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← Award categories

Best Game Design Games By year ↓

By year ↑ By votes ↓

Games recognized for direction, systems, level design, mechanics, and the creative design decisions behind the play experience.

Ceremony names grouped here include Best Game Direction, Game Design, Design Achievement.

2025 3 1 3 2 6 7 Blue Prince
2025 2 2 14 1 16 15 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
2025 4 1 1 12 Hades II
2025 3 2 4 21 Ghost of Yotei
2025 3 2 13 Split Fiction
2025 2 1 6 BALL x PIT
2025 2 1 3 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
2025 1 3 6 ARC Raiders
2025 1 4 14 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
2025 1 1 2 6 Donkey Kong Bananza
2025 1 1 Öoo
2024 3 1 8 2 14 14 Astro Bot
2024 1 3 1 13 Animal Well
2024 1 3 3 2 9 5 Balatro
2024 2 1 2 2 13 Black Myth: Wukong
2024 2 1 2 7 8 Helldivers 2
2024 2 4 Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
2024 1 1 9 1000xRESIST
2024 1 2 4 Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
2024 1 2 1 12 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
2024 1 2 2 5 7 Metaphor: ReFantazio
2024 1 1 Riven
2024 1 1 Tactical Breach Wizards
2024 1 1 1 6 Thank Goodness You're Here!
2024 1 1 2 The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
2024 1 1 1 4 UFO 50
2023 3 1 10 1 13 14 Baldur's Gate 3
2023 5 6 2 3 14 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
2023 4 1 1 2 12 Cocoon
2023 1 1 2 1 7 Dave the Diver
2023 3 3 5 16 Marvel's Spider-Man 2
2023 3 1 5 8 Super Mario Bros. Wonder
2023 1 2 2 9 18 Alan Wake II
2023 2 1 9 Dredge
2023 1 1 4 13 Hi-Fi Rush
2023 1 2 6 Viewfinder
2022 4 1 17 1 10 15 Elden Ring
2022 4 2 2 18 17 God of War Ragnarök
2022 4 1 3 10 TUNIC
2022 1 1 1 1 3 9 Vampire Survivors
2022 3 1 20 Horizon Forbidden West
2022 2 1 2 3 13 Immortality
2022 2 3 4 Marvel Snap
2022 2 1 3 14 Stray
2022 1 1 3 Cult of the Lamb
2022 1 7 Neon White
2021 2 3 4 2 3 19 Deathloop
2021 2 3 2 1 7 13 It Takes Two
2021 1 3 2 1 8 Inscryption
2021 4 1 9 14 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
2021 2 2 1 2 15 Psychonauts 2
2021 2 2 4 10 Returnal
2021 1 1 1 3 11 Forza Horizon 5
2021 1 1 1 1 6 Halo Infinite
2021 1 3 Loop Hero
2021 1 1 7 The Artful Escape
2020 4 1 11 1 13 19 Hades
2020 1 4 6 2 9 22 The Last of Us Part II
2020 5 1 1 7 21 Ghost of Tsushima
2020 5 2 1 5 11 Half-Life: Alyx
2020 2 2 5 9 Animal Crossing: New Horizons
2020 1 5 Astro’s Playroom
2020 1 1 2 11 Final Fantasy VII Remake
2020 1 1 6 Kentucky Route Zero
2020 1 2 7 Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
2019 1 4 5 2 3 13 Outer Wilds
2019 2 1 3 3 Baba Is You
2019 1 2 5 1 8 17 Control
2019 4 3 2 10 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
2019 1 1 2 6 24 Death Stranding
2019 3 1 11 10 Disco Elysium
2019 2 2 3 9 Untitled Goose Game
2019 1 3 A Short Hike
2019 1 4 4 Resident Evil 2 (2019)
2019 1 2 Slay the Spire
2019 1 3 Wattam
2018 2 2 14 1 10 13 God of War (2018)
2018 1 2 2 1 5 15 God of War
2018 1 2 2 5 Into the Breach
2018 1 2 1 4 11 Return of the Obra Dinn
2018 4 2 1 21 Marvel's Spider-Man
2018 3 3 2 8 20 Red Dead Redemption 2
2018 2 1 2 4 7 Celeste
2018 1 1 1 A Way Out
2018 1 1 8 Astro Bot Rescue Mission
2018 1 8 Detroit: Become Human
2018 1 6 13 Florence
2018 1 3 Minit
2018 1 2 Subnautica
2017 4 1 16 6 11 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
2017 1 3 2 2 5 7 Super Mario Odyssey
2017 5 2 4 22 Horizon Zero Dawn
2017 2 3 9 Gorogoa
2017 2 1 2 1 6 Nier: Automata
