jakey’s GOTY list from 1980-2024
going back and listing what are my favorite games from each year!! going by initial release date not worldwide so some games might seem off by a year or two but i promise it makes sense.
also included are 3-5 honorable mentions for each year!
also included are 3-5 honorable mentions for each year!
44 Games
1980
Pac-Man
Mystery House
Game & Watch Ball
Pac-Man
Mystery House
Game & Watch Ball
1981
Ultima
Centipede
Wizardry
Ultima
Centipede
Wizardry
1982
Pitfall
Q*bert
Dig-Dug
Pitfall
Q*bert
Dig-Dug
1983
Mario Bros.
Mappy
Pole Position II
Mario Bros.
Mappy
Pole Position II
1984
Black Onyx
Excitebike
Duck Hunt
Black Onyx
Excitebike
Duck Hunt
1985
Space Harrier
Gradius
Ghosts n’ Goblins
Space Harrier
Gradius
Ghosts n’ Goblins
1986
Castlevania
Metroid
Dragon Quest
Castlevania
Metroid
Dragon Quest
1987
Final Fantasy
Metal Gear
Dragon Quest II
Final Fantasy
Metal Gear
Dragon Quest II
1988
Super Mario Bros. 3
Ninja Gaiden
Wasteland
Megaman 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
Ninja Gaiden
Wasteland
Megaman 2
1989
Mother
SimCity
Prince of Persia
Mother
SimCity
Prince of Persia
1990
F-Zero
Dragon Quest IV
Secret of Monkey Island
F-Zero
Dragon Quest IV
Secret of Monkey Island
1991
Super Castlevania IV
Street Fighter II
Final Fantasy IV
Super Castlevania IV
Street Fighter II
Final Fantasy IV
1992
Shin Megami Tensei
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Kirby’s Dreamland
TMNT IV: Turtles in Time
Shin Megami Tensei
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Kirby’s Dreamland
TMNT IV: Turtles in Time
1993
Link’s Awakening
Mega Man X
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Link’s Awakening
Mega Man X
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
1994
Live-A-Live
Final Fantasy VI
Earthbound
Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Live-A-Live
Final Fantasy VI
Earthbound
Sonic 3 & Knuckles
1995
Yoshi’s Island
Donkey Kong Country 2
Panel de Pon
Yoshi’s Island
Donkey Kong Country 2
Panel de Pon
1996
Quake
Resident Evil
Nights: Into Dreams
Quake
Resident Evil
Nights: Into Dreams
1997
Final Fantasy VII
Quake II
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Final Fantasy VII
Quake II
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
1998
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Half-Life
Resident Evil 2
Sonic Adventure
F-Zero X
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Half-Life
Resident Evil 2
Sonic Adventure
F-Zero X
1999
Age of Empires 2
Silent Hill
Shenmue
Power Stone
Age of Empires 2
Silent Hill
Shenmue
Power Stone
2000
Paper Mario
Jet Set Radio
Dragon Warrior Monsters
Marvel Vs. Capcom 2
Baldur’s Gate 2
Paper Mario
Jet Set Radio
Dragon Warrior Monsters
Marvel Vs. Capcom 2
Baldur’s Gate 2
2001
Halo: Combat Evolved
Metal Gear Solid 2
Sonic Adventure 2
Silent Hill 2
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Halo: Combat Evolved
Metal Gear Solid 2
Sonic Adventure 2
Silent Hill 2
Super Smash Bros. Melee
2002
Honorable Mentions:
The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker
Metroid Prime
Super Mario Sunshine
Super Monkeyball 2
Honorable Mentions:
The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker
Metroid Prime
Super Mario Sunshine
Super Monkeyball 2
2003
Shin Megani Tensei 3: Nocturne
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Soul Caliber II
Tales or Symphonia
Shin Megani Tensei 3: Nocturne
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Soul Caliber II
Tales or Symphonia
2004
Half-Life 2
Pokemon Emerald
Pokemon Firered & Leafgreen
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Half-Life 2
Pokemon Emerald
Pokemon Firered & Leafgreen
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
2005
Resident Evil 4
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Psychonauts
Star Wars: Battlefront II
Resident Evil 4
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Psychonauts
Star Wars: Battlefront II
2006
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Oblivion
Tetris DS
Wii Sports
Persona 3
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Oblivion
Tetris DS
Wii Sports
Persona 3
2007
Super Mario Galaxy
Halo 3
Bioshock
Mass Effect
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Super Mario Galaxy
Halo 3
Bioshock
Mass Effect
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
2008
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Left 4 Dead
Fallout 3
Armored Core: For Answer
Spelunky
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Left 4 Dead
Fallout 3
Armored Core: For Answer
Spelunky
2009
Pokemon Heartgold & Soulsilver
Left 4 Dead 2
Plants Vs. Zombies
Dragon Quest IX
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Pokemon Heartgold & Soulsilver
Left 4 Dead 2
Plants Vs. Zombies
Dragon Quest IX
Batman: Arkham Asylum
2010
Fallout: New Vegas
Mass Effect 2
Pokemon Black & White
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Red Dead Redemption
Fallout: New Vegas
Mass Effect 2
Pokemon Black & White
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Red Dead Redemption
2011
Portal 2
Minecraft
Skyrim
Batman: Arkham City
The Binding of Isaac
Portal 2
Minecraft
Skyrim
Batman: Arkham City
The Binding of Isaac
2012
Pokemon Black 2 & White 2
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Fire Emblem: Awakening
Gravity Rush
Hotline Miami
Pokemon Black 2 & White 2
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Fire Emblem: Awakening
Gravity Rush
Hotline Miami
2013
Pocket Card Jockey
Grand Theft Auto V
Shin Megami Tensei IV
Project Zomboid
Pocket Card Jockey
Grand Theft Auto V
Shin Megami Tensei IV
Project Zomboid
2014
Dark Souls II
Shovel Knight
Super Smash Bros for Wii U
Lisa
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Dark Souls II
Shovel Knight
Super Smash Bros for Wii U
Lisa
Wolfenstein: The New Order
2015
Undertale
Metal Gear Solid V
Splatoon
Cities: Skylines
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Undertale
Metal Gear Solid V
Splatoon
Cities: Skylines
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
2016
The Last Guardian
Stardew Valley
Doom
Inside
Overwatch
The Last Guardian
Stardew Valley
Doom
Inside
Overwatch
2017
Hollow Knight
Night in the Woods
NeiR: Automata
Fortnite
Dragon Quest XI
Hollow Knight
Night in the Woods
NeiR: Automata
Fortnite
Dragon Quest XI
2018
Red Dead Redemption 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man
God of War
Super Smash Bros Ultimate
A Way Out
Red Dead Redemption 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man
God of War
Super Smash Bros Ultimate
A Way Out
2019
Resident Evil 2
Outer Wilds
Disco Elysium
A Short Hike
Control
Resident Evil 2
Outer Wilds
Disco Elysium
A Short Hike
Control
2020
Doom Eternal
Hades
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Ghost of Tsushima
Omori
Doom Eternal
Hades
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Ghost of Tsushima
Omori
2021
Metroid Dread
Inscryption
Unpacking
Shin Megami Tensei V
Psychonauts 2
Metroid Dread
Inscryption
Unpacking
Shin Megami Tensei V
Psychonauts 2
2022
Signalis
God of War: Ragnarok
Stray
Tunic
Neon White
Signalis
God of War: Ragnarok
Stray
Tunic
Neon White
2023
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Resident Evil 4
Baldur’s Gate 3
Spider-Man 2
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Resident Evil 4
Baldur’s Gate 3
Spider-Man 2