GOTY by year
The list begins from the earliest year from which I've played more than one game (1979). Each note will describe any close runners-up as well as the difficulty of the choice on a scale of 0-10. There's a number of years on here I wish I could have played more games for, so hopefully I'll be able to replace the choices for those years soon enough.
45 Games
1979
Runner(s)-up: Galaxian
Difficulty of choice: 5/10
Runner(s)-up: Galaxian
Difficulty of choice: 5/10
1980
Runner(s)-up: Pac-Man
Difficulty of choice: 3/10
Runner(s)-up: Pac-Man
Difficulty of choice: 3/10
1981
Runner(s)-up: Galaga, Donkey Kong
Difficulty of choice: 4/10
Runner(s)-up: Galaga, Donkey Kong
Difficulty of choice: 4/10
1982
Runner(s)-up: Ms. Pac-Man, Xevious
Difficulty of choice: 6/10
Runner(s)-up: Ms. Pac-Man, Xevious
Difficulty of choice: 6/10
1983
Runner(s)-up: Donkey Kong 3
Difficulty of choice: 0/10
Runner(s)-up: Donkey Kong 3
Difficulty of choice: 0/10
1984
Runner(s)-up: Clu Clu Land, Flicky
Difficulty of choice: 2/10
Runner(s)-up: Clu Clu Land, Flicky
Difficulty of choice: 2/10
1985
Runner(s)-up: Super Mario Bros., Balloon Fight
Difficulty of choice: 6/10
Runner(s)-up: Super Mario Bros., Balloon Fight
Difficulty of choice: 6/10
1986
Runner(s)-up: Castlevania, Metroid
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
Runner(s)-up: Castlevania, Metroid
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
1987
Runner(s)-up: Contra, Final Fantasy
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
Runner(s)-up: Contra, Final Fantasy
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
1988
Runner(s)-up: Super Mario Bros. 3, Mega Man 2
Difficulty of choice: 3/10
Runner(s)-up: Super Mario Bros. 3, Mega Man 2
Difficulty of choice: 3/10
1990
Runner(s)-up: Punch-Out!!, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
Runner(s)-up: Punch-Out!!, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
1991
Runner(s)-up: Final Fantasy Adventure, Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
Difficulty of choice: 9/10
Runner(s)-up: Final Fantasy Adventure, Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
Difficulty of choice: 9/10
1992
Runner(s)-up: Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
Runner(s)-up: Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
1993
Runner(s)-up: Star Fox, Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers
Difficulty of choice: 8/10
Runner(s)-up: Star Fox, Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers
Difficulty of choice: 8/10
1994
Runner(s)-up: System Shock, Darius Gaiden, Castlevania Bloodlines (yeah 1994 gets an extra cause these three were so tough to rank against each other)
Difficulty of choice: 9/10
Runner(s)-up: System Shock, Darius Gaiden, Castlevania Bloodlines (yeah 1994 gets an extra cause these three were so tough to rank against each other)
Difficulty of choice: 9/10
1995
Runner(s)-up: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Alien Soldier
Difficulty of choice: 8/10
Runner(s)-up: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Alien Soldier
Difficulty of choice: 8/10
1996
Runner(s)-up: Nights into Dreams..., Megami Ibunroku Persona
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
Runner(s)-up: Nights into Dreams..., Megami Ibunroku Persona
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
1997
Runner(s)-up: Star Fox 64, LEGO Island
Difficulty of choice: 0/10
Runner(s)-up: Star Fox 64, LEGO Island
Difficulty of choice: 0/10
1998
Runner(s)-up: Metal Gear Solid, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Difficulty of choice: 6/10
Runner(s)-up: Metal Gear Solid, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Difficulty of choice: 6/10
1999
Runner(s)-up: Pokemon Gold/Silver, System Shock 2
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
Runner(s)-up: Pokemon Gold/Silver, System Shock 2
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
2000
Runner(s)-up: Pokemon Crystal, Spider-Man
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
Runner(s)-up: Pokemon Crystal, Spider-Man
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
2001
Runner(s)-up: Pikmin, Animal Crossing
Difficulty of choice: 11/10
Extra honorable mentions in no particular order because 2001 was a big year: Pikmin, Sonic Adventure 2, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Luigi's Mansion, Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses, Pokemon Trading Card Game 2: Here Comes Team GR, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, RuneScape, Gitaroo Man
Runner(s)-up: Pikmin, Animal Crossing
Difficulty of choice: 11/10
Extra honorable mentions in no particular order because 2001 was a big year: Pikmin, Sonic Adventure 2, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Luigi's Mansion, Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses, Pokemon Trading Card Game 2: Here Comes Team GR, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, RuneScape, Gitaroo Man
2002
Runner(s)-up: Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
Runner(s)-up: Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
2003
Runner(s)-up: Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
Difficulty of choice: 4/10
Runner(s)-up: Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
Difficulty of choice: 4/10
2004
