As a die-hard gamer who's spent countless hours glued to my controller since the dawn of The Game Awards, I can't help but scream from the rooftops about how utterly devastated I am that some of the most mind-blowing, jaw-dropping, heart-pounding masterpieces of our time didn't snag that golden Game of the Year trophy! Oh, the sheer injustice of it all—these games were so spectacularly brilliant, they could have easily stolen the show in any year, leaving me tossing and turning at night wondering 'what if?' It's not that the actual winners didn't deserve their glory—no, they were phenomenal—but these runners-up? They were cosmic-level epics that redefined gaming as we know it, and in 2025, looking back still stings like a thousand bee stings! Seriously, folks, the agony is real, and I'm here to rant about it with all the fiery passion of a gamer scorned. These titles weren't just games; they were life-altering experiences that should have been crowned kings of the digital realm! 🎮🔥

Let's kick off with 2014, a year so packed with gaming greatness that it felt like the universe was showing off! While Dragon Age: Inquisition rightfully took home the crown, the real star in my eyes was Bayonetta 2—oh, sweet mercy, this game was a non-stop adrenaline rush that made me feel like I could punch through walls! As a Wii U exclusive back then, it was criminally underplayed, but trust me, this PlatinumGames gem was pure, unadulterated chaos with combat so fluid and boss fights so epic, they should have earned it a GOTY spot by default. I mean, come on—it single-handedly made the Wii U feel like a powerhouse console, and playing it today on Switch still gives me goosebumps. the-unbelievable-games-that-should-have-won-game-of-the-year-but-didn-t-image-0 Moving to 2015, The Witcher 3 was a well-deserved winner, but Bloodborne? Oh. My. Gosh. This FromSoftware masterpiece was the stuff of nightmares and dreams, blending ruthless combat with a creepy Lovecraftian vibe that had me sweating bullets and screaming at my screen. It was faster, fiercer, and more accessible than any Soulslike before, and even in 2025, I'm begging for a remaster—this game should have been the champion!

Fast forward to 2016, and wow, what a controversy! Overwatch winning was fun, but it felt like a slap in the face to Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. As a Naughty Dog fanatic, I was utterly mesmerized by this cinematic tour de force—it wrapped up Nathan Drake's saga with such heart and thrills that I sobbed uncontrollably. The environments? Stunning. The narrative? Captivating perfection. This game deserved that award, no question! Then came 2018, a year so tight it gave me anxiety attacks—God of War won fair and square, but Red Dead Redemption 2 losing still haunts me. Rockstar's magnum opus was a cowboy simulator so immersive, I swear I could smell the campfire and feel the dust in my lungs. The map was gigantic, packed with details down to every blade of grass, and Arthur Morgan's story? Pure emotional dynamite that set up the original game flawlessly. Why, oh why, didn't it win?

2019 was another heartbreaker—Sekiro was awesome, but Super Smash Bros. Ultimate? Holy smokes, this game was a non-stop party for the soul! As a Nintendo loyalist, I spent endless hours battling with icons like Mario, Sonic, and Cloud in a chaotic, joyful frenzy that celebrated gaming history. It was the definitive Smash experience, loaded with modes and bosses, and it still lights up my Switch today. This should have been GOTY gold! Jumping to 2020, the pandemic year, The Last of Us Part 2 won, but Ghost of Tsushima stole my heart. Sucker Punch's samurai saga was a visual feast with breathtaking landscapes and combat so realistic, I felt like a true warrior. And with Ghost of Yotei on the horizon in 2025, I'm still baffled it didn't take the crown back then!

2021 brought It Takes Two a fresh win, yet Metroid Dread was the unsung hero that left me breathless. After decades of anticipation, this comeback delivered suspenseful stealth and epic boss fights that made it a GOTY-worthy contender, hands down. Finally, 2023—what a year! Baldur's Gate 3 deserved its win, but The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom? Oh boy, this game was sheer magic! Building machines with Ultrahand and exploring a triple-layered world was revolutionary, and Ganondorf's story was the best ever. It could have easily swept the awards!

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  • Could Red Dead Redemption 2 win GOTY if released today?

So, after reliving all this gaming glory, I'm left pondering one thing: With the industry evolving at warp speed, what mind-blowing title do you think will be the next legendary underdog that deserves GOTY but might get overlooked? 🤔