Game Developers Choice Awards (Concept)

Game Developers Choice Awards

CONCEPT

The Game Developers Choice Awards is an annual awards ceremony recognizing the work of video game developers of the previous year. Since 2001, it has been held during the Game Developers Conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.

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Awards

Game of the Year

3012241-god%20of%20war%20%28ps4%29.jpg The best game of the previous year decided by the game developers themselves.

2026 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
2025 - Balatro (Game)
2024 - Baldur's Gate 3
2023 - Elden Ring (Game)
2022 - Inscryption (Game)
2021 - Hades
2020 - Untitled Goose Game (Game)
2019 - God of War
2018 - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
2017 - Overwatch (Game)
2016 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
2015 - Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
2014 - The Last of Us (Game)
2013 - Journey
2012 - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
2011 - Red Dead Redemption (Game)
2010 - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
2009 - Fallout 3 (Game)
2008 - Portal
2007 - Gears of War (Game)
2006 - Shadow of the Colossus (Game)
2005 - Half-Life 2
2004 - Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
2003 - Metroid Prime (Game)
2002 - Grand Theft Auto III (Game)
2001 - The Sims (Game)

Innovation Award

Celebrating the one game that best advances the medium in ways previously unimaginable.

2026 - Blue Prince (Game)
2025 - Balatro (Game)
2024 - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
2023 - Immortality (Game)
2022 - Unpacking (Game)
2021 - Dreams (Game)
2020 - Baba is You
2019 - Nintendo Labo (Franchise)
2018 - Gorogoa (Game)
2017 - No Man's Sky
2016 - Her Story (Game)
2015 - Monument Valley (Game)
2014 - Papers, Please
2013 - Journey
2012 - Johann Sebastian Joust (Game)
2011 - Minecraft (Game)
2010 - Scribblenauts (Game)
2009 - LittleBigPlanet (Game)
2008 - Portal
2007 - Ōkami (Game), Line Rider, Wii Sports (Game)
2006 - Nintendogs (Game), Guitar Hero (Game)
2005 - Katamari Damacy (Game), Donkey Konga (Game), I Love Bees
2004 - Viewtiful Joe (Game), EyeToy: Play, WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgame$
2003 - Animal Crossing (Game), The Thing (Game), Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, Battlefield 1942 (Game)
2002 - ICO (Game), Rez (Game), Black and White, Grand Theft Auto III (Game), Majestic (Game)
2001 - Crazy Taxi (Game), Deus Ex (Game), Jet Grind Radio (Game), No One Lives Forever, Counter-Strike

Best Audio

The Best Audio award takes into account all forms of audio including music, sound effects, voice over, and sound design.

2026 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
2025 - Astro Bot (Game)
2024 - Hi-Fi Rush
2023 - God of War Ragnarök
2022 - Unpacking (Game)
2021 - Hades
2020 - Control (Game)
2019 - Celeste
2018 - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
2017 - Inside
2016 - Crypt of the NecroDancer (Game)
2015 - Alien: Isolation
2014 - BioShock Infinite (Game)
2013 - Journey
2012 - Portal 2 (Game)
2011 - Red Dead Redemption (Game)
2010 - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
2009 - Dead Space (Game)
2008 - BioShock (Game)
2007 - Guitar Hero II (Game)
2006 - Guitar Hero (Game)
2005 - Halo 2 (Game)
2004 - Call of Duty (Game)
2003 - Medal of Honour: Allied Assault
2002 - Halo: Combat Evolved
2001 - Diablo II (Game)

Best Debut

Formerly known as the Rookie Studio award, this is awarded to a development studio who release their first publicly available game.

2026 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
2025 - Balatro (Game)
2024 - Venba (Game)
2023 - Stray (Game)
2022 - Iron Gate Studios (Company) (Valheim (Game))
2021 - Kinetic Games (Company) (Phasmophobia (Game))
2020 - ZA/UM (Disco Elysium (Game))
2019 - Mountains (Company) (Florence (Game))
2018 - Studio MDHR (Company) (Cuphead (Game))
2017 - Campo Santo (Company) (Firewatch (Game))
2016 - Moon Studios (Company) (Ori and the Blind Forest (Game))
2015 - Stoic (The Banner Saga (Game))
2014 - The Fullbright Company (Gone Home (Game))
2013 - Subset Games (Company) (FTL)
2012 - Supergiant Games (Company) (Bastion (Game))
2011 - Mojang Specifications (Minecraft (Game))
2010 - Runic Games (Company) (Torchlight (Game))
2009 - Media Molecule (Company) (LittleBigPlanet (Game))
2008 - Realtime Worlds (Crackdown (Game))
2007 - Iron Lore (Titan Quest (Game))
2006 - Double Fine (Psychonauts (Game))
2005 - Crytek (Company) (Far Cry (Game))
2004 - Infinity Ward (Company) (Call of Duty (Game))
2003 - Retro (Metroid Prime (Game))
2002 - Bohemia (Operation Flashpoint)
2001 - Counter-Strike Team (Counter-Strike)

