The Game Awards have been produced and hosted since 2014 by journalist Geoff Keighley. The annual ceremony is held each December and recognizes games released during the previous 12 months.
The nominees are selected by an international panel made up of more than 95 media outlets and influencers. This same jury, along with the aggregated results of an online fan vote, also determines the winners each year. The final ballot is weighted with 90% of the vote coming from the panel and the remaining 10% coming from the general public. Contrary to popular belief, Geoff Keighley has no say in selecting the nominees or the winners.
The Game Awards are a direct continuation of the Spike Video Game Awards, which Keighley produced for Spike TV from 2003 until 2013. After the cable channel declined to sponsor the show in 2014, he chose to move forward with The Game Awards as an independent production.
All the “Game of the Year” winners from The Game Awards and the Spike Video Game Awards can be found here…
| YEAR | GAME OF THE YEAR WINNER |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Baldur’s Gate 3 |
| 2022 | Elden Ring |
| 2021 | It Takes Two |
| 2020 | The Last of Us Part II |
| 2019 | Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice |
| 2018 | God of War |
| 2017 | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |
| 2016 | Overwatch |
| 2015 | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt |
| 2014 | Dragon Age: Inquisition |
The “Game of the Year” winners from the Spike Video Game Awards have been collected here…
| YEAR | GAME OF THE YEAR WINNER |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Grand Theft Auto V |
| 2012 | The Walking Dead |
| 2011 | The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim |
| 2010 | Red Dead Redemption |
| 2009 | Uncharted 2: Among Thieves |
| 2008 | Grand Theft Auto IV |
| 2007 | BioShock |
| 2006 | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion |
| 2005 | Resident Evil 4 |
| 2004 | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas |
| 2003 | Madden NFL 2004 |
More information about The Game Awards can be found at the ceremony’s official website.