Supergiant’s Hades Collects Another “Game of the Year” Statuette at the 2020-2021 GDC Awards

This year’s Game Developers Conference is operating slightly out of sync with its normal spot on the calendar, but it was still business as usual (in more ways than one) for the 2020-2021 Game Developers Choice (GDC) Awards.

Ghost of Tsushima, Hades, and The Last of Us Part II tied for the most nominations with six apiece, so competition was stiff for the night’s biggest prize, but it was Hades that took home “Game of the Year” (as well as “Best Audio” and “Best Design”) during last night’s virtual ceremony.

Supergiant’s roguelike just narrowly missed a clean sweep of all the major year-end awards, and the only statuette to elude the veteran developers was the “rising angel” from The Game Awards, which instead went to Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II.

As you may have guessed, Sony’s one-two punch from the PS4’s final Summer didn’t go home empty-handed. The Last of Us Part II was selected as the recipient of the “Best Narrative” award, while Ghost of Tsushima picked up “Best Visual Art” and the “Audience Award.”

Other games that expanded their trophy case last night included Genshin Impact (“Best Mobile Game”), Half-Life: Alyx (“Best VR/AR Game”), Microsoft Flight Simulator (“Best Technology”), Dreams (“Innovation Award”), and Phasmophobia (“Best Debut”)

You can find a full list of all the winners, nominees, and Honorable Mentions from the 2020-2021 Game Developers Choice Awards, as well as a video replay of the show (which was hosted by writer Sam Maggs), after the break.

Game of the Year

• WINNER: Hades
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons
• Ghost of Tsushima
• Half-Life: Alyx
• The Last of Us Part II

Honorable Mentions
Doom Eternal, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Genshin Impact, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Spelunky 2, Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Best Mobile Game

• WINNER: Genshin Impact
• Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
• If Found…
• Legends of Runeterra
• The Pathless

Honorable Mentions
Pokemon Cafe Mix, Reigns: Beyond

Best VR/AR Game

• WINNER: Half-Life: Alyx
• Dreams
• Paper Beast
• Star Wars: Squadrons
• The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners

Honorable Mentions
Iron Man VR, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Phasmophobia, The Room VR: A Dark Matter, Until You Fall

Best Design

• WINNER: Hades
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons
• Ghost of Tsushima
• Half-Life: Alyx
• The Last of Us Part II

Honorable Mentions
Crusader Kings III, Dreams, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Spelunky 2

Best Visual Art

• WINNER: Ghost of Tsushima
• Cyberpunk 2077
• Hades
• The Last of Us Part II
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Honorable Mentions
Final Fantasy VII Remake, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Spiritfarer, Umurangi Generation

Best Narrative

• WINNER: The Last of Us Part II
• Final Fantasy VII Remake
• Ghost of Tsushima
• Hades
• Kentucky Route Zero

Honorable Mentions
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Cyberpunk 2077, Half-Life: Alyx, If Found…, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Spiritfarer

Best Audio

• WINNER: Hades
• Doom Eternal
• Final Fantasy VII Remake
• Ghost of Tsushima
• The Last of Us Part II

Honorable Mentions
Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Fuser, Half-Life: Alyx, Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Best Technology

• WINNER: Microsoft Flight Simulator
• Dreams
• Ghost of Tsushima
• Half-Life: Alyx
• The Last of Us Part II

Honorable Mentions
Astro’s Playroom, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Innovation Award

• WINNER: Dreams
• Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
• Hades
• Half-Life: Alyx
• Microsoft Flight Simulator

Honorable Mentions
Astro’s Playroom, Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us Part II, Watch Dogs Legion

Best Debut

• WINNER: Phasmophobia
• Carrion
• Mortal Shell
• Raji: An Ancient Epic
• Umurangi Generation

Honorable Mentions
Call of the Sea, If Found…, Roki

Audience Award

• WINNER: Ghost of Tsushima

Pioneer Award

• WINNER: Tom Fulp

Lifetime Achievement Award

• WINNER: Laralyn McWilliams