# D.I.C.E. Award for Game of the Year

The D.I.C.E. Award for Game of the Year is an award presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during the D.I.C.E. Awards. It is given in honor of "the single game, without regard to system or delivery mechanism, voted by the membership of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences that best utilizes the chosen medium to entertain users". All active creative/technical, business, and affiliate members of the Academy are qualified to vote for this category.
The most recent winner of the award is Astro Bot, developed by Team Asobi and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

## History
### Category name changes

The 1st Annual Interactive Achievement Awards ceremony was held on May 28, 1998, with the licensed adaptation of GoldenEye 007, developed by Rare and published by Nintendo, receiving the first award. The award was originally known as Interactive Title of the Year for the 1998 ceremony. It would be renamed Game of the Year at the following year's awards ceremony. For a brief period between 2006 and 2009, the award was presented as Overall Game of the Year.

### Indie Games

The first indie that was nominated for Game of the Year was Angry Birds HD. Journey would be the first indie game winner. The only other two indie games that had won were Untitled Goose Game and Hades. On a yearly basis since 2016, there had been at least one indie game nominee for Game of the Year:
* 2016: Ori and the Blind Forest
* 2017: Inside
* 2018: Cuphead
* 2019: Into the Breach, Return of the Obra Dinn
* 2020: Disco Elysium, Outer Wilds, Untitled Goose Game
* 2021: Hades
* 2022: Inscryption
* 2023: Stray, Vampire Survivors
* 2024: Cocoon
* 2025: Balatro
2019, 2020 and 2023 were the only years that had more than one indie game nominee, with 2020 being the first year of an indie game majority.

### Genres

The most frequently nominated and winning genres for Game of the Year had been action, adventure, and role-playing games. No strategy game had ever won the award, but fourteen had been nominated: Age of Empires, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, Age of Empires II: The Conquerors, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, Sacrifice, Sid Meier's Civilization III, Command & Conquer: Generals, Rise of Nations, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Hearthstone, Into the Breach, Inscryption, and Balatro. The Sims was the only simulation game to win the top award, with six others also being nominated: MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loopy Landscapes, Black & White, Animal Crossing, Nintendogs, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Four rhythm games had been nominated: PaRappa the Rapper, Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, and Rock Band. The only fighting games that had been nominated were Soulcalibur, Tekken Tag Tournament, and WWF No Mercy. The awards ceremony in 2001 had six sports game nominees: FIFA 2001, Links 2001, Madden NFL 2001, SSX, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, and Virtua Tennis; SSX 3 and Wii Sports were the only sports games nominated after 2001. Only three expansion packs had ever been nominated (all during the awards ceremony in 2001): Age of Empires II: The Conquerors, EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark, and RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loopy Landscapes. The only compilation pack that received a nomination for Game of the Year was The Orange Box (which included Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Portal, and Team Fortress 2, as well as previously released titles of Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One).

### Platforms

Nearly every Game of the Year nominee had either been released for a home video game console or for personal computer. Pokémon Yellow, Nintendogs, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds were the only nominees that were released for handheld game consoles. There had been six nominees that were released for mobile devices at the time of their nomination: Angry Birds HD, The Walking Dead, Hearthstone, Pokémon Go, Vampire Survivors, and Balatro. Journey, Borderlands 2, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Inside, and Into the Breach would eventually be released for mobile devices, but they were not at the time of their nomination.

### Other Game of the Year Awards

Usually the winner for Game of the Year would also win the award for their respective genre/platform category; the only exceptions had been The Sims, Battlefield 1942, Untitled Goose Game, and It Takes Two. Of the four exceptions, Battlefield 1942 and Untitled Goose Game did not receive any nominations for their respective genre-related category (although the former did win the award for Online Gameplay of the Year, while the latter won for Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game). There had been seven winners for Family Game of the Year that were also nominated for Game of the Year: Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, Rock Band, LittleBigPlanet, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Astro Bot, with LittleBigPlanet and Astro Bot being the only winners for Game of the Year. Angry Birds HD and Journey were the only winners for Casual Game of the Year that were also nominated for Game of the Year, the latter of which won both awards.

