2023
Runners Up:
Misericorde: Volume One
Little Goody Two Shoes
Paranormasight

2022
Runners Up:
Live A Live
Elden Ring
Vacant Kingdom

2021
Runners Up:
Unpacking
New Pokémon Snap
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139...
Fantasian

2020
Runners Up:
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
Spelunky 2

2019
Runners Up:
Control
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Resident Evil 2 Remake

2018
Runners Up:
The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa (tied for GOTY)
Celeste
Facets
DELTARUNE: Chapter 1
Red Dead Redemption 2
ZeroRanger

2017
Runners Up:
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
Hollow Knight
Graze Counter
Monolith
Cuphead
NieR: Automata
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
Wild Guns Reloaded

2016
Runners Up:
The Last Guardian
Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight
OneShot
Lieve Oma

2015
Runners Up:
Yakuza 0
Yoshi's Woolly World
Bloodborne

2014
Runner Up:
Shovel Knight

2013
Runners Up:
Fairune
Dominique Pamplemousse

2012
Runner Up:
howling dogs
XCOM: Enemy Unknown

2011
Runners Up:
Dark Souls
Minecraft
Portal 2

2010
Runners Up:
Kirby's Epic Yarn
Deadly Premonition
Red Dead Redemption

2009
Runners Up:
Ys I & II Chronicles
Pokémon HeartGold

2008
Runners Up:
OFF
Touhou Chireiden: Subterranean Animism

2007
Runners Up:
Lost Odyssey
Portal
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Hotel Dusk

2006
Runners Up:
Ys Origin
God Hand
Raw Danger!
Ōkami
Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coast

2005
Runners Up:
Resident Evil 4
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team
Chibi-Robo!

2004
Runners Up:
Katamari Damacy (tied for GOTY)
Yume Nikki (tied for GOTY)
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Mushihimesama
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Cave Story
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Kirby and the Amazing Mirror

2003
Runners Up:
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
Touhou Youyoumu: Perfect Cherry Blossom
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi
Ribbit King

2002
Runners Up:
Wild Arms 3
Touhou Koumakyou: The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Eternal Darkness
Doshin the Giant

2001
Runners Up:
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Ico
Final Fantasy X
Dōbutsu no Mori
Luigi's Mansion
Super Monkey Ball
Ikaruga

2000
Runners Up:
Final Fantasy IX
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Boku no Natsuyasumi
Vagrant Story
Paper Mario
Pokémon Crystal

1999
Runners Up:
Koudelka
Valkyrie Profile
Chrono Cross
Silent Hill
Xuan Yuan Sword: Mists Beyond the Mountains
Giga Wing
Pokémon Snap
Space Channel 5

1998
Runners Up:
Metal Gear Solid
Guardian's Crusade
LSD Dream Emulator
Sonic Adventure
Resident Evil 2
R-Type Delta
Radiant Silvergun

1997
Runners Up:
Breath of Fire III
Shinrei Jusatsushi Tarōmaru
Final Fantasy VII
Alundra

1996
Runners Up:
Wild Arms
Resident Evil
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Purikura Daisakusen
Fluid

1995
Runners Up:
Linda Cube
D
Panzer Dragoon
Panel de Pon
The Outfoxies
Yoshi's Island

1994
Runners Up:
Final Fantasy VI
Live A Live
Castlevania: Bloodlines
Darius Gaiden
Super Metroid
Monster World IV
Tokimeki Memorial
Crusader of Centy
Metal Black
Umihara Kawase
Gunbird

1993
Runners Up:
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Phantasy Star IV
SOS
Lords of Thunder
Gunstar Heroes
Ranger X

1992
Runners Up:
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
Thunder Force IV
Dragon Quest V
Mugen Senshi Valis
Star Parodier
Air Zonk

1991
Runners Up:
Final Fantasy IV (tied for GOTY)
Metal Black
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Bonk's Revenge

1990
Runners Up:
Super Mario World
ActRaiser
Fray in Magical Adventure
Valis III

1989
Runners Up:
Gradius III
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap
Ninja Gaiden
Valkyrie no Densetsu
Bonk's Adventure

1988
Runners Up:
Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa
Mega Man 2

1987
Runners Up:
R-Type
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest

1986
Runners Up:
Kiki Kaikai
OutRun
The Mysterious Murasame Castle
Castlevania

1985
Runners Up:
Gradius
Space Harrier
Super Mario Bros.
TwinBee

1984
Runners Up:
Tower of Druaga
Itazura Tenshi
Tetris
Hydlide

1983
Runners Up:
Mappy
Libble Rabble
Tapper
Thunder Force

1982
Runners Up:
Haunted House
Joust

1981
Runners Up
Asteroids Deluxe
Donkey Kong

1980
Runners Up:
Pac-Man
Crazy Balloon

1979
Runners Up:
Asteroids
Adventure

1978
Runner Up
Gee Bee
Dog Patch