Bros. (N64)
Nominees:
Dead or Alive 2 (Arcade)
Garou: Mark of the Wolves (Arcade)
Power Stone (Arcade)
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike (Arcade)
Tekken Tag Tournament (Arcade)
Best racing game: Star Wars: Episode I - Racer (PC)
Nominees:
CTR: Crash Team Racing (Playstation)
Gran Turismo 2 (Playstation)
Hydro Thunder (Arcade)
Need for Speed: High Stakes (PC)
Re-Volt (PC)
Best competitive action game (misc): Quake III: Arena (PC)
Nominees:
Liero (PC)
Mario Party 2 (N64)
Team Fortress Classic (PC)
Turok: Rage Wars (N64)
Unreal Tournament (PC)
Best vehicular action game: Crazy Taxi (Arcade)
Nominees:
Driver (Playstation)
Freespace 2 (PC)
MechWarrior 3 (PC)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (Playstation)
X-Wing Alliance (PC)
Best action game (misc): Space Channel 5 (Dreamcast)
Nominees:
Dynamite Cop! (Arcade)
Pokémon Pinball (Gameboy Color)
Pokémon Snap (N64)
The Typing of the Dead (Arcade)
Tyrian 2000 (PC)
Best RPGlike: Chrono Cross (Playstation)
Nominees:
Darkstone (PC)
Final Fantasy VIII (Playstation)
Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor (PC)
Pokémon Gold/Silver (Gameboy Color)
Ultima IX: Ascension (PC)
Best quest adventure: Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned (PC)
Nominees:
Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy (PC)
Discworld Noir (PC)
The Longest Journey (PC)
Best survival horror: Silent Hill (Playstation)
Nominees:
D-2 (Dreamcast)
Dino Crisis (Playstation)
Nocturne (PC)
Parasite Eve II (Playstation)
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (Playstation)
Best adventure game (misc): Shenmue (Dreamcast)
Nominees:
Beyond Atlantis (PC)
Dracula: The Resurrection (PC)
Omikron: The Nomad Soul (PC)
Seven Games of the Soul (PC)
Best 4x strategy: Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (PC)
Nominees:
Age of Wonders (PC)
Civilization: Call to Power (PC)
Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia (PC)
Imperium Galactica II: Alliances (PC)
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Birth of the Federation (PC)
Best RTS: Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings (PC)
Nominees:
Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun (PC)
Homeworld (PC)
Total Annihilation: Kingdoms (PC)
Warzone 2100 (PC)
Best economic sim: RollerCoaster Tycoon (PC)
Nominees:
1602 A.D. (PC)
Dungeon Keeper 2 (PC)
Harvest Moon: Back to Nature (Playstation)
Pharaoh (PC)
Sim Theme Park (PC)
Best strategy game (misc): Jagged Alliance 2 (PC)
Nominees:
ChuChu Rocket! (Dreamcast)
odi·um (PC)
Pokémon Stadium (N64)
SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle (PC)
Worms: Armageddon (PC)
2000 awards!