Runner(s)-up: Cave Story, Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury
Difficulty of choice: 8/10
Runner(s)-up: Cave Story, Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury
Difficulty of choice: 8/10
2005
Runner(s)-up: Resident Evil 4, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team/Blue Rescue Team
Difficulty of choice: 9/10
Runner(s)-up: Resident Evil 4, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team/Blue Rescue Team
Difficulty of choice: 9/10
2006
Runner(s)-up: Mother 3, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Difficulty of choice: 8/10
Runner(s)-up: Mother 3, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Difficulty of choice: 8/10
2007
Runner(s)-up: Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, Portal
Difficulty of choice: 0/10
Extra honorable mentions in no particular order because 2007 was a big year: Contra 4, Mario Party DS, LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, Halo 3, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, Patapon
Runner(s)-up: Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, Portal
Difficulty of choice: 0/10
Extra honorable mentions in no particular order because 2007 was a big year: Contra 4, Mario Party DS, LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, Halo 3, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, Patapon
2008
Runner(s)-up: Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force 3
Difficulty of choice: 6/10
Runner(s)-up: Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force 3
Difficulty of choice: 6/10
2009
Runner(s)-up: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, Halo 3 ODST
Difficulty of choice: 9/10 (but mostly for runners-up)
Extra honorable mentions in no particular order because 2009 was a big year: Resident Evil 5, Punch-Out!!, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Pokemon Heart Gold/Soul Silver, Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey, Bayonetta, Left 4 Dead 2, 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
Runner(s)-up: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, Halo 3 ODST
Difficulty of choice: 9/10 (but mostly for runners-up)
Extra honorable mentions in no particular order because 2009 was a big year: Resident Evil 5, Punch-Out!!, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Pokemon Heart Gold/Soul Silver, Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey, Bayonetta, Left 4 Dead 2, 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
2010
Runner(s)-up: Super Scribblenauts, Super Mario Galaxy 2
Difficulty of choice: 0/10
Runner(s)-up: Super Scribblenauts, Super Mario Galaxy 2
Difficulty of choice: 0/10
2011
Runner(s)-up: StreetPass Mii Plaza, Rayman Origins
Difficulty of choice: 10/10
Runner(s)-up: StreetPass Mii Plaza, Rayman Origins
Difficulty of choice: 10/10
2012
Runner(s)-up: Pokemon Black 2/White 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Difficulty of choice: 3/10
Runner(s)-up: Pokemon Black 2/White 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Difficulty of choice: 3/10
2013
Runner(s)-up: Rayman Legends, Killer Instinct (2013)
Difficulty of choice: 8/10
Runner(s)-up: Rayman Legends, Killer Instinct (2013)
Difficulty of choice: 8/10
2014
Runner(s)-up: Mario Kart 8, Crimzon Clover: World Ignition
Difficulty of choice: 0/10
Runner(s)-up: Mario Kart 8, Crimzon Clover: World Ignition
Difficulty of choice: 0/10
2015
Runner(s)-up: Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, Dragon Ball Xenoverse
Difficulty of choice: 6/10
Runner(s)-up: Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, Dragon Ball Xenoverse
Difficulty of choice: 6/10
1989
Runner(s)-up: Super Mario Land, Darius II
Difficulty of choice: 2/10
Runner(s)-up: Super Mario Land, Darius II
Difficulty of choice: 2/10
2016
Runner(s)-up: DOOM (2016), Miitopia
Difficulty of choice: 9/10
Runner(s)-up: DOOM (2016), Miitopia
Difficulty of choice: 9/10
2017
Runner(s)-up: Pyre, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Difficulty of choice: 6/10
Runner(s)-up: Pyre, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Difficulty of choice: 6/10
2018
Runner(s)-up: Tetris Effect, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Difficulty of choice: 8/10
Runner(s)-up: Tetris Effect, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Difficulty of choice: 8/10
2019
Runner(s)-up: Candence of Hyrule, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Difficulty of choice: 1/10
Runner(s)-up: Candence of Hyrule, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Difficulty of choice: 1/10
2020
Runner(s)-up: Minecraft Dungeons, Half-Life: Alyx
Difficulty of choice: 3/10
Runner(s)-up: Minecraft Dungeons, Half-Life: Alyx
Difficulty of choice: 3/10
2021
Runner(s)-up: Shin Megami Tensei V, Metroid Dread
Difficulty of choice: 5/10
Runner(s)-up: Shin Megami Tensei V, Metroid Dread
Difficulty of choice: 5/10
2022
Runner(s)-up: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, TUNIC
Difficulty of choice: 8/10
Runner(s)-up: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, TUNIC
Difficulty of choice: 8/10
2023
Runner(s)-up: Hi-Fi Rush, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Difficulty of choice: 7/10
Runner(s)-up: Hi-Fi Rush, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Difficulty of choice: 7/10