The Game of the Year Awards have been compiled in this list from the least amount of awards to the greatest. In case of a tie, the one with the more prestigious awards, ie. the more major ones, will take precedent.
The list of the rules can be found on the "About" page.
Honourable Mention: Dead Rising - 1 (JuicyCerebellum)
10. Destroy All Humans! 2
-1 Game of the Year Awards
| GDAA (Game Developers Association of Australia) |
"Victory comes at a steep price to others..." |
Crypto, the body-snatching alien returns in another zany adventure that delights both critics and gamers alike. Now posing as the President of the United States, Crypto has come under scrutiny from the KGB, who figured out who he really is. After destroying the Furon (the name of Crypto's species) Mothership on Earth, Crypto embarks on a journey of revenge to get back at the Soviet Union. Allowing gamers to roam in an open-world environment, snatching bodies at will and unleashing big doses of destruction everywhere, the Destroy All Humans! 2 opens this list at a solid 10th place. It's not without its flaws however, as many critics were quick to point its dumb AI. Still, the game's funny script, immense number of side missions, and a well structured open-world environment supersede many of its flaws, and land it right here as the opener of this list.
9. Tom Clancy's Chost Recon Advanced Warfighter
-1 Game of the Year Awards
| BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) |
"If only I could blow up the Top Three like that..." |
The third installment of the popular Ghost Recon series delivers another intense tactical and cooperative shooter. Players can revel in the immersive experience that puts a gigantic emphasis on calculation and teamwork. Critics heavily praised the stunning graphics, well-told storyline, and high presentation value. Criticism was largely leveled at the poor friendly A.I, the awkward lighting, and the poor single-player parts of the game. Nevertheless, GRAW is a landmark shooter game, as it started off the 7th generation of consoles by setting the bar so high that future shooters would be forced to work extra hard to pass it.
8. Guitar Hero
-1 Game of the Year Awards
Eurogamer
|
"Best way to win Guitar Hero? Light your opponent on fire!" |
Regarded as one of the most influential games of the first decade of the 21st century, Guitar Hero kicked became a surprise hit overnight, and its unrelenting popularity would invade into the homes of millions of people. It's well-designed difficulty curve, its easy-to-play theme, and its colourful and bright visuals, coupled with the prestigious Game of the Year award from Eurogamer earns Guitar Hero this amazing 8th spot.
7. Company of Heroes
-2 Game of the Year Awards
GAMEZ.LV
Computer Shopper (2007) |
"All in a day's work..." |
Company of Heroes is not just regarded as one of the best games of 2006, but also as one of the best strategy of the all time. It didn't become one of the highest rated PC games on aggregates like Metacritic for nothing. It features an astoundingly in-depth strategy experince, with astounding production values. It thrusts gamers into the heart of the Western Front during WWII, letting them go crazy with the revolutionary new game mechanics, impressive destructible terrain and well-designed missions. However, all these things come at a cost, resulting in long loading times and the inclusion of only 2 factions. Still, the sheer amount of people still playing the game years after its release speaks volumes of its impressiveness.
6. Final Fantasy XII
-2 Game of the Year Awards
Edge
AssociatedContent |
"From Ivalice, with love!" |
Carrying the weight of a legendary franchise on your shoulders and having to deal with massive amounts of hype was no problem for the 12th entry in the iconic Final Fantasy franchise. Set in the mythical land of Ivalice, FF12 features some of the most stunning graphics on the PS2, outstanding voice acting, and above all, its stellar art direction. FFXII also proved to be popular with gamers, selling at an extraordinary rate and rolling in the cash for Square Enix. Sadly, there were some key flaws that held it back from true greatness. Many critics were quick to point out its weak soundtrack storyline. The biggest problem with FFXII, however, was its gambit system, criticized as making the game too easy, and according to some critics, made the game play by itself. Still, its sumptuous graphics, superb character cast, and a well-designed game structure earned it the prestigious Edge Game of the Year, rightfully earning FFXII this powerful 6th position.
5. Wii Sports
-3 Game of the Year Awards
TIME
New York Times
Gamasutra Quantum Leap Awards |
"Who knew floating hands were dangerous?" |
One could say that one of the reasons the Nintendo Wii sold so spectacularly is because of the game bundled with it, an experience that pretty much sums up the Wii that you can pull right out of the box. That game is Wii Sports, and it is, technically speaking, the best-selling game of all time (because it is bundled with the Wii in all regions except Japan, and because the Wii has sold an innumerable amount, this is not hard to believe). While most critics were not impressed with the simple motion controls and sub-par graphics, an astounding amount of non-gamers got pulled into it, taking pleasure in its mix between gaming and physical activity. Publications like TIME and Gamasutra recognized this unparalleled popularity, and their Game of the Years shot Wii Sports up into this incredible 5th place.
4. Okami
-3 Game of the Year Awards
IGN
GameRevolution
NAViGaTR Awards |
"Be thankful we have that wolf-thing to protect us!" |
Repeatedly cited as one of the reasons why video games can be classified as art, Okami is nothing short of a classic. Universally acclaimed as having a jaw-dropping, engaging, and completely original game/artistic design, Okami tells a beautiful tale based off various Japanese myths of how Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess, saved the world from the forces of darkness through the form of a white wolf. Critics immediately fell in love with the game's beautiful presentation, taking delight in the unique experience. The few flaws, however, center around the game's lack of difficulty, and the bugs associated with the Celestial Brush, a game mechanic used to preform "miracles" by drawing pictures on the screen. Nevertheless, Okami remains here, the 4th best game of 2006.
[10-4] [3-1]
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