GOTY: Deus Ex (PC)
Nominees:
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (PC)
Diablo II (PC)
Final Fantasy IX (Playstation)
No One Lives Forever (PC)
Thief II: The Metal Age (PC)
Best arcade game: Marvel vs. Capcom 2
Best Dreamcast game: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Best Gameboy Color game: Wario Land 3
Best N64 game: Perfect Dark
Best PC game: Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Best Playstation game: Final Fantasy IX
Best freelook FPS: No One Lives Forever (PC)
Nominees:
Medal of Honor: Underground (Playstation)
Perfect Dark (N64)
Project IGI: I'm Going In (PC)
Soldier of Fortune (PC)
Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force (PC)
Best third person shooter: American McGee's Alice (PC)
Nominees:
Giants: Citizen Kabuto (PC)
Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K. 2 (PC)
MDK 2 (PC)
Messiah (PC)
Syphon Filter 2 (Playstation)
Best open world action/adventure: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64)
2nd place:
Zelda Classic (PC)
Best action/adventure (misc): Thief II: The Metal Age (PC)
Nominees:
The Bouncer (PS2)
Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future (Dreamcast)
Hitman: Codename 47 (PC)
Metal Gear Solid (Gameboy Color)
Sea Dogs (PC)
Best platformer: Jet Grind Radio (Dreamcast)
Nominees:
Banjo-Tooie (N64)
Metal Slug 3 (Arcade)
Spyro: Year of the Dragon (Playstation)
Tomb Raider: Chronicles (PC)
Wario Land 3 (Gameboy Color)
Best competitive action game: Counter-Strike (PC)
Nominees:
Carmageddon 3: TDR 2000 (PC)
Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (Arcade)
Metropolis Street Racer (Dreamcast)
Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed (PC)
Power Stone 2 (Arcade)
Best vehicular action game: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (Dreamcast)
Nominees:
Crimson Skies (PC)
Driver 2 (Playstation)
MechWarrior 4: Vengeance (PC)
Starlancer (PC)
Tachyon: The Fringe (PC)
Best open party CRPG: Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (PC)
Nominees:
Avernum (Macintosh)
Icewind Dale (PC)
Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer (PC)
Best JRPG: Final Fantasy IX (Playstation)
Nominees:
Breath of Fire IV (Playstation)
Grandia II (Dreamcast)
Paper Mario (N64)
Skies of Arcadia (Dreamcast)
Vagrant Story (Playstation)
Best RPGlike (misc): Diablo II (PC)
Nominees:
Evil Islands: Curse of the Lost Soul (PC)
Nox (PC)
Sea Dogs (PC)
Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption (PC)
Wizards & Warriors (PC)
Best survival horror: Resident Evil: Code: Veronica (Dreamcast)
Nominees:
Blair Witch: Volume I - Rustin Parr (PC)
Martian Gothic: Unification (PC)
Best war strategy game: Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 (PC)
Nominees:
Earth 2150 (PC)
Europa Universalis (PC)
Ground Control (PC)
Sacrifice (PC)
Shogun: Total War (PC)
Best economic sim: Zeus: Master of Olympus (PC)
Nominees:
Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim (PC)
Patrician II: Quest for Power (PC)
Traffic Giant (PC)
Best strategy game (misc): Lemmings Revolution (PC)
Nominees:
Bejeweled: Deluxe (PC)
Mario Party 3 (N64)
Pokémon Stadium 2 (N64)
Sea Dogs (PC)
Sonic Shuffle (Dreamcast)
2001 awards!
GOTY: Max Payne (PC)
Nominees:
Gran Turismo 3 (PS2)
Grand Theft Auto III (PS2)
Halo: Combat Evolved (XBox)
ICO (PS2)
Super Smash Bros.: Melee (Gamecube)
Best arcade game: Monkey Ball
Best Dreamcast game: Shenmue II
Best Gameboy Advance game: Advance Wars
Best Gameboy Color game: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
Best Gamecube game: Super Smash Bros.: Melee
Best N64 game: Conker's Bad Fur Day
Best PC game: Anachronox
Best PS2 game: Grand Theft Auto III
Best XBox game: Halo: Combat Evolved
Best freelook FPS: Halo: Combat Evolved (XBox)
Nominees:
