Top-Ranked Video Games with the Most Awards
If we are being real, awards do not always make the game. But when a title consistently gets recognized and has fans vote, it is worth taking a closer look at it. I have pulled together some of the most awarded video games of all time, not just based on their trophies but the visual, gameplay, and heart they brought to the industry. These are some top games and their best features.
The Last of Us Part II - A Masterclass in Narrative Brutality
Of course, this is the first on my list. The Last of Us Part II is a masterpiece, delivering one of the best online gaming experiences. Naughty Dog's brutal and emotionally raw sequel did not just win Game of the Year in 2020 at the Game Awards; it has the record of over 300 total GOTY honors.
You feel every swing, every stealth kill, every mistake. The movement system is fluid, the AI is reactive, and the accessibility settings are next-level. It's not “fun” in the traditional sense; this is emotional endurance gaming. And I mean that in the best way. The attention to facial animations, the Seattle ruins, and the rainy, decaying world creates a gritty and intimate atmosphere. Not once did it feel like a “gamey” world. It felt real. It felt alive. Painfully so.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Fantasy at Its Finest
Before Elden Ring or Baldur's Gate 3, The Witcher 3 was the gold standard. CD Projekt Red crafted something almost magical in 2015 and it still holds up. With over 280 GOTY awards, it became an RPG titan and deservedly so.
I (and so many people) have gotten glued to Witcher 3 not only because of the main arc, the monster hunting, but also because of the sidequests. Does anyone want Bloody Baron? Decisions count here, and they do not play the ordinary good/evil departures. It all smacks of morally grey, as in real life. From the swamps of Velen to the courts of Toussaint, the environments drip with lore and atmosphere. Even on repeat playthroughs, I catch new things. That's art.
God of War (2018) - The Comeback King
Nobody anticipated that God of War would make a comeback in such a way. The reboot in 2018 turned Kratos into a bitter father at a crossroads of grief and ancestry. The result? More GOTYs than you can count with your toes, not to mention the hearts of first-time fans and those who were there at the beginning.
Bye-bye to the arcade combos. Enter the Leviathan Axe, the satisfying weapon in games, which is probably the best. Each shot and reception feels good. Boss fights? Legendary. The whole game is played over a long time. This is so cool and revolutionary. The addition of Norse myth into the game makes it more interesting.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Reinventing a Legend
Breath of the Wild reversed the pattern and it was resoundingly successful. It has received over 260 awards, and it is a game that welcomes (and rewards) curiosity, unlike very many others. You will be able to run against Ganon or spend 100+ hours exploring. It does not have a wrong way to play, and you will never get tired of the feeling of the physics-based interactions. And want to dash an enemy by rolling a boulder? Do it. Desire to make questionable food? Absolutely.
Hyrule is not just a map; it is an ecosystem, and that is where BOTW truly shines. Solar and animals, NPCs, have all natural responses. It does not get stale and even today, people are coming up with new tricks and exploits.
Red Dead Redemption 2 - A Cinematic Western Like No Other
Red Dead Redemption 2 is Rockstar at its peak. With over 175 awards, it turned open-world gaming into something slow, deliberate, and deeply human. The realism in the game is unmatched. You'll clean your guns. You'll feed your horse. You'll watch sunsets. It's not for everyone, but for those who let it pull them in, it's transformative. Arthur Morgan is easily one of gaming's most fully realized characters.
Honorable Mentions - They Deserve the Spotlight Too
- Elden Ring (2022): Over 300 awards and counting, combining open-world magic with FromSoftware's brutal style.
- Baldur's Gate 3 (2023): Critical darling and community fave with groundbreaking choices and co-op chaos.
- Skyrim (2011): While aging, its 220+ awards and influence still echo through every modern RPG.
What Makes a Game “Award-Worthy”?
The video games that win the most awards are the games that affect you in a different way, the games you remember way into the future, the games that really prove to you what this medium can actually do.
Such games are not just on some list for me, but part of my timeline. Play them now, if you haven't already, and if you have, it is likely that you know why they won all those awards.