In a well-deserved and totally unsurprising victory, the majestic The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was crowned GOTY at this year’s Game Awards. which in no doubt will round up a resoundingly fantastical year for the big N and the Switch. In a field packed to the rafters with bangers, Breath of the Wild beat Persona 5, Super Mario Odyssey, Horizon: Zero Dawn and, somehow, even PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds to the punch. Though some would argue an early access game like PUBG shouldn’t have been considered for nomination at all.
‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ Named Best Game Of 2017
In an atypically humble appearance from stalwart Zelda series producer, Eiji Aonuma, the brains behind this year’s biggest title was thankful for the reception to, arguably, the best Zelda title ever made.
“I want to take all of the joy and warmth I’m feeling right now receiving this award and put that back into making Zelda games, to continue to try and surprise all of you.”
Alongside picking up the big kahuna of gongs, Breath of the Wild also received awards for ‘Best Game Direction’ and ‘Best Action/Adventure Game’. But Breath of the Wild wasn’t the only Ninty vehicle to snare major props. Super Mario Odyssey will get to hang its hat on the trophy for ‘Best Family Game’, Metroid: Samus Returns will rocket back off to Zebes with ‘Best Handheld Game’ in its glove-box (though that category was totally dominated by 3DS titles), and Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle will be mostly taking cover behind things with the award for ‘Best Strategy Game’ in its clutches.
Here are the winners in full:
Game of the Year
- Horizon Zero Dawn
- Persona 5
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
- Super Mario Odyssey
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Best Game Direction
- Horizon Zero Dawn
- Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Super Mario Odyssey
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Best Narrative
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
- Horizon Zero Dawn
- NieR: Automata
- What Remains of Edith Finch
- Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Best Art Direction
- Cuphead
- Destiny 2
- Horizon Zero Dawn
- Persona 5
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Best Score / Music
- Cuphead
- Destiny 2
- NieR: Automata
- Persona 5
- Super Mario Odyssey
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Best Audio Design
- Destiny 2
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
- Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Super Mario Odyssey
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Best Performance
- Ashly Burch, Horizon: Zero Dawn
- Brian Bloom, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
- Claudia Black, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
- Laura Bailey, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
- Melina Juergens, Hellblade
Games for Impact
- Bury Me, My Love
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
- Life is Strange: Before the Storm
- Night in the Woods
- Please Knock on My Door
- What Remains of Edith Finch
Best Ongoing Game
- Destiny 2
- Grand Theft Auto Online
- Overwatch
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
- Rainbow Six: Siege
- Warframe
Best Independent Game
- Cuphead
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
- Night in the Woods
- Pyre
- What Remains of Edith Finch
Best Mobile Game
- Fire Emblem Heroes
- Hidden Folks
- Monument Valley 2
- Old Man’s Journey
- Super Mario Run
Best Handheld Game
- Ever Oasis
- Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
- Metroid: Samus Returns
- Monster Hunter Stories
- Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World
Best VR/AR Game
- Farpoint
- Lone Echo
- Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Star Trek: Bridge Crew
- SUPERHOT VR
Best Action Game
- Cuphead
- Destiny 2
- Nioh
- Prey
- Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Best Action/Adventure Game
- Assassin’s Creed: Origins
- Horizon Zero Dawn
- Super Mario Odyssey
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Best Role-Playing Game
- Divinity: Original Sin II
- Final Fantasy XV
- NieR: Automata
- Persona 5
- South Park: The Fractured But Whole
Best Family Game
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
- Sonic Mania
- Splatoon 2
- Super Mario Odyssey
Best Strategy Game
- Halo Wars 2
- Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
- Total War: Warhammer II
- Tooth and Tail
- XCOM 2: War of the Chosen
Best Sports/Racing Game
- FIFA 18
- Forza Motorsport 7
- Gran Turismo Sport
- NBA 2K18
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2018
- Project Cars 2
Most Anticipated Game
- God of War
- Marvel’s Spider-Man
- Monster Hunter World
- Red Dead Redemption II
- The Last of Us Part II
Trending Gamer
- Andrea Rene (What’s Good Games)
- Clint Lexa (“Halfcoordinated”)
- Guy Beahm (“Dr. Disrespect”)
- Mike Grzesiek (“Shroud”)
- Steven Spohn (AbleGamers)
Best Esports Game
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- DOTA 2
- League of Legends
- Overwatch
- Rocket League
Best Esports Player
- Lee Sang-hyeok “Faker” (SK Telecom 1, League of Legends)
- Marcelo “coldzera” David (SK Gaming, Counter-Strike: GO)
- Nikola ‘NiKo’ Kova? (FaZe Clan, Counter-Strike: GO)
- Je-hong “ryujehong” Ryu (Seoul Dynasty, Overwatch)
- Kuro “KuroKy” Salehi Takhasomi (Team Liquid, DOTA 2)
Best Esports Team
- Cloud 9
- FaZe Clan
- Lunatic-Hai
- SK Telecom T1
- Team Liquid
Student Game Award
- Falling Sky
- From Light
- Hollowed
- Impulsion
- Level Squared
- Meaning
Best Debut Indie Game
- Cuphead
- Golf Story
- Hollow Knight
- Mr. Shifty
- Slime Rancher
Chinese Fan Game Award
- Honor of Kings
- ICEY
- Gumballs & Dungeons
- jx3 HD
- Monument Valley 2
Finally, with all these in mind, I have to offer major congrats to Giant Sparrow and What Remains of Edith Finch. That game, in my honest opinion, well deserved a nod for GOTY ahead of PUBG. It has a truly well woven and bittersweet tale to tell, and you won’t regret giving it a go if you get the chance.
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