Aliens Versus Predator 2 (PC)
Clive Barker's Undying (PC)
Operation Flashpoint (PC)
Return to Castle Wolfenstein (PC)
Serious Sam: The First Encounter (PC)
Best open world action/adventure: Grand Theft Auto III (PS2)
Nominees:
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (Gameboy Color)
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (Gameboy Color)
Best action/adventure (misc): Devil May Cry (PS2)
Nominees:
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (PS2)
Blade of Darkness (PC)
Luigi's Mansion (Gamecube)
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (PS2)
Oni (PC)
Best 3D platformer adventure: ICO (PS2)
Nominees:
Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64)
Evil Twin: Cyprien's Chronicles (PC)
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (PS2)
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee (XBox)
Best platformer (misc): Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (Gameboy Advance)
Nominees:
Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex (PS2)
Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil (PS2)
Monkey Ball (Arcade)
Sonic Adventure 2 (Dreamcast)
Wario Land 4 (Gameboy Advance)
Best fighting game: Super Smash Bros.: Melee (Gamecube)
Nominees:
Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium (Arcade)
Dead or Alive 3 (XBox)
The King of Fighters 2001 (Arcade)
Tekken 4 (Arcade)
Virtua Fighter 4 (Arcade)
Best racing game: Gran Turismo 3 (PS2)
Nominees:
Mario Kart: Super Circuit (Gameboy Advance)
Project Gotham Racing (XBox)
Rally Trophy (PC)
SSX Tricky (XBox)
Wave Race: Blue Storm (Gamecube)
Best competitive action game (misc): Tribes 2 (PC)
Nominees:
Alien Front Online (Dreamcast)
Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding (XBox)
Blood Wake (XBox)
Rayman Arena (PC)
Twisted Metal: Black (PS2)
Best vehicular action game: Rogue Squadron II - Rogue Leader (Gamecube)
Nominees:
Crazy Taxi 2 (Dreamcast)
IL-2 Sturmovik (PC)
Noctis (PC)
Rez (Dreamcast)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (PS2)
Best action game (misc): Ikaruga (Arcade)
Nominees:
DDRMAX Dance Dance Revolution (Arcade)
Dynasty Warriors 3 (PS2)
Kuru Kuru Kururin (Gameboy Advance)
Best open party CRPG: Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura (PC)
2nd place:
Wizardry 8 (PC)
Best JRPG: Anachronox (PC)
Nominees:
Final Fantasy X (PS2)
Golden Sun (Gameboy Advance)
Mega Man Battle Network 2 (Gameboy Advance)
Shadow Hearts (PS2)
Shin Megami Tensei (Playstation)
Best RPGlike (misc): Gothic (PC)
Nominees:
Gorasul: The Legacy of the Dragon (PC)
NightStone (PC)
Throne of Darkness (PC)
Uplink: Hacker Elite (PC)
Best quest adventure: Runaway: A Road Adventure (PC)
Nominees:
Gilbert Goodmate and the Mushroom of Phungoria (PC)
King's Quest I: Quest for the Crown VGA (PC)
Best survival horror: Silent Hill 2 (PS2)
Nominees:
Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare (Dreamcast)
Fatal Frame (PS2)
Illbleed (Dreamcast)
Best adventure game (misc): Shenmue II (Dreamcast)
Nominees:
Beyond Atlantis II (PC)
Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix (Playstation)
Myst III: Exile (PC)
Onimusha: Warlords (PS2)
Shadow of Destiny (PS2)
Best war strategy game: Civilization III (PC)
Nominees:
Advance Wars (Gameboy Advance)
Battle Realms (PC)
Emperor: Battle for Dune (PC)
Empire Earth (PC)
Europa Universalis II (PC)
Best economic sim: Tropico (PC)
Nominees:
Animal Crossing (N64)
FireFly Studios' Stronghold (PC)
Startopia (PC)
Trevor Chan's Capitalism II (PC)
Zoo Tycoon (PC)
Best strategy game (misc): Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel (PC)
Nominees:
Black & White (PC)
Commandos 2: Men of Courage (PC)
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive (PC)
Pikmin (Gamecube)
Worms World Party (PC)
2002 awards!