Best Design

The Best Game Design award encompasses gameplay mechanics, level design, playability, and balance.

2026 - Blue Prince (Game)
2025 - Balatro (Game)
2024 - Baldur's Gate 3
2023 - Elden Ring (Game)
2022 - It Takes Two (Game)
2021 - Hades
2020 - Baba is You
2019 - Into the Breach (Game)
2018 - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
2017 - Overwatch (Game)
2016 - Rocket League (Game)
2015 - Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
2014 - The Last of Us (Game)
2013 - Journey
2012 - Portal 2 (Game)
2011 - Red Dead Redemption (Game)
2010 - Batman: Arkham Asylum
2009 - LittleBigPlanet (Game)
2008 - Portal
2007 - Wii Sports (Game)
2006 - Shadow of the Colossus (Game)
2005 - Katamari Damacy (Game)
2004 - Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
2003 - Battlefield: 1942
2002 - Grand Theft Auto III (Game)
2001 - Deus Ex (Game)

Best Narrative

Formerly known as the Excellence in Writing Award, this award celebrates the game with superlative storytelling, plot, and dialogue.

2026 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
2025 - Metaphor: ReFantazio
2024 - Baldur's Gate 3
2023 - Pentiment (Game)
2022 - Psychonauts 2 (Game)
2021 - The Last of Us Part II (Game)
2020 - Disco Elysium (Game)
2019 - Return of the Obra Dinn (Game)
2018 - What Remains of Edith Finch (Game)
2017 - Firewatch (Game)
2016 - Her Story (Game)
2015 - Kentucky Route Zero (Game)
2014 - The Last of Us (Game)
2013 - The Walking Dead (Game)
2012 - Portal 2 (Game)
2011 - Mass Effect 2 (Game)
2010 - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
2009 - Fallout 3 (Game)
2008 - BioShock (Game)
2007 - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
2006 - Psychonauts (Game)
2005 - Half-Life 2
2004 - Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
2003 - Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

Best Technology

The Best Technology Award celebrates the best in artificial intelligence, programming, physics modeling, and networking.

2026 - Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
2025 - Astro Bot (Game)
2024 - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
2023 - God of War Ragnarök
2022 - Ratchet andamp;amp;amp; Clank: Rift Apart
2021 - Microsoft Flight Simulator
2020 - Control (Game)
2019 - Red Dead Redemption II (Game)
2018 - Horizon Zero Dawn (Game)
2017 - Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
2016 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
2015 - Destiny
2014 - Grand Theft Auto V (Game)
2013 - Far Cry 3 (Game)
2012 - Battlefield 3 (Game)
2011 - Red Dead Redemption (Game)
2010 - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
2009 - LittleBigPlanet (Game)
2008 - Crysis (Game)
2007 - Gears of War (Game)
2006 - Nintendogs (Game)
2005 - Half-Life 2

Best Visual Arts

The Best Visual Arts award is not simply celebrating the best graphics in a game, but is more specifically about art direction, character design, animation, and textures.

2026 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
2025 - Black Myth: Wukong
2024 - Alan Wake II (Game)
2023 - Elden Ring (Game)
2022 - Ratchet andamp;amp;amp; Clank: Rift Apart
2021 - Ghost of Tsushima (Game)
2020 - Control (Game)
2019 - Gris (Game)
2018 - Cuphead (Game)
2017 - Inside
2016 - Ori and the Blind Forest (Game)
2015 - Monument Valley (Game)
2014 - BioShock Infinite (Game)
2013 - Journey
2012 - Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
2011 - Limbo (Game)
2010 - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
2009 - Prince of Persia
2008 - BioShock (Game)
2007 - Gears of War (Game)
2006 - Shadow of the Colossus (Game)
2005 - World of Warcraft (Game)
2004 - The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
2003 - Kingdom Hearts (Game)
2002 - ICO (Game)
2001 - Jet Grind Radio (Game)

Audience Award

Introduced in 2013, the Audience Award is the only award not selected by the advisory committee.

