Cuphead (2017)
Washington, D.C. (December 10, 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 the winner results in all 60 categories for its second Games of the Decade (2010-2019) program honoring video game art, design, sound, and engineering.
The winner of Game of the Decade is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The game beat fellow nominees God of War, Minecraft, Red Dead Redemption, and The Last of Us.
New intellectual properties accounted for the majority (53.3%, or 32 of 60) of all winners, up 6.8 points from 46.5% in the previous decade. Newer games dominated the winners as well, as only a quarter of the wins (25%, or 15 of 60) went to older games from the first half of the decade.
The games with the most wins for best of the decade in their respective categories are:
06 Cuphead
05 The Last of Us
04 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
03 Super Mario Odyssey
03 Death Stranding
03 Alien: Isolation
02 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
02 Persona 5
02 Marvel’s Spider-Man
02 Borderlands 2
Cuphead (2017) led all other games with 6 victories, winning in the following best of decade categories:
• Animation, Artistic
• Art Direction, Period Influence
• Character Design
• Control Precision
• Original Family Game
• Original Light Mix Score, New IP (a music category)
The Last of Us (2013) won five categories:
• Camera Direction in a Game Engine
• Gameplay Design, New IP
• Direction in a Game Cinema
• Lead Performance in a Drama
• Writing in a Drama
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015) rounded the top three games with wins in four categories:
• Animation, Technical
• Franchise Role Playing Game
• Original Dramatic Score, Franchise
• Game of the Decade
All titles, characters, likenesses, and indicia are copyrights or trademarks of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Certificates, trophies, and the complete list of winners are available from 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 winners for the decade (2010-2019) are:
NAVGTR Animation, Artistic
Cuphead – WINNER
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 – WINNER
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
NAVGTR Art Direction, Contemporary
DOOM
Gris
LIMBO
Persona 5 – WINNER
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 – WINNER
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
NAVGTR Art Direction, Period Influence
A Plague Tale: Innocence
Bioshock: Infinite
Cuphead – WINNER
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 – WINNER
NAVGTR Character Design
Bayonetta 2
Cuphead – WINNER
God of War
Overwatch
Red Dead Redemption
NAVGTR Control Design, 2D or Limited 3D
Dead Cells – WINNER
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 – WINNER
NAVGTR Control Design, VR
Moss
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard
Superhot VR – WINNER
Vader Immortal
NAVGTR Control Precision
Cuphead – WINNER
Destiny
Portal 2
Super Meat Boy
Tomb Raider
NAVGTR Costume Design
Dishonored 2
Persona 5 – WINNER
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 – WINNER
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 – WINNER
Untitled Goose Game
NAVGTR Direction in a Game Cinema
God of War
Persona 5
The Last of Us – WINNER
The Wolf Among Us
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
NAVGTR Direction in Virtual Reality
Batman: Arkham VR
Moss – WINNER
Star Trek: Bridge Crew
Vader Immortal
NAVGTR Engineering
Alien: Isolation
Dreams
Marvel’s Spider-Man – WINNER
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 – WINNER
NAVGTR Game, Classic Revival
DOOM – WINNER
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 – WINNER
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Red Dead Redemption
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
NAVGTR Game, Franchise Adventure
God of War – WINNER
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 – WINNER
NAVGTR Game, Franchise Fighting
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Injustice: Gods Among Us
Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Mortal Kombat X
Super Smash Bros. – WINNER
NAVGTR Game, Franchise Racing
Forza Horizon 3
Forza Horizon 4 – WINNER
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 – WINNER
NAVGTR Game, Franchise Sports
FIFA 17
Madden NFL 11
NBA 2K16
NHL 20 – WINNER
Super Mega Baseball 2
NAVGTR Game, Music or Performance-Based
Beat Saber – WINNER
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 – WINNER
The Last of Us
Titanfall
NAVGTR Game, Original Adventure
A Plague Tale: Innocence
L.A. Noire
Ori and the Blind Forest – WINNER
The Walking Dead
What Remains of Edith Finch
NAVGTR Game, Original Family
Cuphead – WINNER
Disney Epic Mickey
Splatoon
The Flame in the Flood
Yoku’s Island Express
NAVGTR Game, Original Fighting
Arms
Awesomenauts
Brawlout
GORN
Towerfall – WINNER
NAVGTR Game, Original Racing
Blur
Dangerous Driving
Onrush
Project CARS
The Crew – WINNER
NAVGTR Game, Original Role Playing
Bastion
Dragon’s Crown
Dragon’s Dogma
The Outer Worlds
Undertale – WINNER
NAVGTR Game, Original Sports
Golf Story
Killer Queen Black
Kinect Sports
Laser League
Rocket League – WINNER
NAVGTR Game, Puzzle
Her Story
Puyo Puyo Tetris
Tetris Effect – WINNER
The Witness
Untitled Goose Game
NAVGTR Game, Simulation
Jurassic World Evolution
Kerbal Space Program
Planet Zoo
Stardew Valley – WINNER
The Sims 4
NAVGTR Game, Special Class
Dreams
Journey – WINNER
Monument Valley
Nintendo Labo
That Dragon, Cancer
NAVGTR Game, Strategy
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes – WINNER
Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty
XCOM 2: War of the Chosen
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
NAVGTR Graphics, Technical
Control
God of War
Horizon Zero Dawn – WINNER
The Last of Us
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
NAVGTR Lighting/Texturing
Alien: Isolation – WINNER
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 – WINNER
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
NAVGTR Original Dramatic Score, New IP
Alan Wake
Bloodborne
Death Stranding – WINNER
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 – WINNER
NAVGTR Original Light Mix Score, New IP
Child of Light
Cuphead – WINNER
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” – WINNER
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” – WINNER
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” – WINNER
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Doug Cockle as “Geralt”
NAVGTR Performance in a Drama, Supporting
Batman: Arkham Knight – Mark Hamill as “Joker” – WINNER
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 – WINNER
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” – WINNER
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 – WINNER
God of War
The Last of Us
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
NAVGTR Sound Effects
Alien: Isolation – WINNER
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 – WINNER
NAVGTR Use of Sound, Franchise
Alien: Isolation – WINNER
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 – WINNER
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 – WINNER
NAVGTR Writing in a Drama
Catherine
Persona 5
Red Dead Redemption
The Last of Us – WINNER
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) – WINNER
NAVGTR Game, eSports
Fortnite Battle Royale
Overwatch – WINNER
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” – WINNER
A shorthand view of the winners and their original years follows.