## List of Winners and nominees
### 1990s

Table key :
* Indicates the winner
| Year | Game | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) | Ref. |
| 1997/1998 (1st) | GoldenEye 007 | Rare | Nintendo | [8][9] [10][11] |
| 1997/1998 (1st) | Age of Empires | Ensemble Studios | Microsoft | [8][9] [10][11] |
| 1997/1998 (1st) | Blade Runner | Westwood Studios | Virgin Interactive | [8][9] [10][11] |
| 1997/1998 (1st) | Final Fantasy VII | SquareSoft | Sony Computer Entertainment | [8][9] [10][11] |
| 1997/1998 (1st) | PaRappa the Rapper | NanaOn-Sha | Sony Computer Entertainment | [8][9] [10][11] |
| 1997/1998 (1st) | Quake II | id Software | Activision | [8][9] [10][11] |
| 1997/1998 (1st) | Riven: The Sequel to Myst | Cyan Worlds | Red Orb Entertainment | [8][9] [10][11] |
| 1997/1998 (1st) | Turok: Dinosaur Hunter | Iguana Entertainment | Acclaim Entertainment | [8][9] [10][11] |
| 1998/1999 (2nd) | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | |
| 1998/1999 (2nd) | Banjo-Kazooie | Rare | Nintendo | |
| 1998/1999 (2nd) | Grim Fandango | LucasArts | LucasArts | |
| 1998/1999 (2nd) | Half-Life | Valve | Sierra Studios | |
| 1998/1999 (2nd) | Metal Gear Solid | Konami | Konami | |
| 1998/1999 (2nd) | Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri | Firaxis Games | Electronic Arts | |
| 1998/1999 (2nd) | Star Wars: Rogue Squadron | Factor 5, LucasArts | LucasArts | |
| 1999/2000 (3rd) | The Sims | Maxis | Electronic Arts | |
| 1999/2000 (3rd) | Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings | Ensemble Studios | Microsoft | |
| 1999/2000 (3rd) | Donkey Kong 64 | Rare | Nintendo | |
| 1999/2000 (3rd) | Pokémon Yellow | Game Freak | Nintendo | |
| 1999/2000 (3rd) | Soulcalibur | Project Soul | Namco | |
| 1999/2000 (3rd) | Unreal Tournament | Epic Games, Digital Extremes | GT Interactive | |

