Board 8 > So what wins Game of the Year, anyway?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Question can apply to GameFAQs and outside of GameFAQs. I don't think there's been a single game that universally swept everyone off their feet. For example, Death Stranding is clearly going to rack up some wins but it's too divisive to be a clear #1. The only major WRPG (Fallout 76) bombed and that's usually the default. Nintendo didn't release anything with a big enough name outside of Pokemon, and uh, yeah. Kingdom Hearts 3 was really high profile but it's reception was mixed at best.

Resident Evil 2 is what comes to mind for me but even that doesn't feel right. It would be a fringe choice in a normal year simply due to its genre.


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I mean, Pokemon nearly won in a similar situation a few years ago when FFXV ended up winning, so I'd say it's got a shot.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/7643-halfway-through-2019-what-is-your-pick-for-game-of-the-year

But RE2Make is the leader in the clubhouse right now.
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(although quite a troll move on SBAllen's part to omit KH3 from that poll completely)
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Sword/Shield's reception has been pretty bad so far even outside of the pre-release drama. It'll do okay on GameFAQs simply due to recognizability, but other than that...

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I guess there's always the Link's Awakening remake because LAW
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Actually, Three Houses might get do well. I don't think it'll be #1 overall but every other major JRPG-style game this year bombed, so it could sweep those corners of the internet.

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LeonhartFour posted...

I guess there's always the Link's Awakening remake because LAW

...oh, right

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I agree. When in doubt, go with the LAW.
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WWE 2K20 on the strength of bugs
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the real solution is for everyone to play Trails of Cold Steel 3 in the next month because that's the real GOTY
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Re2 seems like the gamefaqs leader but I strongly believe three houses is going to be at least second.

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KamikazePotato posted...

Sword/Shield's reception has been pretty bad so far even outside of the pre-release drama. It'll do okay on GameFAQs simply due to recognizability, but other than that...

Pretty sad considering how great Sword/Shield is. Like its way way better than some of the previous ones (especially Sun/Moon though...)

Pokemon swordz/shieldz
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KamikazePotato posted...

The only major WRPG (Fallout 76) bombed

Fallout 76 was last year!

Anyways, here's my takes:

On GameFAQs: Three Houses v Resident Evil 2, with Three Houses having the advantage as a Nintendo JRPG, and because some people won't consider RE2 a suitable vote for 2019's GotY. Link's Awakening could maybe do some damage, but it's got a low playrate here, lackluster reception, and is a remake against a non-remake JRPG. Kingdom Hearts III, Sekiro, and Sword/Shield are all in the same boat as (relatively speaking) poorly-received games of popular franchises, and I also wouldn't expect any of them to get anywhere.

Off GameFAQs: I guess Resident Evil 2 is the favorite. It's been a hideously weak year for games that "mainstream" publications would pick for GotY.
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I don't know that Fire Emblem has the pedigree to take GOTY on GameFAQs yet, although Three Houses is a big move in the right direction. Still, it's definitely the most mainstream entry of the series yet (even I played it, for crying out loud!), so I'd give it an outside chance.
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Sekiro was well-received as far as I know. From Software games just aren't that popular here, and the series is never going to be mainstream enough to win all the awards.

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Devil may cry 5

ertyu0078 posted...

Devil may cry 5

I wish.

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breath of the wild probably
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Actually, I forgot about The Outer Worlds. It's got some decent hype right now and released at a good time to be recent enough for people not to have picked apart its flaws.

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Man I am not enthusiastic about this year. Astral Chain has a lot of problems but I think it does more for me than anything else. Not having played DMCV, anyway.
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Other big releases this year:

Borderlands 3
Gears of War 5
Mortal Kombat 11
Apex Legends
CoD: Modern Warfare

I don't think any of these will win necessarily but the general public might have different thoughts.
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skullbone posted...

Other big releases this year:

Borderlands 3
Gears of War 5
Mortal Kombat 11
Apex Legends
CoD: Modern Warfare

I don't think any of these will win necessarily but the general public might have different thoughts.

Did any of these games have a lasting impact? Not being sarcastic here. From what I've seen, all these games either had a mixed reception or were well-received and then forgotten about.

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Smash Ultimate is eligible for this years "official" Game Awards so that's a likely pick
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KamikazePotato posted...

Did any of these games have a lasting impact?

No I really don't think any of them did but in a slow year at least a few of these are going to be included in the nominees. I'm thinking about the Game Awards 2019 specifically though.
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Smash Ultimate has a good chance to take the Keighleys. I think the perception around Death Stranding might be turning around in its favor now that what it actually is has gotten more recognition and it apparently does it well, clunky storytelling notwithstanding.
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Mortal Kombat 11 is one of the best selling games of the year and is still chugging along.
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Still play apex a few times a week
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Leonhart4 posted...

Mortal Kombat 11 is one of the best selling games of the year and is still chugging along.

Noted. Fighting games have never done well at the general game awards though, so I would be shocked if it got a lot of recognition whether or not it deserves it.