GOTY: The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (PC)
Nominees:
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PS2)
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Gamecube)
Mafia (PC)
Metroid Prime (Gamecube)
WarCraft III: Reign of Chaos (PC)
Best arcade game: SoulCalibur II
Best Gameboy Advance game: Metroid Fusion
Best Gamecube game: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Best PC game: WarCraft III: Reign of Chaos
Best PS2 game: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Best XBox game: Splinter Cell
Best freelook FPS: Metroid Prime (Gamecube)
Nominees:
Command & Conquer: Renegade (PC)
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault (PC)
No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way (PC)
Serious Sam: The Second Encounter (PC)
Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix (PC)
Best FPSlike (misc): Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (PC)
2nd place:
Iron Storm (PC)
Best open world action/adventure: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Gamecube)
Nominees:
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PS2)
Mafia (PC)
Best action/adventure (misc): Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem (Gamecube)
Nominees:
The Getaway (PS2)
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin (PC)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (PS2)
Splinter Cell (XBox)
Star Fox Adventures (Gamecube)
Best platformer: Super Mario Sunshine (Gamecube)
Nominees:
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (Gameboy Advance)
Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure (Gameboy Advance)
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project (PC)
Metroid Fusion (Gameboy Advance)
Ratchet & Clank (PS2)
Best competitive action game: Battlefield 1942 (PC)
Nominees:
Mario Party 4 (Gamecube)
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (XBox)
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 (PC)
SoulCalibur II (Arcade)
Unreal Tournament 2003 (PC)
Best vehicular action game: Panzer Dragoon Orta (XBox)
Nominees:
MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries (PC)
Star Trek: Bridge Commander (PC)
Stuntman (PS2)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (XBox)
Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions (XBox)
Best open party CRPG: Icewind Dale II (PC)
Best JRPG: Kingdom Hearts (PS2)
Nominees:
Golden Sun: The Lost Age (Gameboy Advance)
Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire (Gameboy Advance)
Suikoden III (PS2)
Wild Arms 3 (PS2)
Xenosaga: Episode I (PS2)
Best RPGlike (misc): Neverwinter Nights (PC)
Nominees:
Arx Fatalis (PC)
Divine Divinity (PC)
Doom, the Roguelike (PC)
Dungeon Siege (PC)
Gothic II (PC)
Best quest adventure: Syberia (PC)
2nd place:
Post Mortem (PC)
Best survival horror: Resident Evil (Gamecube)
Nominees:
Clock Tower 3 (PS2)
Resident Evil 0 (Gamecube)
Best strategy game: WarCraft III: Reign of Chaos (PC)
Nominees:
Age of Mythology (PC)
Freedom Force (PC)
Heroes of Might and Magic IV (PC)
Mario Party 4 (Gamecube)
RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 (PC)
2003 awards!
GOTY: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (XBox)
Nominees:
Beyond Good & Evil (PC)
Call of Duty (PC)
Freelancer (PC)
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (PC)
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PC)
Best Gameboy Advance game: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Best Gamecube game: Viewtiful Joe
Best PC game: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Best PS2 game: Final Fantasy X-2
Best XBox game: Tony Hawk's Underground
Best FPSlike: Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (PC)
Nominees:
Call of Duty (PC)
Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (PC)
TRON 2.0 (PC)
Unreal II: The Awakening (PC)
XIII (PC)
Best platformer: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PC)
Nominees:
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (Gameboy Advance)
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS2)
Seiklus (PC)
Viewtiful Joe (Gamecube)
Wario World (Gamecube)
Best competitive action game: Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (Gamecube)
Nominees:
F-Zero GX (Gamecube)
Need for Speed: Underground (PC)
OutRun 2 (Arcade)
Project Gotham Racing 2 (XBox)
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$! (Gamecube)
Best vehicular action game: Freelancer (PC)
Nominees:
AquaNox 2: Revelation (PC)
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge (XBox)
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III - Rebel Strike (Gamecube)
Tony Hawk's Underground (XBox)
X²: The Threat (PC)
Best action game (misc): WarioWare, Inc. (Gameboy Advance)
Nominees:
Alien Shooter (PC)
Crimsonland (PC)
Donkey Konga (Gamecube)
Puyo Pop Fever (Arcade)
Starscape (PC)
Best RPGlike: Final Fantasy X-2 (PS2)
Nominees:
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean (Gamecube)
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles (Gamecube)
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (Gameboy Advance)
Tales of Symphonia (Gamecube)
The Temple of Elemental Evil (PC)
Best quest adventure: Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon (PC)
Nominees:
5 Days a Stranger (PC)
The Black Mirror (PC)
Wanted: A Wild Western Adventure (PC)
Best survival horror: Silent Hill 3 (PC)
2nd place:
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly (PS2)
Best war strategy game: Command & Conquer: Generals (PC)
Nominees:
Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (Gameboy Advance)
Fire Emblem (Gameboy Advance)
Homeworld 2 (PC)
Rise of Nations (PC)
SpellForce: The Order of Dawn (PC)
Best strategy game (misc): Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (Gameboy Advance)
Nominees:
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness (PS2)
Ghost Master (PC)
Neighbors from Hell (PC)
S2: Silent Storm (PC)
Zuma Deluxe (PC)
2004 awards!