### 2000s

| Year | Game | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) | Ref. |
| 2000 (4th) | Diablo II | Blizzard North | Blizzard Entertainment | |
| 2000 (4th) | Age of Empires II: The Conquerors | Ensemble Studios | Microsoft | |
| 2000 (4th) | Asheron's Call | Turbine Entertainment Software | Microsoft | |
| 2000 (4th) | Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn | BioWare | Interplay Entertainment | |
| 2000 (4th) | Banjo-Tooie | Rare | Nintendo | |
| 2000 (4th) | Chrono Cross | SquareSoft | Square Electronic Arts | |
| 2000 (4th) | Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 | Westwood Pacific | Electronic Arts | |
| 2000 (4th) | Deus Ex | Ion Storm | Eidos Interactive | |
| 2000 (4th) | Disney's Magic Artist 3D | Disney Interactive | Disney Interactive | |
| 2000 (4th) | EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark | Verant Interactive | Sony Online Entertainment | |
| 2000 (4th) | FIFA 2001 | EA Canada | Electronic Arts | |
| 2000 (4th) | Final Fantasy IX | SquareSoft | Square Electronic Arts | |
| 2000 (4th) | Jet Grind Radio | Smilebit | Sega | |
| 2000 (4th) | Links 2001 | Access Software | Microsoft | |
| 2000 (4th) | Madden NFL 2001 | EA Tiburon | Electronic Arts | |
| 2000 (4th) | MechWarrior 4: Vengeance | FASA Interactive | Microsoft | |
| 2000 (4th) | Rayman 2: The Great Escape | Ubi Pictures | Ubisoft | |
| 2000 (4th) | RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loopy Landscapes | MicroProse | Hasbro Interactive | |
| 2000 (4th) | Sacrifice | Shiny Entertainment | Interplay Entertainment | |
| 2000 (4th) | Shenmue | Sega AM2 | Sega | |
| 2000 (4th) | Skies of Arcadia | Overworks | Sega | |
| 2000 (4th) | Spyro: Year of the Dragon | Insomniac Games | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| 2000 (4th) | SSX | EA Canada | Electronic Arts | |
| 2000 (4th) | Tekken Tag Tournament | Namco | Namco | |
| 2000 (4th) | The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | |
| 2000 (4th) | The Operative: No One Lives Forever | Monolith Productions | Fox Interactive | |
| 2000 (4th) | Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 | Neversoft | Activision | |
| 2000 (4th) | Virtua Tennis | Sega AM3 | Sega | |
| 2000 (4th) | WWF No Mercy | AKI Corporation | THQ | |
| 2001 (5th) | Halo: Combat Evolved | Bungie | Microsoft Game Studios | [17][18] [19][20] |
| 2001 (5th) | Black & White | Lionhead Studios | Electronic Arts | [17][18] [19][20] |
| 2001 (5th) | Ico | Japan Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment | [17][18] [19][20] |
| 2001 (5th) | Sid Meier's Civilization III | Firaxis Games | Infogrames Interactive | [17][18] [19][20] |
| 2002 (6th) | Battlefield 1942 | DICE | Electronic Arts | |
| 2002 (6th) | Animal Crossing | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | |
| 2002 (6th) | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | Rockstar North | Rockstar Games | |
| 2002 (6th) | Metroid Prime | Retro Studios | Nintendo | |
| 2002 (6th) | Ratchet & Clank | Insomniac Games | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| 2003 (7th) | Call of Duty | Infinity Ward | Activision | [23][24] [25][26] |
| 2003 (7th) | Command & Conquer: Generals | EA Pacific | Electronic Arts | [23][24] [25][26] |
| 2003 (7th) | Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne | Remedy Entertainment | Rockstar Games | [23][24] [25][26] |
| 2003 (7th) | Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft | [23][24] [25][26] |
| 2003 (7th) | Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando | Insomniac Games | Sony Computer Entertainment | [23][24] [25][26] |
| 2003 (7th) | Rise of Nations | Big Huge Games | Microsoft Game Studios | [23][24] [25][26] |
| 2003 (7th) | SSX 3 | EA Canada | Electronic Arts | [23][24] [25][26] |
| 2003 (7th) | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic | BioWare | LucasArts | [23][24] [25][26] |
| 2003 (7th) | The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | [23][24] [25][26] |
| 2004 (8th) | Half-Life 2 | Valve | Vivendi Universal Games | |
| 2004 (8th) | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | Rockstar North | Rockstar Games | |
| 2004 (8th) | Halo 2 | Bungie | Microsoft Game Studios | |
| 2004 (8th) | Katamari Damacy | Namco | Namco | |
| 2004 (8th) | World of Warcraft | Blizzard Entertainment | Vivendi Universal Games | |
| 2005 (9th) | God of War | Santa Monica Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| 2005 (9th) | Call of Duty 2 | Infinity Ward | Activision | |
| 2005 (9th) | Guitar Hero | Harmonix | RedOctane | |
| 2005 (9th) | Nintendogs | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | |
| 2005 (9th) | Shadow of the Colossus | Japan Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| 2006 (10th) | Gears of War | Epic Games | Microsoft Game Studios | |
| 2006 (10th) | Guitar Hero II | Harmonix | RedOctane | |
| 2006 (10th) | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion | Bethesda Game Studios | 2K Games | |
| 2006 (10th) | The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | |
| 2006 (10th) | Wii Sports | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | |
| 2007 (11th) | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | Infinity Ward | Activision | |
| 2007 (11th) | BioShock | 2K Boston, 2K Australia | 2K Games | |
| 2007 (11th) | Rock Band | Harmonix | MTV Games | |
| 2007 (11th) | Super Mario Galaxy | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo | |
| 2007 (11th) | The Orange Box | Valve | Valve, Electronic Arts | |
| 2008 (12th) | LittleBigPlanet | Media Molecule | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| 2008 (12th) | Fallout 3 | Bethesda Game Studios | Bethesda Softworks | |
| 2008 (12th) | Grand Theft Auto IV | Rockstar North | Rockstar Games | |
| 2008 (12th) | Left 4 Dead | Valve South | Valve | |
| 2008 (12th) | Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots | Kojima Productions | Konami | |
| 2009 (13th) | Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | Naughty Dog | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| 2009 (13th) | Assassin's Creed II | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft | |
| 2009 (13th) | Batman: Arkham Asylum | Rocksteady Studios | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | |
| 2009 (13th) | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | Infinity Ward | Activision | |
| 2009 (13th) | Dragon Age: Origins | BioWare | Electronic Arts | |

