15 Games That Deserve Game of the Year but Got Robbed

15. Stray

Stray never really had a shot at GOTY against giants like Elden Ring and God of War, but it still stood out as something special. It may not have won the big one, but for an indie game about a stray cat, it sure left a big paw print. | © BlueTwelve Studio

14. Alan Wake 2

Alan Wake 2 didn’t win GOTY, but it stole the show in every other way, from Best Narrative and Direction to that unforgettable Herald of Darkness performance. In any other year, it might’ve taken the crown, but 2023 was just too stacked. | © Remedy Entertainment

13. Bayonetta 2

Bayonetta 2 was one of the best-reviewed games of its year, but it just didn’t have the numbers - not enough players, not enough votes. In a field full of bigger names and broader appeal, it quietly got buried under the weight of popularity. | © PlatinumGames

12. Persona 5

Persona 5 had style, substance, and one of the most memorable RPG casts in years; it absolutely earned a spot in the GOTY spotlight. But up against the open-world hype of Breath of the Wild, it never really stood a chance. | © Atlus

11. Resident Evil 2

Resident Evil 2 was widely praised as the standout of its year, terrifying, brilliantly designed, and modern without losing what made the original great. Yet somehow, it walked away empty-handed, and fans were left wondering what more it had to do. | © Capcom

10. A Plague Tale: Requiem

A Plague Tale: Requiem had raw emotion, stunning performances, and a heartbreaking ending that hit hard, especially thanks to Amicia’s voice acting. It may not have had the biggest budget or the loudest fan base, but it absolutely deserved a GOTY nod. | © Asobo Studio

9. Death Stranding

Death Stranding took a huge creative swing with its world, story, and mechanics and stuck the landing in a way few games dare to try. It might not have been for everyone, but giving GOTY to a safer choice like Sekiro felt like a missed chance to reward innovation. | © Kojima Productions

8. Silent Hill 2

Silent Hill 2 Remake didn’t just deserve a win, it deserved at least something for its chilling audio and standout performance from Luke Roberts. Instead, it got completely passed over in favor of bigger names, and yeah, it felt off. | © Konami

7. Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima was a stunning, heartfelt journey with rich gameplay and a story that actually took risks, but it lost GOTY to a sequel that split the fan base. For a game built over six years, losing to something made in one felt like a gut punch. | © Sucker Punch Productions

6. Titanfall 2

Titanfall 2 delivered one of the tightest, most inventive FPS campaigns ever, but still walked away without the big win. It got its fair share of nods, but in a stacked year, it ended up overshadowed when it deserved more. | © Respawn Entertainment

5. Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 had the vision, the world, and the ambition to win GOTY, but its broken launch buried all of that. Once the bugs were patched, it became the game it was meant to be, just too late to claim the spotlight. | © CD Projekt

4. Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 got shut out at The Game Awards 2023, despite strong reviews and fan praise across the board. It later cleaned up at the D.I.C.E. Awards, proving that it wasn't the game that fell short, just the voters. | © Insomniac Games

3. Uncharted 4

Uncharted 4 delivered a cinematic, emotionally rich adventure with top-tier visuals and gameplay, the kind of full-package experience that only comes once in a while. Overwatch was fun and polished, but giving GOTY to a multiplayer-only shooter over a game like this still sucks. | © Naughty Dog

2. Black Myth: Wukong

Black Myth: Wukong didn’t just deserve a nomination, it got completely shut out while a nostalgia-fueled platformer took the spotlight. It wasn’t about quality this time; it was about business, branding, and keeping the biggest fan base happy. | © Game Science

Cropped Micah Bell Red Dead Redemption 2 2018

1. Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 delivered one of the most immersive and emotional open-world experiences ever made, but when it came time for Game of the Year, God of War edged it out. Despite winning for narrative, it felt like RDR2 got the pity prizes while the more standard game took the big ones. | © Rockstar Games