Wow! Despite a shorter voting period than last year, this year’s Game of the Year poll participation rate shattered previous records, surpassing 2.5 million total votes in all categories. Thank you!
Readers of the PS blog have said that the long-awaited follow-up to Naughty Dog The Last of Us Part II is the undisputed champion this year, winning a total of nine trophies (many of them Platinum), but there are a few surprises among the results below- below. Read on to see all of the big winners of 2020, then click on the comments to let us know how you voted.
See you in 2021!
Better Story
The Last of Us Part II
The Last of Us is considered one of the best video game tales ever made, so the storytellers in Naughty Dog had a tough act to follow. That’s what makes this ambitious, nuanced, and subversive sequel even more impressive. From the old obsessions that own Ellie to newcomer Abby working on her own issues, The Last of Us Part II is compelling from start to finish. Credit also goes to the masters of storytelling at Sucker Punch, Insomniac and Square Enix.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Better use of DualSense
Astro Games Room
From the scratchy sensation of skating on the ice, to the detection of subtle bursts of rain on an umbrella, to the feeling of resistance of a coil spring, Astro’s game room has put the DualSense wireless controller to work. . Voters noticed it significantly, winning the game a Platinum Trophy. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and Demon’s Souls round out the winners with gold, silver, and bronze trophies respectively.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Call of Duty: Cold War Black Ops
Best accessibility features
The Last of Us Part II
Accessibility in games has always been important, but teams like Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, Insomniac, and Ubisoft have incorporated new features this year that ensure their games can be played by as many players as possible. Congratulations not only to these winners but also to everyone who was able to enjoy these titles thanks to the efforts of the teams here.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Best graphic showcase
The Last of Us Part II
Naughty Dog is renowned for creating games with a fascinating level of detail, and The Last of Us Part II is the team’s most technically impressive feat to date. Rotate the camera as Ellie struggles with an enemy and you’ll see her wince with effort. Position Abby next to a steep ledge and experience her vision of the wobbly tunnel as acrophobia sets in. 2020 has been a great year for some mind-blowing games, including renditions of ancient Japan, Marvel’s New York City, and the dark fantasy world of Boletaria.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Best artistic direction
Ghost of Tsushima
Sucker Punch’s prodigious attention to detail meant his open-world samurai epic never missed an opportunity to impress. Of this From the title drop sequence to the twisted reinvention of its world with Legends multiplayer, Ghost of Tsushima demanded frequent use of its photo mode. That, along with the other winners in this category, was a perfect excuse to familiarize yourself with the PS4 Share and PS5 Create buttons.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Best soundtrack
The Last of Us Part II
The Last of Us Part II wins another Platinum trophy in our GOTY Awards. Still, all four winners highlighted the diversity of this year’s soundtracks, perfectly capturing the soundscape of historic adventures, modern heroics, near-future horrors, and fantastic cities. Whether it was to propel the action to the screen or to be enjoyed in isolation, these scores were worth repeating.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Best sound design
The Last of Us Part II
Naughty Dog’s accomplishments with the audio of its acclaimed sequel aren’t limited to this gripping soundtrack. The game’s intricate sound design work – perhaps best highlighted by the staggering complexity of its breathing system – added essential details to make this world feel fully realized. Heavy breathing; cocking a rifle; grinding metal, the howl of an infected. All of them immersed us even more in The Last of Us Part II.
Call of Duty: Cold War Black Ops
Best multiplayer
Call of Duty: Warzone
Activision’s legendary and smooth FPS gameplay merges with the popular Battle Royale genre in this free-to-play juggernaut. Content updates have kept the experience fresh, from new game modes to holiday-themed events, including Jigsaw and Leatherface cameos around Halloween. Shout for the stumbling thrill of Fall Guys, the focused intensity of Black Ops Cold War, and four-player co-op in the Ghost of Tsushima’s Legends mode.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Call of Duty: Cold War Black Ops
Legends of the Ghost of Tsushima
Best sports game
Tony Hawk’s Pro-Skater 1 and 2
Activision’s goofy combo of releasing incredible remakes continues, and THPS 1 + 2 is the latest trick on this channel. Developer Vicarious Visions has refreshed the skaters and places we know and love, while still maintaining the precise yet accessible control scheme that made the series famous. While the Birdman has switched to other sports game competitions, respect is due to EA, 2K and Codemasters for their excellent releases.
Best New Character
Miles Morales as Spider-Man (Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales)
While 2020 saw the introduction of an impressive roster of charismatic new characters into the game, Miles Morales rose to the top of this particular poll, no doubt influenced by the heartfelt and original story of Insomniac centering on Miles becoming his own Spider-Man. Jin, Abby, and Eivor took home the gold, silver, and bronze trophies, respectively.
Jin Sakai (Ghost of Tsushima)
Abby (The Last of Us Part II)
Eivor (Assassin’s Creed Valhalla)
Best Indie Game
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Turbulent and beggarly times made Fall Guys a real phenomenon earlier this year, so it’s no surprise to see these Chicken Puffy Beans topping the list. Other PlayStation Plus titles Bugsnax and Worms Rumble round out the Gold and Silver winners, while Skater XL’s unique approach to trick control earned him a Bronze Trophy.
Playtime of the year
The Last of Us Part II: Final Showdown
Endlessly agitated conflict turns into a dramatic crescendo in the daring and stunning sequel to Naughty Dog. No spoilers here, but the emotional turmoil and memories the main characters bring to this climactic showdown are so hot they demand all the attention. Further best time congratulations gallop across the fields as Jin and feel the immersive magic of the DualSense Controller.
Ghost of Tsushima: title streak on horseback
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales: The Bridge Sequence
Astro Playroom: Experiencing Haptics and Adaptive Triggers for the First Time
Best PS VR experience
Star Wars Squadrons
The allure of climbing (virtually) inside iconic Starfighters made Star Wars: Squadrons an irresistible PS VR experience. Turns out screaming past asteroids and escaping enemy fire in 360 degrees while being packed into the confines of a cockpit really sticks out to people! The gold, silver and bronze trophies went to Marvel’s Iron Man VR, Dreams and The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners.
The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners
PS4 Game of the Year
The Last of Us Part II
In a good year for PlayStation exclusives, the PS4 game of the year was hotly contested. But in the end, the emotionally charged sequel to Naughty Dog won Platinum. Sucker Punch’s open-world samurai epic Ghost of Tsushima won Gold, Final Fantasy VII Remake Silver, and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Bronze.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
PS5 Game of the Year
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales made a name for himself in this year’s GOTY polls, winning more reader-voted awards than you can shoot on a website. It even beat the other PS5 launch titles, Demon’s Souls, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Astro’s Playroom, to win the coveted PS5 Game of the Year Platinum Trophy – congratulations Insomniac!
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Most anticipated game
New title of God of War
The simple confirmation of a new God of War was enough to draw iGamesNews voters (and staff!) And eagerly await new information. The powerful lineup of Horizon Forbidden West, Resident Evil Village, and Final Fantasy XVI prove that the future looks bright.
Studio of the year
The evil dog
Keeping up with one of PlayStation’s most acclaimed games was no easy feat, but Naughty Dog won it with aplomb. Every inch of The Last of Us Part II – story beats, sets, character animation, and more – spoke of a development studio at the top of its game. You clearly accepted. Strong recognition also for the fantastic work of Insomniac Games, Sucker Punch and Square Enix, who respectively won the gold, silver and bronze trophies.