GOTY: Half-Life 2 (PC)
Nominees:
Far Cry (PC)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)
Halo 2 (XBox)
Ninja Gaiden (XBox)
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (PC)
Best arcade game: Tekken 5
Best Gameboy Advance game: Metroid: Zero Mission
Best Gamecube game: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Best PC game: Far Cry
Best PS2 game: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Best XBox game: Ninja Gaiden
Best freelook FPS: Far Cry (PC)
Nominees:
DOOM³ (PC)
Halo 2 (XBox)
Killzone (PS2)
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (Gamecube)
Painkiller (PC)
Best third person shooter: Red♦Dead Revolver (XBox)
Nominees:
007: Everything or Nothing (XBox)
BloodRayne 2 (XBox)
The Suffering (XBox)
TransFormers (PS2)
Best FPSlike (misc): The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (XBox)
2nd place:
Gungrave: Overdose (PS2)
Best open world action/adventure: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)
Nominees:
American McGee presents SCRAPLAND (PC)
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Gameboy Advance)
Sid Meier's Pirates!: Live the Life (PC)
Best action/adventure (misc): Ninja Gaiden (XBox)
Nominees:
Hitman: Contracts (PC)
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2)
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (Gamecube)
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow (PC)
Thief: Deadly Shadows (PC)
Best platformer: Metroid: Zero Mission (Gameboy Advance)
Nominees:
Gish (PC)
Jak 3 (PS2)
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Gameboy Advance)
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (PC)
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (PS2)
Best fighting game: Tekken 5 (Arcade)
Nominees:
Def Jam: Fight for NY (XBox)
Digimon Rumble Arena 2 (XBox)
Mortal Kombat: Deception (XBox)
Best racing game: Gran Turismo 4 (PS2)
Nominees:
Burnout 3: Takedown (XBox)
Colin McRae Rally 2005 (PC)
FlatOut (PC)
Need for Speed: Underground 2 (PC)
Richard Burns Rally (XBox)
Best competitive action game (misc): Unreal Tournament 2004 (PC)
Nominees:
Battlefield: Vietnam (PC)
Counter-Strike: Condition Zero (PC)
Counter-Strike: Source (PC)
Star Wars: Battlefront (PC)
Tribes: Vengeance (PC)
Best action game (misc): Katamari Damacy (PS2)
Nominees:
BreakQuest (PC)
Daigasso! Band Brothers (Nintendo DS)
Feel the Magic XY/XX (Nintendo DS)
WarioWare: Touched! (Nintendo DS)
WarioWare: Twisted! (Gameboy Advance)
Best RPGlike: Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (PC)
Nominees:
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (PS2)
Fable (XBox)
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Gamecube)
Sacred (PC)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords (XBox)
Best quest adventure: Syberia II (PC)
Nominees:
7 Days a Skeptic (PC)
Crime Stories: From the Files of Martin Mystère (PC)
The Moment of Silence (PC)
Return to Mysterious Island (PC)
Sherlock Holmes: Secret of the Silver Earring (PC)
Best adventure game (misc): Myst IV: Revelation (PC)
Nominees:
Aura: Fate of the Ages (PC)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Dark Motives (PC)
CSI: Miami (PC)
Lights Out (PC)
Sentinel: Descendants in Time (PC)
2005 awards!