### 2010s

| Year | Game | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) |
| 2010 (14th) | Mass Effect 2 | BioWare | Electronic Arts |
| 2010 (14th) | Angry Birds HD | Rovio Entertainment | Chillingo |
| 2010 (14th) | Call of Duty: Black Ops | Treyarch | Activision |
| 2010 (14th) | God of War III | Santa Monica Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2010 (14th) | Red Dead Redemption | Rockstar San Diego | Rockstar Games |
| 2011 (15th) | The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | Bethesda Game Studios | Bethesda Softworks |
| 2011 (15th) | Batman: Arkham City | Rocksteady Studios | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment |
| 2011 (15th) | Portal 2 | Valve | Valve |
| 2011 (15th) | The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo |
| 2011 (15th) | Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception | Naughty Dog | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2012 (16th) | Journey | thatgamecompany | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2012 (16th) | Borderlands 2 | Gearbox Software | 2K Games |
| 2012 (16th) | Far Cry 3 | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft |
| 2012 (16th) | The Walking Dead | Telltale Games | Telltale Games |
| 2012 (16th) | XCOM: Enemy Unknown | Firaxis Games | 2K Games |
| 2013 (17th) | The Last of Us | Naughty Dog | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2013 (17th) | Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft |
| 2013 (17th) | BioShock Infinite | Irrational Games | 2K Games |
| 2013 (17th) | Grand Theft Auto V | Rockstar North | Rockstar Games |
| 2013 (17th) | The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds | Nintendo EAD | Nintendo |
| 2014 (18th) | Dragon Age: Inquisition | BioWare | Electronic Arts |
| 2014 (18th) | Destiny | Bungie | Activision |
| 2014 (18th) | Far Cry 4 | Ubisoft Montreal | Ubisoft |
| 2014 (18th) | Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft | Blizzard Entertainment | Blizzard Entertainment |
| 2014 (18th) | Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor | Monolith Productions | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment |
| 2015 (19th) | Fallout 4 | Bethesda Game Studios | Bethesda Softworks |
| 2015 (19th) | Bloodborne | FromSoftware | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2015 (19th) | Ori and the Blind Forest | Moon Studios | Microsoft Studios |
| 2015 (19th) | Rise of the Tomb Raider | Crystal Dynamics | Square Enix Europe |
| 2015 (19th) | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | CD Projekt Red | CD Projekt |
| 2016 (20th) | Overwatch | Blizzard Entertainment | Blizzard Entertainment |
| 2016 (20th) | Battlefield 1 | DICE | Electronic Arts |
| 2016 (20th) | Inside | Playdead | Playdead |
| 2016 (20th) | Pokémon Go | Niantic | Niantic |
| 2016 (20th) | Uncharted 4: A Thief's End | Naughty Dog | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2017 (21st) | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo |
| 2017 (21st) | Cuphead | Studio MDHR | Studio MDHR |
| 2017 (21st) | Horizon Zero Dawn | Guerrilla Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2017 (21st) | PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds | PUBG Corporation | Bluehole |
| 2017 (21st) | Super Mario Odyssey | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo |
| 2018 (22nd) | God of War | Santa Monica Studio | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2018 (22nd) | Into the Breach | Subset Games | Subset Games |
| 2018 (22nd) | Marvel's Spider-Man | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2018 (22nd) | Red Dead Redemption 2 | Rockstar Games | Rockstar Games |
| 2018 (22nd) | Return of the Obra Dinn | Lucas Pope | 3909 |
| 2019 (23rd) | Untitled Goose Game | House House | Panic Inc. |
| 2019 (23rd) | Control | Remedy Entertainment | 505 Games |
| 2019 (23rd) | Death Stranding | Kojima Productions | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2019 (23rd) | Disco Elysium | ZA/UM | ZA/UM |
| 2019 (23rd) | Outer Wilds | Mobius Digital | Annapurna Interactive |