NAVGTR Animation, Artistic
Cuphead (2017)
NAVGTR Animation, Technical
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)
NAVGTR Art Direction, Contemporary
Persona 5 (2017)
NAVGTR Art Direction, Fantasy
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
NAVGTR Art Direction, Period Influence
Cuphead (2017)
NAVGTR Camera Direction in a Game Engine
The Last of Us (2013)
NAVGTR Character Design
Cuphead (2017)
NAVGTR Control Design, 2D or Limited 3D
Dead Cells (2018)
NAVGTR Control Design, 3D
Super Mario Odyssey (2017)
NAVGTR Control Design, VR
Superhot VR (2016)
NAVGTR Control Precision
Cuphead (2017)
NAVGTR Costume Design
Persona 5 (2017)
NAVGTR Gameplay Design, Franchise
Super Mario Odyssey (2017)
NAVGTR Gameplay Design, New IP
The Last of Us (2013)
NAVGTR Direction in a Game Cinema
The Last of Us (2013)
NAVGTR Direction in Virtual Reality
Moss (2018)
NAVGTR Engineering
Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018)
NAVGTR Game of the Decade
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)
NAVGTR Game, Classic Revival
DOOM (2016)
NAVGTR Game, Franchise Action
Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018)
NAVGTR Game, Franchise Adventure
God of War (2018)
NAVGTR Game, Franchise Family
Super Mario Odyssey (2017)
NAVGTR Game, Franchise Fighting
Super Smash Bros. (2014)
NAVGTR Game, Franchise Racing
Forza Horizon 4 (2018)
NAVGTR Game, Franchise Role Playing
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)
NAVGTR Game, Franchise Sports
NHL 20 (2019)
NAVGTR Game, Music or Performance-Based
Beat Saber (2018)
NAVGTR Game, Original Action
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019)
NAVGTR Game, Original Adventure
Ori and the Blind Forest (2015)
NAVGTR Game, Original Family
Cuphead (2017)
NAVGTR Game, Original Fighting
Towerfall (2013)
NAVGTR Game, Original Racing
The Crew (2015)
NAVGTR Game, Original Role Playing
Undertale (2015)
NAVGTR Game, Original Sports
Rocket League (2015)
NAVGTR Game, Puzzle
Tetris Effect (2018)
NAVGTR Game, Simulation
Stardew Valley (2016)
NAVGTR Game, Special Class
Journey (2012)
NAVGTR Game, Strategy
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (2015)
NAVGTR Graphics, Technical
Horizon Zero Dawn (2017)
NAVGTR Lighting/Texturing
Alien: Isolation (2014)
NAVGTR Original Dramatic Score, Franchise
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)
NAVGTR Original Dramatic Score, New IP
Death Stranding (2019)
NAVGTR Original Light Mix Score, Franchise
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
NAVGTR Original Light Mix Score, New IP
Cuphead (2017)
NAVGTR Performance in a Comedy, Lead
Borderlands 2 – David Eddings as “Claptrap” (2012)
NAVGTR Performance in a Comedy, Supporting
Borderlands 2 – Dameon Clarke as “Handsome Jack” (2012)
NAVGTR Performance in a Drama, Lead
The Last of Us – Troy Baker as “Joel” (2013)
NAVGTR Performance in a Drama, Supporting
Batman: Arkham Knight – Mark Hamill as “Joker” (2015)
NAVGTR Song Collection
Death Stranding (2019)
NAVGTR Song, Original or Adapted
Final Fantasy XV – “Stand By Me” (2016)
NAVGTR Sound Editing in a Game Cinema
Death Stranding (2019)
NAVGTR Sound Effects
Alien: Isolation (2014)
NAVGTR Sound Mixing in Virtual Reality
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard (2017)
NAVGTR Use of Sound, Franchise
Alien: Isolation (2014)
NAVGTR Use of Sound, New IP
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (2017)
NAVGTR Writing in a Comedy
The Stanley Parable (2013)
NAVGTR Writing in a Drama
The Last of Us (2013)
NAVGTR Innovation in Game Play or Technology
P.T. (Playable Trailer) (2014)
NAVGTR Game, eSports
Overwatch (2016)
NAVGTR Performance in a Sports Game
NBA 2K17 – Michael B. Jordan as “Justice Young” (2016)
Contact:
Thomas Allen
Tallen at navgtr dot org
(301) 437-7880