GOTY: Resident Evil 4 (Gamecube)
Nominees:
Civilization IV (PC)
FEAR (PC)
God of War (PS2)
Psychonauts (PC)
Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)
Best Nintendo DS game: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Best PC game: Psychonauts
Best PS2 game: God of War
Best XBox game: Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
Best XBox 360 game: Condemned: Criminal Origins
Best FPSlike: FEAR (PC)
Nominees:
Call of Duty 2 (PC)
Condemned: Criminal Origins (XBox 360)
Quake 4 (PC)
Star Wars: Republic Commando (PC)
SWAT 4 (PC)
Best action/adventure (misc): God of War (PS2)
Nominees:
Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth (XBox)
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening (PS2)
Jade Empire (XBox)
Killer7 (Gamecube)
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (PC)
Best platformer: Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)
Nominees:
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (Nintendo DS)
Cave Story (PC)
LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game (PC)
Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones (PC)
Psychonauts (PC)
Best competitive action game: Mario Kart DS (Nintendo DS)
Nominees:
Battlefield 2 (PC)
Burnout: Revenge (XBox)
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (PC)
SoulCalibur III (PS2)
WipEout Pure (PSP)
Best action game (misc): Guitar Hero (PS2)
Nominees:
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (XBox 360)
Heavy Weapon Deluxe (PC)
Metroid Prime Pinball (Nintendo DS)
Trauma Center: Under the Knife (Nintendo DS)
We Love Katamari (PS2)
Best adventure game: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (Nintendo DS)
Nominees:
Indigo Prophecy (PC)
Kingdom Hearts II (PS2)
NiBiRu: Age of Secrets (PC)
Pathologic (PC)
Still Life (PC)
Best strategy game: Civilization IV (PC)
Nominees:
Age of Empires III (PC)
Animal Crossing: Wild World (Nintendo DS)
Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 (PC)
Darwinia (PC)
SWAT 4 (PC)
2006 awards!
GOTY: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC)
Nominees:
Company of Heroes (PC)
Gears of War (XBox 360)
Hitman: Blood Money (PC)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii)
New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo DS)
Best Nintendo DS game: New Super Mario Bros.
Best PC game: Company of Heroes
Best PS2 game: Final Fantasy XII
Best PS3 game: Resistance: Fall of Man
Best Wii game: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Best XBox game: Black
Best XBox 360 game: Gears of War
Best FPSlike: Gears of War (XBox 360)
Nominees:
Black (XBox)
Dark Messiah: Might and Magic (PC)
Half-Life 2: Episode One (PC)
Prey (PC)
Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3)
Best open world action/adventure: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii)
Nominees:
Dead Rising (XBox 360)
The Godfather: The Game (PC)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (PSP)
Okami (PS2)
Saints Row (XBox 360)
Best action/adventure (misc): Hitman: Blood Money (PC)
Nominees:
Bully (PS2)
God Hand (PS2)
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (PSP)
Splinter Cell: Double Agent (PC)
Yakuza 2 (PS2)
Best platformer: New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo DS)
Nominees:
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (Nintendo DS)
Daxter (PSP)
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (PC)
LocoRoco (PSP)
Tomb Raider: Legend (PC)
Best competitive action game: TrackMania Nations ESWC (PC)
Nominees:
Excite Truck (Wii)
FlatOut 2 (PC)
MotorStorm (PS3)
Need for Speed: Carbon (PC)
Test Drive Unlimited (XBox 360)
Best action game (misc): Guitar Hero II (PS2)
Nominees:
Alien Shooter: Vengeance (PC)
Elite Beat Agents (Nintendo DS)
Streets of Rage Remake (PC)
WarioWare: Smooth Moves (Wii)
Wii Play (Wii)
Best adventure game: Final Fantasy XII (PS2)
Nominees:
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey (PC)
Gothic 3 (PC)
Neverwinter Nights 2 (PC)
Secret Files: Tunguska (PC)
Titan Quest (PC)
2007 awards!
