Games of the Decade (2010-2019) Nominees

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)

Washington, D.C. (November 4, 2020) / NAVGTR CORP. – The National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit media organization of 978 media voters and 11,700 subscribers, has announced nominees for its second Games of the Decade (2010-2019) program honoring video game art, technology, and production.

The nominees for Game of the Decade are:

• God of War
• Minecraft
• Red Dead Redemption
• The Last of Us
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Winners in 60 categories will be announced December 10, 2020.

Decade Leaders

Winners from the past ten years of its annual program were sent to voters to narrow down to five nominees per category. God of War leads the franchise totals, and The Last of Us leads the totals for new intellectual property (new in its time). Cuphead leads the totals for the decade’s stand-alone single games. Overall, the top performers of the decade are:

14 God of War
13 The Last of Us
12 Witcher series
10 Uncharted series
08 Super Mario franchise

06 Cuphead
06 Red Dead series
06 Zelda franchise

05 Bioshock: Infinite
05 Death Stranding
05 Forza franchise
05 Horizon Zero Dawn
05 Persona 5
05 Resident Evil series

04 Alien: Isolation
04 Batman franchise
04 Borderlands franchise
04 Star Wars franchise
04 Tomb Raider franchise

03 A Plague Tale: Innocence
03 Destiny
03 DOOM
03 Portal 2
03 South Park: The Stick of Truth
03 Super Meat Boy
03 Super Smash Bros.
03 The Last Guardian
03 Untitled Goose Game

Surprises

Despite 15 wins in the past decade, the Assassin’s Creed franchise failed to make the final five in any category for this particular decade. Of those that had 3 or more wins in the decade, other games and series that also went empty-handed were Call of Duty, Detroit: Become Human, Dragon Age, Far Cry, Firewatch, Heavy Rain, Just Dance, Ni No Kuni, and Street Fighter. Also notably missing was Skyrim, which had 2 wins. Many franchises, however, did score nominations in the previous decade.

All titles, characters, likenesses, and indicia are copyrights or trademarks of their respective owners. All rights reserved. Certificates (and complete list of nominees) are available at the academy website.

About NAVGTR CORP.

NAVGTR Corp.(TM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation devoted to promoting and recognizing game developers.

The general voting body of trade reviewers, journalists, analysts, YouTubers, Twitch streamers, content creators, and writers includes current and former contributors for Bitmob, CBS Interactive, Destructoid, EGM Now, Game Informer, Game Trailers, GamesIndustry.biz, Gamespot, Gamezone, IGN, Kotaku, Machinima, Mashable, Massively, MSNBC, Polygon, Retroware, The Koalition, Ten Ton Hammer, and Venture Beat.

Additional varied outlets include Austin American-Statesman, Break, Chicago Sun-Times, CNN, Futurenet, GamesRadar, Gaming Illustrated, Geek, Los Angeles Times, MMO PRG, Moody’s, NBC, New Gamer Nation, New York Times, Nintendo World Report, The Ottawa Citizen, PC Gamer, San Jose Mercury-News, Terminal Gamer, USA Today, The Vancouver Sun, Wired News, and hundreds more.

The academy website is navgtr.org

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The final nominees for the decade (2010-2019) are:

NAVGTR Animation, Artistic
Cuphead
God of War
Journey
Rise of the Tomb Raider
The Last Guardian

NAVGTR Animation, Technical
Control
Horizon Zero Dawn
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

NAVGTR Art Direction, Contemporary
DOOM
Gris
LIMBO
Persona 5
The Last of Us

NAVGTR Art Direction, Fantasy
Alice: Madness Returns
God of War
The Last Guardian
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

NAVGTR Art Direction, Period Influence
A Plague Tale: Innocence
Bioshock: Infinite
Cuphead
Red Dead Redemption 2
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine

NAVGTR Camera Direction in a Game Engine
Dead Space 2
God of War
Inside
Max Payne 3
The Last of Us

NAVGTR Character Design
Bayonetta 2
Cuphead
God of War
Overwatch
Red Dead Redemption

