Game Developers Choice Award for Game of the Year


The Game Developers Choice Award for the Game of the Year, also known as GDCA Game of the Year is the main video game award presented at the Game Developers Conference, the largest annual gathering of professional video game developers. The conference, usually held in or around March in San Francisco, presents the award as part of the Game Developers Choice Awards, a series of awards honoring outstanding achievements in video game design for games released during the previous calendar year.
Established in 2001, the award is considered the most prestigious peer-awarded accolade in the digital games industry, as the winners are selected by votes of game developers themselves.
As of the 17th GDC held in March 2017, only four studios have won the award more than once:
As of the 18th GDC held in 2018, developers with three or more nominations in the category include Nintendo EPD, BioWare, Bethesda Game Studios, Rockstar North, Ubisoft Montreal, FromSoftware, Lionhead Studios, Blizzard Entertainment, Naughty Dog and Valve.
The most successful video game publisher to date is Sony Interactive Entertainment with 11 nominations and 4 wins, followed by Nintendo, Electronic Arts and Rockstar Games.

List of winners

2000s

Note: From 2005 to 2007 the award was titled Best Game. Years listed represent calendar years for which the awards were given. Ceremonies are usually held in March the following year.
YearGameDeveloperPublisher
2000
The SimsMaxisElectronic Arts
2000
Deus ExIon StormEidos Interactive
2000
Jet Set RadioSmilebitSega
2000
'Monolith ProductionsFox Interactive
2000
ShenmueSega AM2Sega
2001
Grand Theft Auto IIIDMA DesignRockstar Games
2001
Black & WhiteLionhead StudiosElectronic Arts
2001
'BungieMicrosoft Game Studios
2001
IcoTeam IcoSony Computer Entertainment
2001
Max PayneRemedy EntertainmentGathering of Developers / Rockstar Games
2002
Metroid PrimeRetro StudiosNintendo
2002
Battlefield 1942Digital IllusionsElectronic Arts
2002
'Rockstar NorthRockstar Games
2002
Neverwinter NightsBioWareAtari, Inc.
2002
Tom Clancy's Splinter CellUbisoft MontrealUbisoft
2003
BioWareLucasArts
2003
Beyond Good & EvilUbisoft Montpellier / Ubisoft MilanUbisoft
2003
Call of DutyInfinity WardActivision
2003
'Ubisoft MontrealUbisoft
2003
'Nintendo EADNintendo
2004
Half-Life 2ValveValve
2004
'Criterion GamesElectronic Arts
2004
'Rockstar NorthRockstar Games
2004
Katamari DamacyNamcoNamco
2004
World of WarcraftBlizzard EntertainmentBlizzard Entertainment
2005
Shadow of the ColossusTeam IcoSony Computer Entertainment
2005
'Nintendo EADNintendo
2005
God of WarSanta Monica StudioSony Computer Entertainment
2005
Guitar HeroHarmonixRedOctane
2005
The MoviesLionhead StudiosActivision
2006
Gears of WarEpic GamesMicrosoft Game Studios
2006
'Bethesda Game StudiosBethesda Softworks
2006
'Nintendo EADNintendo
2006
ŌkamiClover StudioCapcom
2006
Wii SportsNintendo EADNintendo
2007
PortalValveValve
2007
BioShock2K Boston / 2K Australia2K Games
2007
'Infinity WardActivision
2007
Rock BandHarmonixMTV Games / Electronic Arts
2007
Super Mario GalaxyNintendo EAD TokyoNintendo
2008
Fallout 3Bethesda Game StudiosBethesda Softworks
2008
Fable IILionhead StudiosMicrosoft Game Studios
2008
Grand Theft Auto IVRockstar NorthRockstar Games
2008
LittleBigPlanetMedia MoleculeSony Computer Entertainment
2008
Left 4 DeadTurtle Rock StudiosValve
2009
Naughty DogSony Computer Entertainment
2009
Assassin's Creed IIUbisoft MontrealUbisoft
2009
'Rocksteady StudiosEidos Interactive / Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
2009
Demon's SoulsFromSoftwareSony Computer Entertainment
2009
BioWareElectronic Arts

2010s