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https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/6569-best-of-2016-portables

Three Houses has a lot of ground to make up if it wants to challenge Pokemon.
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LeonhartFour posted...

I don't know that Fire Emblem has the pedigree to take GOTY on GameFAQs yet

My main argument is that it doesn't take a lot to win in a weak year on GameFAQs. The likes of Modern Warfare 2, Borderlands 2, and Final Fantasy XV have all won GotY in the past. The last is particularly relevant, as a somewhat more mainstream JRPG with rather worse reception, two factors which I would anticipate cancel each other out.

KamikazePotato posted...

Sekiro was well-received as far as I know.

Not really on GameFAQs, no. Sekiro's average rating (on PS4) is 4.04/5.

Other Soulsbornes for comparison:
- Dark Souls (PS3): 4.48
- Bloodborne: 4.45
- Dark Souls III (PS4): 4.37
- Dark Souls II (PS3): 4.30

The Top 100 tells a similar story, where Sekiro is nowhere to be found, less than a year into its release.

Again, other Soulsbornes:
- Dark Souls III (PS4): 39
- Bloodborne: 41
- Dark Souls (PS3): 49
- Dark Souls II (PS3): 96

Team Rocket Elite posted...

Three Houses has a lot of ground to make up if it wants to challenge Pokemon.

Fates also had rather divisive reception, particularly among the fanbase, and Sword/Shield at least seems to have turned many prospective voters against Game Freak. It could be close, but I'm confident in Three Houses with its relatively independent fanbase to win the Switch poll this year.
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Weird, because Sekiro on Steam has very positive reviews. Reviewed critically well too.

Team Rocket Elite posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/6569-best-of-2016-portables

Three Houses has a lot of ground to make up if it wants to challenge Pokemon.

Honestly, the difference in reception between Fates/Three Houses and SunMoon/SwordShield is pretty huge.

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maybe the goose game.
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Fight Crab obviously

Vaguely more realistically, I'm hoping hypnospace can nab an indie category somewhere but it's probably going to be baba is you controlling that

I hope Outer Wilds gets some. More people need to play it.
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Sekiro is probably the best soulsborne, it's just that so many of them already exist and the differences aren't so earth shattering. It's like giving a random madden game the title.
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KamikazePotato posted...

Sekiro was well-received as far as I know. From Software games just aren't that popular here, and the series is never going to be mainstream enough to win all the awards.

It sold like 4 million copies.
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LeonhartFour posted...

(although quite a troll move on SBAllen's part to omit KH3 from that poll completely)

KH3 did get a poll!

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/7550-with-three-months-gone-what-is-your-pick-for-the-best-game
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Baba Is You

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Ill tell you one game that well not get it either is any dumb kirby games

Hoping DMCV or KH3 pull the win.
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KH3 might be able to benefit from some Nintendo split between 3H/LAW/SwSh here. On the other hand, it's the LAW so I'd never feel comfortable betting against my man Link.

LeonhartFour posted...

the real solution is for everyone to play Trails of Cold Steel 3 in the next month because that's the real GOTY

no lies detected
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xp1337 posted...

KH3 might be able to benefit from some Nintendo split between 3H/LAW/SwSh here.

Due to the way our GotY polls function, only one of those three will make the final poll.
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...Oh right.

all hail nintendo
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Resident Evil 2 Remake was super disappointing and if it wins GOTY then I guess this year had very very weak games
By the way people reacted to Outer Worlds when it came out, I would be surprised if it won't win.

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Nanis23 posted...

Resident Evil 2 Remake was super disappointing and if it wins GOTY then I guess this year had very very weak games
By the way people reacted to Outer Worlds when it came out, I would be surprised if it won't win.

Out of touch Nanis
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Control
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On GameFAQs it is likely to be Resident Evil 2 vs. Three Houses. If KH3 can't beat RE2 in the honeymoon period I doubt it will beat it now, and even discounting the fairly overblown controversy the response has been more muted than for previous gens. On the other hand people lost their minds for Fire Emblem and it was a mainstream hit.

Elsewhere RE2 is a logical frontrunner, though with Control winning Critics' Choice at the Golden Joysticks that may surprise. I expect the nominees for TGAs to look something like this:

Resident Evil 2
Apex Legends
Sekiro
Fire Emblem Three Houses
Control

And maybe Super Smash Bros. Ultimate if people remember it is eligible. DMC5, Outer Wilds and Disco Elysium are all potential wildcards as well.

metaIslug posted...

If Smash gets any big publication's GotY award I'm never taking that publication seriously again. Either do your GOTY at the end of the year or don't do it

Outer Worlds should be the winner. RE2 is a remake

It's just not viable sometimes, people have to go on holiday, if a game comes out in late December of course it can't be counted. Also there is an onus on publishers to get games to outlets early so they can be included. With that said the TGA cutoff has been unusually early sometines though, it is like mid-November for panellists to have the game.
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