GOTY: Portal (PC)
Nominees:
BioShock (PC)
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PC)
Mass Effect (XBox 360)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl (PC)
Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Best Nintendo DS game: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Best PC game: BioShock
Best PS2 game: God of War II
Best PS3 game: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Best Wii game: Super Mario Galaxy
Best XBox 360 game: Mass Effect
Best freelook FPS: BioShock (PC)
Nominees:
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PC)
Crysis (PC)
Half-Life 2: Episode Two (PC)
Halo 3 (XBox 360)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl (PC)
Best third person shooter: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3)
2nd place:
Stranglehold (PC)
Best open world action/adventure: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Nintendo DS)
2nd place:
Assassin's Creed (XBox 360)
Best action/adventure (misc): God of War II (PS2)
Nominees:
Aquaria (PC)
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP)
Heavenly Sword (PS3)
No More Heroes (Wii)
Overlord (PC)
Best platformer: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Nominees:
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (PSP)
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3)
Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii)
Super Paper Mario (Wii)
Tomb Raider: Anniversary (PC)
Best competitive action game: Team Fortress 2 (PC)
Nominees:
DiRT (PC)
Forza Motorsport 2 (XBox 360)
Mario Party 8 (Wii)
Need for Speed: ProStreet (PC)
Unreal Tournament III (PC)
Best action game (misc): Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PC)
Nominees:
Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s (PS2)
Link's Crossbow Training (Wii)
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (Wii)
Rock Band (XBox 360)
Zombie Shooter (PC)
Best adventure game: Mass Effect (XBox 360)
Nominees:
Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (Nintendo DS)
Overclocked: A History of Violence (PC)
Professor Layton and the Curious Village (Nintendo DS)
Sam & Max: Season One (PC)
The Witcher (PC)
2008 awards!
GOTY: Grand Theft Auto IV (PC)
Nominees:
Braid (XBox 360)
Dead Space (PC)
Mirror's Edge (XBox 360)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
World of Goo (PC)
Best arcade game: Street Fighter IV
Best PC game: World of Goo
Best PS3 game: LittleBigPlanet
Best PSP game: God of War: Chains of Olympus
Best Wii game: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Best XBox 360 game: Braid
Best action/adventure: Dead Space (PC)
Nominees:
Far Cry 2 (PC)
Gears of War 2 (XBox 360)
God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)
Left 4 Dead (PC)
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
Best platformer: Braid (XBox 360)
Nominees:
LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
Mirror's Edge (XBox 360)
Prince of Persia (PC)
Tomb Raider: Underworld (PC)
You Have to Burn the Rope (PC)
Best competitive action game: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
Nominees:
Burnout: Paradise (XBox 360)
GRID (PC)
Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
Need for Speed: Undercover (PC)
Street Fighter IV (Arcade)
Best adventure game: Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire (PC)
Nominees:
A Vampyre Story (PC)
The Elder Scrolls: Fallout (PC)
Fable II (XBox 360)
Penumbra Collection (PC)
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (PS2)
Best strategy game: World of Goo (PC)
Nominees:
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (PC)
King's Bounty: The Legend (PC)
Mount & Blade (PC)
Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization (PC)
Spore (PC)
2009 awards!
GOTY: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
Nominees:
Batman: Arkham Asylum (PC)
Demon's Souls (PS3)
Dragon Age: Origins (PC)
Plants vs. Zombies (PC)
Punch-Out!! (Wii)
Best PC game: Batman: Arkham Asylum
Best PS3 game: Demon's Souls
Best Wii game: Punch-Out!!