2017 2 1 2 2 7 PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
2017 2 1 1 2 14 What Remains of Edith Finch
2017 1 5 Assassin's Creed Origins
2017 1 1 2 4 Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
2017 1 9 Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
2017 1 1 1 10 Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
2016 3 1 10 1 8 11 Overwatch
2016 2 2 1 2 12 13 Inside
2016 3 1 13 Battlefield 1
2016 3 2 2 6 16 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
2016 2 2 6 Dishonored 2
2016 2 1 8 The Witness
2016 2 1 7 Titanfall 2
2016 1 1 5 1979 Revolution: Black Friday
2016 1 1 1 Doom
2016 1 1 1 1 5 Doom (2016)
2016 1 3 I Expect You To Die
2016 1 1 1 3 Owlboy
2016 1 2 1 2 13 The Last Guardian
2015 1 2 2 2 2 8 Fallout 4
2015 1 2 7 1 6 18 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
2015 1 1 5 2 1 4 Bloodborne
2015 1 1 1 2 8 3 Rocket League
2015 1 1 Grow Home
2015 1 3 4 Her
2015 1 1 1 6 9 Her Story
2015 1 2 6 Lara Croft: GO
2015 1 1 2 10 Life is Strange
2015 1 3 Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
2015 1 1 Massive Chalice
2015 1 2 1 2 9 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
2015 1 1 1 9 Rise of the Tomb Raider
2015 1 1 10 Splatoon
2015 1 1 11 Undertale
2014 3 1 3 8 7 Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
2014 1 1 2 2 Hearthstone
2014 2 2 9 Far Cry 4
2014 2 3 7 Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
2014 1 1 2 6 Alien Isolation
2014 1 1 Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
2014 1 2 1 6 5 Destiny
2014 1 8 1 1 Dragon Age: Inquisition
2014 1 1 Dungeon of the Endless
2014 1 1 3 Lumino City
2014 1 6 8 Monument Valley
2014 1 1 2 Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna)
2014 1 2 4 Shovel Knight
2014 1 1 10 The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
2014 1 1 6 Threes!
2014 1 7 Titanfall
2013 2 1 10 1 13 13 The Last of Us
2013 1 2 3 2 8 14 Grand Theft Auto V
2013 2 1 2 6 Papers, Please
2013 2 3 15 Tearaway
2013 2 2 5 Tomb Raider
2013 1 1 8 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
2013 1 2 6 Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
2013 1 1 2 2 7 Super Mario 3D World
2013 1 1 2 1 The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
2012 3 5 1 18 7 Journey
2012 3 3 2 1 12 Dishonored
2012 2 2 1 1 13 Far Cry 3
2012 2 3 2 9 9 The Walking Dead
2012 2 2 2 1 2 XCOM: Enemy Unknown
2012 1 9 Borderlands 2
2012 1 6 Mark of the Ninja
2012 1 3 Spelunky
2012 1 2 6 The Unfinished Swan
2011 2 1 6 2 10 9 Portal 2
2011 1 2 7 1 4 9 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
2011 3 2 13 Batman: Arkham City
2011 2 1 1 20 L.A. Noire
2011 1 1 5 Dark Souls
2011 1 3 6 LittleBigPlanet 2
2011 1 2 4 Super Mario 3D Land
2011 1 1 3 The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
2011 1 1 1 4 13 Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
2010 2 6 7 5 Red Dead Redemption
2010 1 1 2 1 4 Super Mario Galaxy 2
2010 3 1 2 10 Limbo
2010 3 7 1 3 9 Mass Effect 2
2010 2 1 10 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
2010 2 2 7 God of War III
2010 1 5 ENSLAVED: Odyssey to the West
2010 1 6 6 Heavy Rain
2009 3 1 2 1 5 8 Batman: Arkham Asylum
2009 1 3 8 15 10 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
2009 3 1 15 Assassin's Creed II
2009 2 2 1 16 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
2009 2 3 9 Flower
2009 2 6 Plants vs. Zombies
2009 1 1 6 Brutal Legend
2009 1 15 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
2009 1 3 Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