NAVGTR Control Design, 2D or Limited 3D
Dead Cells
Super Mario Maker
Super Meat Boy
Super Smash Bros.
The Messenger

NAVGTR Control Design, 3D
Batman: Arkham City
God of War
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Splatoon
Super Mario Odyssey

NAVGTR Control Design, VR
Moss
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard
Superhot VR
Vader Immortal

NAVGTR Control Precision
Cuphead
Destiny
Portal 2
Super Meat Boy
Tomb Raider

NAVGTR Costume Design
Dishonored 2
Persona 5
Red Dead Redemption 2
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

NAVGTR Gameplay Design, Franchise
Bioshock: Infinite
God of War
Super Mario Odyssey
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

NAVGTR Gameplay Design, New IP
Hollow Knight
Horizon Zero Dawn
The Last Guardian
The Last of Us
Untitled Goose Game

NAVGTR Direction in a Game Cinema
God of War
Persona 5
The Last of Us
The Wolf Among Us
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

NAVGTR Direction in Virtual Reality
Batman: Arkham VR
Moss
Star Trek: Bridge Crew
Vader Immortal

NAVGTR Engineering
Alien: Isolation
Dreams
Marvel’s Spider-Man
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

NAVGTR Game of the Decade
God of War
Minecraft
Red Dead Redemption
The Last of Us
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

NAVGTR Game, Classic Revival
DOOM
Resident Evil 2
Shadow of the Colossus
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

NAVGTR Game, Franchise Action
DOOM
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Red Dead Redemption
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

NAVGTR Game, Franchise Adventure
God of War
Rise of the Tomb Raider
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

NAVGTR Game, Franchise Family
Lego Batman 3
Luigi’s Mansion 3
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario Maker
Super Mario Odyssey

NAVGTR Game, Franchise Fighting
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Injustice: Gods Among Us
Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Mortal Kombat X
Super Smash Bros.

NAVGTR Game, Franchise Racing
Forza Horizon 3
Forza Horizon 4
Forza Motorsport 7
Mario Kart 8
Motorstorm: Apocalypse

NAVGTR Game, Franchise Role Playing
Final Fantasy XV
Mass Effect 2
Persona 5
South Park: The Stick of Truth
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

NAVGTR Game, Franchise Sports
FIFA 17
Madden NFL 11
NBA 2K16
NHL 20
Super Mega Baseball 2

NAVGTR Game, Music or Performance-Based
Beat Saber
Cadence of Hyrule
Crypt of the Necrodancer
Dance Central 3
Rock Band 3

NAVGTR Game, Original Action
Bloodborne
Horizon Zero Dawn
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
The Last of Us
Titanfall

NAVGTR Game, Original Adventure
A Plague Tale: Innocence
L.A. Noire
Ori and the Blind Forest
The Walking Dead
What Remains of Edith Finch

NAVGTR Game, Original Family
Cuphead
Disney Epic Mickey
Splatoon
The Flame in the Flood
Yoku’s Island Express

NAVGTR Game, Original Fighting
Arms
Awesomenauts
Brawlout
GORN
Towerfall

NAVGTR Game, Original Racing
Blur
Dangerous Driving
Onrush
Project CARS
The Crew

NAVGTR Game, Original Role Playing
Bastion
Dragon’s Crown
Dragon’s Dogma
The Outer Worlds
Undertale

NAVGTR Game, Original Sports
Golf Story
Killer Queen Black
Kinect Sports
Laser League
Rocket League

NAVGTR Game, Puzzle
Her Story
Puyo Puyo Tetris
Tetris Effect
The Witness
Untitled Goose Game

NAVGTR Game, Simulation
Jurassic World Evolution
Kerbal Space Program
Planet Zoo
Stardew Valley
The Sims 4

NAVGTR Game, Special Class
Dreams
Journey
Monument Valley
Nintendo Labo
That Dragon, Cancer

NAVGTR Game, Strategy
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty
XCOM 2: War of the Chosen
XCOM: Enemy Unknown

