Every year, there are a number (which keeps increasing) of games that drop across numerous genres, publishers, developers, and platforms. At the end of the year, we like to take the time to review the releases, and vote as a team on the ones we believe deserve to be awarded for specific categories. If you're looking for a year-by-year breakdown of our awards - keep on reading.

Quicklinks: How We Do Awards | Award Descriptions | 2020's | 2010's

The TechRaptor Game Awards Process

We've been giving out awards since 2014, and over the years our process has only gotten better. If you're curious how we conduct our game awards, here's our step-by-step process.

  • We take some of the best-rated games of the year, and compile an excel spreadsheet
  • Editorial reviews the spreadsheet, and verifies no games were missed.
  • Once reviewed, we create an internal form that allows the team to vote on multiple games per category.
  • Those votes whittle down the total games to vote on, and a new form is sent out for the team to vote:
    • First, Second, and Third for non "of the year" awards
    • First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth for "of the year" awards
    • Each selection is given a point value.
  • Based on the points awarded each game, we calculate the winners for each category.
  • 1-2 weeks later, we begin publishing our award winners.

The TechRaptor Game Awards - Categories

As of 2023, here are our Game Awards categories, and what each means:

  • Game of the Year - The best game of the year, whose sum of its parts is greater than any other.
  • Indie Game of the Year - For outstanding creative and technical design from outside a large studio.
  • Board Game of the Year - For outstanding tabletop game design.
  • Best Visual Design - For outstanding, cohesive aesthetic. (Not just graphics!)
  • Best Writing - For outstanding storytelling, worldbuilding, and character creation.
  • Best Multiplayer - For exceptional multiplayer gameplay and design.
  • Best Soundtrack - For outstanding overall score.
  • Best Expansion / DLC - The best piece of additional content to an existing game.
  • Best Evolving Game - For outstanding continued development on an existing game.

TechRaptor Awards - 2020 - 2023

While the 2020's are still going, below are our awards year-by year for 2020-2023.

2023 Game Awards Winners

These awards will release the week of January 15, 2024.

Award Winner Runner-Up 3rd Place
Game of the Year 2023 Baldur's Gate III The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Indie Game of the Year 2023 Cocoon Venba Turbo Overkill
Board Game of the Year 2023 Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game Archeos Society Warhammer 40K: 10th Edition
Best Visual Design 2023 Hi-Fi Rush Alan Wake II Final Fantasy XVI
Best Writing 2023 Baldur's Gate III Alan Wake II Venba
Best Multiplayer 2023 Baldur's Gate III Street Fighter 6 Super Mario Wonder
Best Soundtrack 2023 Final Fantasy XVI The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Baldur's Gate III
Best Expansion / DLC 2023 Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla Resident Evil 4 - Separate Ways
Best Evolving Game 2023 Fortnite Cyberpunk 2077 Final Fantasy XIV

2022 Game Awards Winners

Here are our 2022 award winners.

Award Winner Runner-Up 3rd Place Reader's Choice
Game of the Year 2022 Elden Ring God of War Ragnarok Marvel Snap Elden Ring
Indie Game of the Year 2022 Vampire Survivors Tunic Neon White Stray
Board Game of the Year 2022 CY_BORG Jurassic World: Legacy of Isla Nublar Kill Team: Into The Dark Box Set The Essence20 RPG System
Best Visual Design 2022 Elden Ring God of War Ragnarok Horizon Forbidden West Elden Ring
Best Writing 2022 Pentiment God of War Ragnarok Immortality God of War Ragnarok
Best Multiplayer 2022 Marvel SNAP Splatoon 3 TMNT: Shredder's Revenge TMNT: Shredder's Revenge
Best Soundtrack 2022 Metal: Hellsinger Elden Ring Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - Reunion Elden Ring
Best Expansion / DLC 2022 Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course
Best Evolving Game 2022 Final Fantasy XIV Fortnite No Man's Sky Final Fantasy XIV

2021 Game Awards Winners

Here are our 2021 award winners:

Award Winner Runner-Up 3rd Place Reader's Choice
Game of the Year 2021 Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Halo Infinite It Takes Two Halo Infinite
Indie Game of the Year 2021 Kena: Bridge of Spirits Unpacking Loop Hero The Forgotten City
Tabletop Game of the Year 2021 Lost Cities: Roll & Write Dungeons & Dragons: Fizban's Treasury Of Dragons Age Of Sigmar: Dominion Launch Box Against The Darkmaster
Best Visual Design 2021 Kena: Bridge of Spirits Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Deathloop Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Best Writing 2021 Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Life is Strange: True Colors The Forgotten City The Forgotten City
Best Multiplayer 2021 It Takes Two Halo Infinite Guilty Gear -Strive- Halo Infinite
Best Soundtrack 2021 Persona 5 Strikers Neo: The World Ends With You Halo Infinite Persona 5 Strikers
Best Expansion / DLC 2021 Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
Best Evolving Game 2021 Final Fantasy XIV Genshin Impact No Man's Sky Final Fantasy XIV

2020 Game Awards Winners

New century, same awards. Here are our 2020 award winners:

Award Winner Runner-Up 3rd Place Reader's Choice
Game of the Year 2020 Hades Final Fantasy VII Remake Ghost of Tsushima The Last of Us Part II
Indie Game of the Year 2020 Hades Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout Spiritfarer Hades
Board Game of the Year 2020 Infinity Code One/N4 Forgotten Waters Pandemic Legacy Season 0 Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay: Enemy in Shadows
Best Visual Design 2020 Hades Ghost of Tsushima Cyberpunk 2077 Ghost of Tsushima
Best Writing 2020 Hades The Last of Us Part II Cyberpunk 2077 The Last of Us Part II
Best Multiplayer 2020 Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout Ghost of Tsushima Animal Crossing: New Horizons Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Best Soundtrack 2020 Final Fantasy VII Remake Hades Doom Eternal Final Fantasy VII Remake
Best Expansion / DLC 2020 No Man's Sky Origins Stardew Valley 1.5 Ghost of Tsushima: Legends No Man's Sky Origins
Best Evolving Game 2020 Among Us No Man's Sky Stardew Valley No Man's Sky

TechRaptor Awards - 2014 - 2019

Our first 5 years of awards had some shift in categories as we figured out our process, formula, and how we announce winners. Heading into 2020, our categories became solidified and we maintained the process we'd built. Here's 2015-2019! If you're interested we also have The Best Games of the 2010's!

2019 Game Awards Winners

2019 continued the awards format of 2018 in our fifth year awards, with no new additions or removals of categories. Here are the 2019 award winners:

Award Winner Runner-Up 3rd Place Reader's Choice
Game of the Year 2019 Devil May Cry 5 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Fire Emblem: Three Houses The Outer Worlds
Indie Game of the Year 2019 Disco Elysium Sayonara Wild Hearts Slay the Spire Disco Elysium
Board Game of the Year 2019 Middara Core Space Time of Legends Joan of Arc Core Space
Best Visual Design 2019 Control Sayonara Wild Hearts Death Stranding The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Best Writing 2019 Disco Elysium Control A Plague Tale: Innocence The Outer Worlds
Best Multiplayer 2019 Apex Legends Tetris 99 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Borderlands 3
Best Soundtrack 2019 Sayonara Wild Hearts Death Stranding Cadence of Hyrule Death Stranding
Best Expansion / DLC 2019 Monster Hunter: World - Iceborne No Man's Sky: Beyond FF XIV: Shadowbringers No Man's Sky: Beyond
Best Evolving Game 2019 Monster Hunter: World Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove Fortnite Monster Hunter: World

2018 Game Awards Winners

In 2018 we added "Best Evolving Game" as an award category, to award games that have been around a while but continue to offer solid support and feature additions to their community. Here are our 2018 award winners:

Award Winner Runner-Up 3rd Place Reader's Choice
Game of the Year 2018 God of War Red Dead Redemption 2 Marvel's Spider-Man God of War
Indie Game of the Year 2018 Dead Cells Return of the Obra Dinn Moonlighter Celeste
Board Game of the Year 2018 Dark Souls: The Card Game My Little Scythe Blades in the Dark Blades in the Dark
Best Visuals 2018 GRIS Red Dead Redemption 2 God of War God of War
Best Writing 2018 Red Dead Redemption 2 God of War Return of the Obra Dinn God of War
Best Multiplayer 2018 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Monster Hunter: World Warhammer: Vermintide 2 Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Best Soundtrack 2018 Octopath Traveler Super Smash Bros. Ultimate God of War God of War
Best Expansion/DLC 2018 No Man's Sky NEXT Divinity: Original Sin 2 Definitive Ed Prey - Mooncrash Destiny 2: Forsaken
Best Evolving Game 2018 No Man's Sky Monster Hunter: World Fortnite Hollow Knight