### 2020s

| Year | Game | Developer(s) | Publisher(s) | Ref. |
| 2020 (24th) | Hades | Supergiant Games | Supergiant Games | |
| 2020 (24th) | Animal Crossing: New Horizons | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | |
| 2020 (24th) | Final Fantasy VII Remake | Square Enix | Square Enix | |
| 2020 (24th) | Ghost of Tsushima | Sucker Punch Productions | Sony Interactive Entertainment | |
| 2020 (24th) | The Last of Us Part II | Naughty Dog | Sony Interactive Entertainment | |
| 2021 (25th) | It Takes Two | Hazelight Studios | Electronic Arts | |
| 2021 (25th) | Deathloop | Arkane Studios | Bethesda Softworks | |
| 2021 (25th) | Inscryption | Daniel Mullins Games | Devolver Digital | |
| 2021 (25th) | Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment | |
| 2021 (25th) | Returnal | Housemarque | Sony Interactive Entertainment | |
| 2022 (26th) | Elden Ring | FromSoftware | Bandai Namco Entertainment | |
| 2022 (26th) | God of War Ragnarök | Santa Monica Studio | Sony Interactive Entertainment | |
| 2022 (26th) | Horizon Forbidden West | Guerrilla Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment | |
| 2022 (26th) | Stray | BlueTwelve Studios | Annapurna Interactive | |
| 2022 (26th) | Vampire Survivors | poncle | poncle | |
| 2023 (27th) | Baldur's Gate 3 | Larian Studios | Larian Studios | [64][65] [66][67] |
| 2023 (27th) | Alan Wake 2 | Remedy Entertainment | Epic Games | [64][65] [66][67] |
| 2023 (27th) | Cocoon | Geometric Interactive | Annapurna Interactive | [64][65] [66][67] |
| 2023 (27th) | Marvel's Spider-Man 2 | Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment | [64][65] [66][67] |
| 2023 (27th) | The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | Nintendo EPD | Nintendo | [64][65] [66][67] |
| 2024 (28th) | Astro Bot | Team Asobi | Sony Interactive Entertainment | [68][69] [70][71] |
| 2024 (28th) | Balatro | LocalThunk | Playstack | [68][69] [70][71] |
| 2024 (28th) | Black Myth: Wukong | Game Science | Game Science | [68][69] [70][71] |
| 2024 (28th) | Helldivers 2 | Arrowhead Game Studios | Sony Interactive Entertainment | [68][69] [70][71] |
| 2024 (28th) | Indiana Jones and the Great Circle | MachineGames | Bethesda Softworks | [68][69] [70][71] |