2009 1 3 New Super Mario Bros Wii
2009 1 3 PixelJunk Shooter
2008 2 2 1 12 10 LittleBigPlanet
2008 1 2 2 1 3 11 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
2008 4 1 1 2 9 Left 4 Dead
2008 3 4 2 8 Fallout 3
2008 3 5 1 6 Super Mario Galaxy
2008 1 2 3 World of Goo
2008 2 13 Gears of War 2
2008 2 1 3 6 Rock Band
2008 1 1 6 Braid
2008 1 1 8 Fable II
2008 1 2 Far Cry 2
2008 1 6 1 7 Grand Theft Auto IV
2008 1 2 Mario Kart Wii
2008 1 1 1 9 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
2007 1 2 2 2 Portal
2007 1 3 The Orange Box: Portal
2007 1 3 Wii
2007 2 5 1 7 6 BioShock
2007 2 4 1 2 4 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
2007 1 1 3 Crackdown
2007 1 4 7 5 Gears of War
2007 1 7 Mass Effect
2007 1 1 Sega Rally
2007 1 1 Warhawk
2006 2 1 5 1 Wii Sports
2006 1 1 1 1 7 4 Guitar Hero
2006 3 1 1 12 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
2006 1 1 1 Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
2006 1 3 Bully
2006 1 6 Company of Heroes
2006 1 3 9 LocoRoco
2006 1 1 3 Nintendo Brain Age
2006 1 1 1 4 5 Ōkami
2006 1 1 1 6 Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
2006 1 1 9 Viva Piñata
2006 1 1 6 We Love Katamari
2005 1 1 7 6 Shadow of the Colossus
2005 2 4 3 Nintendogs
2005 2 1 3 3 Psychonauts
2005 1 1 2 Animal Crossing: Wild World
2005 1 4 Peter Jackson's King Kong
2004 2 1 4 3 Katamari Damacy
2004 2 1 1 1 6 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
2004 2 6 12 5 Half-Life 2
2004 1 4 City of Heroes
2004 1 2 5 Fable
2004 1 2 Pikmin 2
2004 1 1 2 3 World of Warcraft
2003 2 1 1 7 4 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
2003 1 1 3 1 2 8 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
2003 2 2 3 5 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
2003 1 3 Amplitude
2003 1 1 7 Beyond Good & Evil
2003 1 2 Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon
2003 1 3 2 Eyetoy: Play
2003 1 1 Jak II: Renegade
2003 1 5 Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
2003 1 1 1 Soulcalibur 2
2003 1 2 1 2 6 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
2003 1 2 Tony Hawk's Underground
2003 1 1 4 Viewtiful Joe
2003 1 1 1 WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!
2002 1 1 2 1 5 1 Battlefield 1942
2002 1 3 2 Animal Crossing
2002 2 4 2 11 Metroid Prime
2002 1 1 1 1 2 Neverwinter Nights
2002 1 1 Super Mario Sunshine
2002 1 1 2 7 Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
2002 1 3 Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
2001 2 4 4 3 Grand Theft Auto III
2001 2 1 1 5 4 Ico
2001 1 1 2 4 Black & White
2001 1 1 1 Dark Age of Camelot
2001 1 3 1 2 4 Halo: Combat Evolved
2001 1 1 3 Jak & Daxter: the Precursor Legacy
2001 1 1 4 Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee
2001 1 1 Pikmin
2000 1 1 1 2 The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
2000 1 2 1 2 1 Deus Ex
2000 2 2 3 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
2000 1 3 Escape from Monkey Island
2000 1 5 Jet Grind Radio
2000 1 3 Rayman 2: The Great Escape
2000 1 1 3 Shenmue
2000 1 2 The Longest Journey
1999 1 3 3 3 The Sims
1999 1 1 3 Age of Empires II: Age of Kings
1999 1 1 Gran Turismo 2
1999 1 2 Nox
1999 1 1 Syphon Filter
1998 1 1 3 2 3 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
1998 1 4 Half-Life
1998 1 3 Metal Gear Solid
1998 1 1 2 Pokémon Red and Blue
1998 1 1 Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
1997 1 1 2 2 Parappa the Rapper
1997 1 1 Dungeon Keeper
1997 1 2 Final Fantasy VII
1997 1 2 1 3 GoldenEye 007