Best Games of 2018


2017 Game Awards Winners

In 2017, we reduced the scope of our awards and cut out PC / Console / Mobile / Handheld specific awards to keep things simpler. Here are our 2017 award winners:

Award Winner Runner-Up 3rd Place Reader's Choice
Game of the Year 2017 Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Persona 5 Horizon Zero Dawn NieR: Automata
Indie Game of the Year 2017 Cuphead Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Hollow Knight Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Board Game of the Year 2017 Nemo's War Second Ed Gloomhaven The Expanse Quests of Valeria
Best Visuals 2017 Cuphead Persona 5 Horizon Zero Dawn Cuphead
Best Writing 2017 Persona 5 Horizon Zero Dawn Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Horizon Zero Dawn
Best Multiplayer 2017 Cuphead Divinity: Original Sin II Snipperclips Divinity: Original Sin II
Best Soundtrack 2017 Cuphead Persona 5 Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Cuphead
Best Expansion / DLC 2017 XCOM 2: War of the Chosen Uncharted: Lost Legacy Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds XCOM 2: War of the Chosen

Best Games of 2017


2016 Game Awards Winners

During the second year of awards, we merged Mobile and Handheld together, and added "Best Expansion / DLC" to award additions to existing games. Here are our 2016 award winners:

Award Winner Runner-Up 3rd Place Reader's Choice
Game of the Year 2016 DOOM Overwatch Uncharted 4 DOOM
Indie Game of the Year 2016 SUPERHOT Stardew Valley Hyper Light Drifter VA-11 HALL-A
Board Game of the Year 2016 Scythe Millennium Blades Talon N/A
Best Visuals 2016 Ratchet & Clank DOOM Overwatch DOOM
Best Writing 2016 Uncharted 4 Firewatch Stardew Valley VA-11 HALL-A
Best Multiplayer 2016 Overwatch Titanfall 2 Dark Souls III Overwatch
Best Soundtrack 2016 DOOM Final Fantasy XV Stardew Valley DOOM
Best Expansion / DLC 2016 The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine Fallout 4: Nuka-World World of Warcraft: Legion The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine
Best PC Exclusive 2016 Civilization VI VA-11 HALL-A Stellaris VA-11 HALL-A
Best Console Exclusive 2016 Uncharted 4 Ratchet & Clank The Last Guardian Uncharted 4
Best Mobile / Handheld Game 2016 Pokemon GO Pokemon Sun and Moon Fire Emblem Fates Pokemon Sun and Moon

Best Games of 2016


 

2015 Game Awards Winners

2015 was our first year doing awards. Here are our 2015 award winners:

Award Winner Runner-Up 3rd Place Reader's Choice
Game of the Year 2015 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Bloodborne Fallout 4 Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Indie Game of the Year 2015 Rocket League Kerbal Space Program Undertale Huniepop
Board Game of the Year Kingdom Death: Monster Shadows of Brimstone Three Kingdoms Redux N/A
Best Visuals 2015 Star Wars Battlefront The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt /Ori and the Blind Forest 2nd Place Tie Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Best Writing 2015 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Undertale Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Best Multiplayer 2015 Rocket League Splatoon Heroes of the Storm Splatoon
Best Soundtrack 2015 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Undertale Crypt of the Necrodancer / Hotline Miami 4-Way Tie
Best Mobile Game 2015 Transistor Fallout Shelter Pokemon Shuffle Fallout Shelter
Best PC Exclusive 2015 Renowned Explorers: International Society Cities: Skylines / Undertale 2nd Place Tie Pillars of Eternity
Best Console Exclusive 2015 Super Mario Maker / Bloodborne 1st Place Tie Splatoon Bloodborne
Best Handheld Games 2015 Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D Xenoblade Chronicles 3D Monster Hunter 4: Ultimate

Best Games of 2015


That's it for our awards, so far! If you're developer who won an award and want one of our emblems - please reach out to info[at]techraptor.net!