Best XBox 360 game: Bayonetta
Best FPSlike: Borderlands (PC)
Nominees:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PC)
Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood (PC)
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin (PC)
inFAMOUS (PS3)
Left 4 Dead 2 (PC)
Best open world action/adventure: Batman: Arkham Asylum (PC)
Nominees:
Assassin's Creed II (XBox 360)
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (Nintendo DS)
Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City (XBox 360)
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (Nintendo DS)
Prototype (PC)
Best action/adventure (misc): Demon's Souls (PS3)
Nominees:
Afro Samurai (XBox 360)
Bayonetta (XBox 360)
MadWorld (Wii)
The Saboteur (PC)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (PC)
Best platformer: Trine (PC)
Nominees:
And Yet It Moves (PC)
New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
Scribblenauts (Nintendo DS)
Shadow Complex (XBox 360)
Spelunky (PC)
Best adventure game: Dragon Age: Origins (PC)
Nominees:
Final Fantasy XIII (PS3)
Machinarium (PC)
Risen (PC)
Tales of Monkey Island (PC)
Torchlight (PC)
2010 awards!
GOTY: Mass Effect 2 (PC)
Nominees:
Fallout: New Vegas (PC)
Heavy Rain (PS3)
Limbo (XBox 360)
Mafia II (PC)
Super Meat Boy (XBox 360)
Best PC game: Fallout: New Vegas
Best PS3 game: Heavy Rain
Best XBox 360 game: Limbo
Best action/adventure: Mafia II (PC)
Nominees:
Alan Wake (XBox 360)
BioShock 2 (PC)
Halo: Reach (XBox 360)
Metro 2033 (PC)
Red Dead Redemption (XBox 360)
Best action game (misc): PAC-MAN Doodle (PC)
Nominees:
Alien Swarm (PC)
Bit.Trip Runner (Wii)
DeathSpank (XBox 360)
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game (XBox 360)
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction (PC)
2011 awards!
GOTY: Portal 2 (PC)
Nominees:
Bastion (PC)
Batman: Arkham City (PC)
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (PC)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PC)
Rayman Origins (XBox 360)
Best PC game: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Best XBox 360 game: Rayman Origins
Best action game: Deus Ex: Human Revolution (PC)
Nominees:
Bastion (PC)
Batman: Arkham City (PC)
Dark Souls (XBox 360)
Orcs Must Die! (PC)
Rayman Origins (XBox 360)
Best strategy game: SpaceChem (PC)
Nominees:
Anomaly: Warzone Earth (PC)
Catherine (XBox 360)
Mount & Blade: With Fire and Sword (PC)
Revenge of the Titans (PC)
The Tiny Bang Story (PC)
2012 awards!
GOTY: The Walking Dead (PC)
Nominees:
Diablo III (PC)
Hotline Miami (PC)
Mark of the Ninja (XBox 360)
Mass Effect 3 (PC)
Spec Ops: The Line (PC)
Best PC game: Mass Effect 3
Best XBox 360 game: Mark of the Ninja
2013 awards!
GOTY: The Last of Us (PS3)
Nominees:
BioShock Infinite (PC)
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (PC)
Gone Home (PC)
Tomb Raider (PC)
The Wolf Among Us (PC)
Best adventure game: The Wolf Among Us (PC)
Nominees:
Beyond: Two Souls (PS3)
Gone Home (PC)
Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded (PC)
The Stanley Parable (PC)
The Walking Dead: Season Two (PC)
2014 awards!
GOTY: Wolfenstein: The New Order (PC)
Nominees:
Alien: Isolation (PC)
Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)
Shovel Knight (PC)
South Park: The Stick of Truth (PC)
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (PC)
2015 awards!
GOTY: Bloodborne (PS4)
Nominees:
Life is Strange (PC)
Pillars of Eternity (PC)
Soma (PC)
Undertale (PC)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PC)
2016 awards!
GOTY: The Witness (PC)
Nominees:
DOOM (PC)
Firewatch (PC)
Inside (PC)
No Man's Sky (PC)
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (PS4)