Game of the Year (abbreviated GotY) is a title awarded by various gaming publications to a deserving game. Many publications award a single "Game of the Year" to a single title that they feel represents the pinnacle of gaming achievement that year. Many games will release a "Game of the Year" edition after winning any of these awards, usually containing all the updates, downloadable content (DLC) and occasionally other extras such as a soundtrack.

Institutions and Award Shows

Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences

Arcade Awards / Electronic Gaming Awards

The Arcade Awards, also known as the Arkie Awards, was one of the first video game awards, dating back to the golden age of arcade video games and lasting up until the North American video game industry crash. It was held since 1980 (for games released in 1979 and earlier) and were announced annually by Electronic Games magazine since 1981, covering several different platform categories. Following the magazine's revival in 1992, it published the Electronic Gaming Awards in January 1993 for the best video games released in 1992. The 1992 and 1993 issues asked their readers to vote for the game of the year.