Social Impact Award

Introduced in 2022, the Social Impact Award celebrates equality and justice represented in games.

Special Honors

Three special honors, selected by the Game Developers Choice Awards advisory board, are presented annually at the ceremony.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates ones entire career of achievements as a game developer.

2026 - Don L. Daglow
2025 - Sam Lake
2024 - Yoko Shimomura (Person)
2023 - John Romero (Person)
2022 - Yuji Horii (Person)
2021 - Laralyn McWilliams (Person)
2019 - Amy Hennig (Person)
2018 - Tim Schafer (Person)
2017 - Tim Sweeney (Person)
2016 - Todd Howard (Person)
2015 - Hironobu Sakaguchi (Person)
2014 - Ken Kutaragi (Person)
2013 - Dr. Ray Muzyka & Dr. Greg Zeschuk
2012 - Warren Spector (Person)
2011 - Peter Molyneux (Person)
2010 - John Carmack (Person)
2009 - Hideo Kojima (Person)
2008 - Sid Meier (Person)
2007 - Shigeru Miyamoto (Person)
2006 - Richard Garriott (Person)
2005 - Eugene Jarvis (Person)
2004 - Mark Cerny (Person)
2003 - Gunpei Yokoi (Person)
2002 - Yuji Naka (Person)
2001 - Will Wright (Person)

Pioneer / First Penguin Award

The Pioneer Award (formerly known as the First Penguin Award) celebrates those whose contributions were groundbreaking and/or paved the way for future generations.

2025 - Lucas Pope (Person)
2023 - Mabel Addis
2021 - Tom Fulp (Person)
2020 - Roberta Williams (Person)
2019 - Reiko Kodama (Person)
2017 - Jordan Mechner (Person)
2016 - Markus Persson (Person)
2015 - David Braben (Person)
2014 - Brandon Beck (Person) and Marc Merrill
2013 - Steve Russell (Person)
2012 - Dave Theurer
2011 - Yu Suzuki (Person)
2010 - Gabe Newell (Person)
2009 - Eran Egozy (Person) and Alex Rigopulos (Person)
2008 - Ralph Baer (Person)
2007 - Alexey Pajitnov (Person)
2006 - Will Crowther (Person) and Don Woods
2005 - Richard Bartlett
2004 - Masaya Matsuura (Person)
2003 - Larry Kaplan (Person), Alan Miller (Person), David Crane (Person), Bob Whitehead
2002 - Hubert Chardot (Person)
2001 - Chip Morningstar (Person) and Randy Farmer

Ambassador / Community Contribution Award

The Ambassador Award (formerly known as the Community Contribution Award) celebrates those who best represents the industry as a whole whether it be from within or from the outside.

2026 - Rebecca Ann Heineman (Person)
2024 - Fawzi Mesmar (Person)
2022 - Steven Spohn
2020 - Kate Edwards (Person)
2018 - Rami Ismail (Person)
2017 - Mark DeLoura (Person)
2016 - Tracy Fullerton (Person)
2015 - Brenda Romero (Person)
2014 - Anita Sarkeesian
2013 - Chris Melissinos
2012 - Ken Doroshow and Paul M. Smith
2011 - Tim Brengle (Person) and Ian MacKenzie
2010 - Jerry Holkins (Person), Mike Krahulik (Person) and Robert Khoo (Person)
2009 - Tommy Tallarico (Person)
2008 - Jason Della Rocca (Person)
2007 - George Sanger
2006 - Chris Hecker (Person)
2005 - Sheri Graner Ray (Person)
2004 - Greg Zeschuck and Ray Muzyka (Person)
2003 - Doug Church (Person)
2002 - Jeff Lander (Person)
2001 -

Maverick Award

The Maverick Award, retired after 2007, celebrated those who recently introduced exceptionally new ideas to the industry.