## Multiple nominations and wins

Nintendo EAD/EPD has developed the most Game of the Year nominees with fourteen. Nintendo EAD/EPD is also tied with Infinity Ward, Santa Monica Studio, Naughty Dog, BioWare, and Bethesda Game Studios for each developing two Game of the Year winners, being the most of any developer. Developer Insomniac Games has the most nominations without a win.
Sony has published the most Game of the Year nominees and winners. Sony has twice had back-to-back wins for Game of the Year; the first for LittleBigPlanet in 2009 and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves in 2010, and the second time for Journey in 2013 and The Last of Us in 2014. The only other publisher with back-to-back wins is Nintendo with GoldenEye 007 in 1998, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in 1999. Rockstar Games has published the most Game of the Year nominees without having a single winner.
Developers :
| Developer | Nominations | Wins |
| Nintendo EAD/EPD | 14 | 2 |
| BioWare | 5 | 2 |
| Naughty Dog | 5 | 2 |
| Bethesda Game Studios | 4 | 2 |
| Infinity Ward | 4 | 2 |
| Santa Monica Studio | 4 | 2 |
| Rare | 4 | 1 |
| Valve | 4 | 1 |
| Blizzard Entertainment | 3 | 1 |
| Bungie | 3 | 1 |
| DICE | 2 | 1 |
| Epic Games | 2 | 1 |
| FromSoftware | 2 | 1 |
| Insomniac Games | 6 | 0 |
| Ubisoft Montreal | 5 | 0 |
| Rockstar North | 4 | 0 |
| SquareSoft/Square Enix | 4 | 0 |
| EA Canada | 3 | 0 |
| Ensemble Studios | 3 | 0 |
| Firaxis Games | 3 | 0 |
| Harmonix | 3 | 0 |
| Remedy Entertainment | 3 | 0 |
| Guerrilla Games | 2 | 0 |
| 2K Boston/Irrational Games | 2 | 0 |
| LucasArts | 2 | 0 |
| Japan Studio | 2 | 0 |
| Kojima Productions | 2 | 0 |
| Monolith Productions | 2 | 0 |
| Namco | 2 | 0 |
| Rocksteady Studios | 2 | 0 |
| Sega AM2/AM3 | 2 | 0 |
| Westwood Pacific/EA Pacific | 2 | 0 |
Publishers :
| Publisher | Nominations | Wins |
| Sony Interactive Entertainment | 30 | 7 |
| Electronic Arts | 18 | 5 |
| Nintendo | 20 | 3 |
| Microsoft/Xbox Game Studios | 11 | 2 |
| Activision | 8 | 2 |
| Bethesda Softworks | 5 | 2 |
| Blizzard Entertainment | 3 | 2 |
| Namco/Bandai Namco Entertainment | 4 | 1 |
| Vivendi Universal Games | 2 | 1 |
| Rockstar Games | 7 | 0 |
| Ubisoft | 6 | 0 |
| 2K Games | 5 | 0 |
| Sega | 4 | 0 |
| SquareSoft/Square Enix | 4 | 0 |
| Annapurna Interactive | 3 | 0 |
| LucasArts | 3 | 0 |
| Valve | 3 | 0 |
| Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | 3 | 0 |
| Interplay Entertainment | 2 | 0 |
| Konami | 2 | 0 |
| RedOctane | 2 | 0 |

### Franchises

The most nominated franchise is The Legend of Zelda, with eight nominations. Call of Duty, The Legend of Zelda, and God of War are the only franchises to have won Game of the Year twice. The Grand Theft Auto franchise has garnered the most nominations without winning a single award in this category. Final Fantasy VII Remake is the first and only remake that has been nominated, let alone a remake of a previous nominee.
Franchises :
| Franchise | Nominations | Wins |
| The Legend of Zelda | 8 | 2 |
| Call of Duty | 5 | 2 |
| God of War | 4 | 2 |
| Half-Life | 3 | 1 |
| Uncharted | 3 | 1 |
| Baldur's Gate | 2 | 1 |
| Battlefield | 2 | 1 |
| Dragon Age | 2 | 1 |
| Fallout | 2 | 1 |
| Halo | 2 | 1 |
| The Elder Scrolls | 2 | 1 |
| The Last of Us | 2 | 1 |
| Grand Theft Auto | 4 | 0 |
| Age of Empires | 3 | 0 |
| Final Fantasy | 3 | 0 |
| Ratchet & Clank | 3 | 0 |
| Animal Crossing | 2 | 0 |
| Assassin's Creed | 2 | 0 |
| Banjo-Kazooie | 2 | 0 |
| Batman: Arkham | 2 | 0 |
| BioShock | 2 | 0 |
| Command & Conquer | 2 | 0 |
| Far Cry | 2 | 0 |
| Guitar Hero | 2 | 0 |
| Horizon | 2 | 0 |
| Marvel's Spider-Man | 2 | 0 |
| Metal Gear | 2 | 0 |
| Pokémon | 2 | 0 |
| Portal | 2 | 0 |
| Red Dead | 2 | 0 |
| Sid Meier | 2 | 0 |
| SSX | 2 | 0 |
| Star Wars | 2 | 0 |
| Super Mario | 2 | 0 |
| Warcraft | 2 | 0 |