NAVGTR Graphics, Technical
Control
God of War
Horizon Zero Dawn
The Last of Us
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

NAVGTR Lighting/Texturing
Alien: Isolation
Rise of the Tomb Raider
The Last of Us
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
What Remains of Edith Finch

NAVGTR Original Dramatic Score, Franchise
God of War
Kingdom Hearts III
Nier: Automata
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

NAVGTR Original Dramatic Score, New IP
Alan Wake
Bloodborne
Death Stranding
Destiny
The Last of Us

NAVGTR Original Light Mix Score, Franchise
Bayonetta 2
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Tetris Effect
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

NAVGTR Original Light Mix Score, New IP
Child of Light
Cuphead
Life is Strange
Octopath Traveler
Super Meat Boy

NAVGTR Performance in a Comedy, Lead
Bastion – Logan Cunningham as “Rucks”
Borderlands 2 – David Eddings as “Claptrap”
Broken Age: Act I – Elijah Wood as “Shay”
King’s Quest: The Good Knight – Christopher Lloyd as “King Graham”
The Stanley Parable – Kevan Brighting as “Narrator”

NAVGTR Performance in a Comedy, Supporting
Batman: The Brave and the Bold – Paul Reubens as “Bat-Mite”
Borderlands 2 – Dameon Clarke as “Handsome Jack”
Guardians of the Galaxy – Adam Harrington as “Groot”
South Park: The Stick of Truth – Trey Parker as “Various”
Tales from the Borderlands – Erin Yvette as “Sasha”

NAVGTR Performance in a Drama, Lead
A Plague Tale: Innocence – Charlotte McBurney as “Amicia”
God of War – Christopher Judge as “Kratos”
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice – Melina Juergens as “Senua”
The Last of Us – Troy Baker as “Joel”
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Doug Cockle as “Geralt”

NAVGTR Performance in a Drama, Supporting
Batman: Arkham Knight – Mark Hamill as “Joker”
Bioshock Infinite – Courtnee Draper as “Elizabeth”
Catherine – Michelle Ruff as “Katherine McBride”
Death Stranding – Mads Mikkelsen as “Cliff”
The Walking Dead – Melissa Hutchison as “Clementine”

NAVGTR Song Collection
Bioshock: Infinite
Death Stranding
Forza Horizon 4
Lumines Electronic Symphony
Rock Band 4

NAVGTR Song, Original or Adapted
Death Stranding – “BB’s Theme”
Final Fantasy XV – “Stand By Me”
Life is Strange – “To All of You”
Portal 2 – “Want You Gone”
Super Mario Odyssey – “Jump Up, Super Star!”

NAVGTR Sound Editing in a Game Cinema
Death Stranding
God of War
The Last of Us
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

NAVGTR Sound Effects
Alien: Isolation
God of War
Portal 2
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard
Star Wars Battlefront

NAVGTR Sound Mixing in Virtual Reality
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
Adr1ft
Beat Saber
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard

NAVGTR Use of Sound, Franchise
Alien: Isolation
Bioshock: Infinite
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard
Star Wars Battlefront
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

NAVGTR Use of Sound, New IP
Crypt of the Necrodancer
Destiny
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
The Last of Us
Untitled Goose Game

NAVGTR Writing in a Comedy
Night in the Woods
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Tales from the Borderlands
The Outer Worlds
The Stanley Parable

NAVGTR Writing in a Drama
Catherine
Persona 5
Red Dead Redemption
The Last of Us
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt


NAVGTR Innovation in Game Play or Technology
Horizon Zero Dawn
HTC Vive
L.A. Noire
Oculus Rift Development Kit
P.T. (Playable Trailer)

NAVGTR Game, eSports
Fortnite Battle Royale
Overwatch
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

NAVGTR Performance in a Sports Game
FIFA 19 – Adetomiwa Edun
Forza Motorsport 7 – Josef Newgarden
NBA 2K17 – Michael B. Jordan as “Justice Young”