2007 - Greg Costikyan
2006 - Alex Rigopulos (Person), Eran Egozy (Person), Greg LoPiccolo (Person), Mike Dornbrook (Harmonix Music Systems (Company))
2005 - Matthew Adams (Person), Ju Row Farr, Nick Tandavanitj (Blast Theory)
2004 - Brian Fiete (Person), Jason Kapalka (Person), John Vechey (Person) (PopCap Games)

Hosts

2025 - Sam Maggs
2025 - Alexa Ray Corriea (Person)
2024 - Alanah Pearce (Person)
2023 - Leslee Sullivant
2022 - Osama Dorias (Person)
2020 - Kim Swift (Person)
2019 - Tim Schafer (Person)
2018 - Robin Hunicke (Person)
2017 - Tim Schafer
2016 - Robin Hunicke
2015 - Tim Schafer
2014 - Abbie Heppe (Person)
2013 - Tim Schafer
2012 - Cliff Bleszinski (Person)
2011 - Tim Schafer
2010 - Warren Spector (Person)
2009 - Tim Schafer
2008 - Tim Schafer
2007 - Tim Schafer

Retired Awards

Best Handheld/Mobile Game

Celebrating the best game that was released exclusively for mobile platforms whether they be handheld consoles or mobile devices such as phones and tablets.

2021 - Genshin Impact (Game)
2020 - What the Golf?
2019 - Florence (Game)
2018 - Gorogoa (Game)
2017 - Pokémon Go
2016 - Her Story (Game)
2015 - Monument Valley (Game)
2014 - The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
2013 - The Room (Game)
2012 - Superbrothers: Sword andamp;amp;amp; Sworcery EP
2011 - Cut the Rope (Game)
2010 - Scribblenauts (Game)
2009 - God of War: Chains of Olympus
2008 - The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Best VR / AR Game

Introduced in 2017 to celebrate the best virtual or augmented reality games of the year.

Character Design

The Character Design Award was given to the game with the best well-rounded, non-licensed characters based on design, story, and originality. Prior to 2005, the award was given to a single character and was known as the Original Game Character of the Year Award.

2007 - Ōkami
2006 - Shadow of the Colossus (Game)
2005 - Half-Life 2
2004 - HK-47 in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
2003 - Sly Cooper (Character) in Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus (Game)
2002 - Daxter (Character) in Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
2001 - Seaman (Character) in Seaman (Game)

Downloadable Game

Introduced in 2008, the Best Downloadable Game Award celebrates the best game that was exclusively available via digital distribution.

Level Design

The Excellence in Level Design Award was given to the game with the best created environments and worlds. After 2003, level design was lumped into the Game Design Award.

Programming

After 2004, the Excellence in Programming Award became part of the Best Technology Award.

Advisory Committee

The editors of Game Developer Magazine and Gamasutra choose an Advisory Committee, made up of distinguished game industry veterans, to select Special Honors winners following public nominations.

Active

Chandana Ekanayake (Person) - Outerloop Games (Company)
Greg Kasavin (Person) - Supergiant Games (Company)
Dana Nightingale - Arkane Studios (Company)
Siobhan Reddy (Person) - Media Molecule (Company)
Kiki Wolfkill (Person) - 343 Industries

Alumni

Simon Carless (Person) - Gamasutra
Mark Cerny (Person) - Cerny Games
Chris Charla (Person) - ID@Xbox
Frank Cifaldi (Person) - The Video Game History Foundation
Ben Cousins (Person) - The Outsiders
Ed Fries (Person) - 1up Ventures
Tracy Fullerton (Person) - USC Games
Clint Hocking (Person) - Ubisoft
Clinton Keith - ClintonKeith.com
Raph Koster (Person) - Independent
Doug Lombardi (Person) - Valve
Julien Merceron (Person) - Bandai Namco
Laine Mooney - New York University
Bob Rafei (Person) - Big Red Button
Amir Rao (Person) - Supergiant Games (Company)
Jade Raymond (Person) - Motive Studios (Company)
Brian Reynolds - Big Huge Games (Company)
Margaret Robertson - NYU Game Center
Erin Robinson (Person) - Guerrilla Games (Company)
Meggan Scavio - GDC
Caryl Shaw (Person) - Telltale Games (Company)
Brandon Sheffield (Person) - Necrosoft Games (Company)
Mare Sheppard (Person) - Metanet Software (Company)
Angie Smets (Person) - Guerrilla Games (Company)
Harvey Smith (Person) - Arkane Studios (Company)
Tommy Tallarico (Person) - Video Games Live
John Vechey (Person) - Pluto VR