Game of the Year Voting

Prior to 2008, GameSpot had handed out only four 10s in its history. In 2008, we gave out not one, but two. Our standards haven't diminished; rather, the general quality of games this year has far surpassed what even the most jaded player could have expected. First of all, we were blessed with a number of high-quality new properties, such as Braid, No More Heroes, and Left 4 Dead. Even more amazingly, several famous franchises were reimagined in ways that catered to series fans while embracing new concepts in terms of game design. Fallout 3 transformed the role-playing series, taking us through a desolate, post-nuclear Washington, DC. Burnout Paradise threw its raucous brand of arcade racing into an open world and turned the series on its head as a result. And of course, there were those two 10s. Grand Theft Auto IV introduced new concepts to the series, such as its uproarious multiplayer features, and it brilliantly parodied modern pop culture along the way. Metal Gear Solid 4 brought a beloved series to an explosive conclusion, showcasing a chain of remarkable boss fights and unforgettable action in the process. Both games are in many ways not just the pinnacle of their franchises, but represent what we should expect from each and every action game.

Choosing 10 finalists was difficult in a year in which dozens of games could have been deemed worthy of a nod. Yet after countless heated discussions, the dust eventually cleared, and one incredible game rose from the ashes.

Voting Results:

Game of the Year
Braid
2%
 
987
Burnout Paradise
2%
 
1,343
Fallout 3
28%
 
17,075
Grand Theft Auto IV
19%
 
11,494
Left 4 Dead
10%
 
6,258
NHL 09
1%
 
719
No More Heroes
2%
 
1,468
Resistance 2
2%
 
1,217
The World Ends With You
3%
 
1,651
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
30%
 
18,217

Readers' Choice Winner

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots GameSpot's Best Games of 2008 Readers' Choice Winner

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots features an aging and exhausted Solid Snake in the middle of a futuristic battlefield. In spite of his failing body, Snake is equipped with a crucial new device tentatively known as "OctoCamo," a high-tech suit that dynamically transforms its texture based on Snake's surroundings. This revolutionary new gameplay mechanic allows him to seamlessly blend into the environment, providing him with the means to stalk his enemies like never before. This latest chapter in Hideo Kojima's legendary tactical espionage action series marks the return of several characters from previous Metal Gear Solid games including Revolver Ocelot, Meryl Silverburgh, Naomi Hunter and Raiden, and features an unforgettable story that depicts the desperate state of the future as seen through the eyes of an older Solid Snake.

Game of the Year Voting

7175 Comments

  • Llamadude32

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 3:23 pm PT

    left 4 dead for me

  • BarkotGamer

    Posted Aug 5, 2009 9:02 pm PT

    very soon we will hear about the big competition for 2009's GOTY

  • Wolf-5

    Posted Jun 5, 2009 8:33 am PT

    Fallout 3 for me.

  • SuperSnake667

    Posted Jun 3, 2009 9:19 pm PT

    Here is the total tally for GOTY awards:

    1. MGS4 - 51

    2. Fallout 3 - 44

    3. Grand Theft Auto 4 - 30

    4. LBP- 23

    5. Gears of War 2 - 7

    (Source: Gotylist)

    GO MGS4!

  • JasonCoil

    Posted May 17, 2009 3:59 am PT

    @1995
    I'm surprised, you're not a 360 fanboy after all.
    That being said, MGS4 is definitely a GOTY, it rock if you look at it as a video game, but if you look at it as MGS, it's not that good, Snake Eater was better.
    Stealth wasn't much in the 5th act, but hey, the action makes it up for the stealthless gameplay.
    That's why it isn't so good as MGS but it rocked my world as a video game.

  • 1995_1996_1997

    Posted May 14, 2009 5:58 am PT

    i have changed my mind after seeing the trailers and and reviews and playing it i think it deserves to be game of the year.sorry mgs4.

  • 1995_1996_1997

    Posted May 14, 2009 5:57 am PT

    i have changed my mind after seeing the trailers and and reviews and playing it i think it deserves to be game of the year.sorry mgs4

  • SuperSnake667

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 5:27 pm PT

    @1995_1996_1997

    Really. GS is the only one to choose MGS4 as GOTY?
    HAHAHA. Stupid fanboys...

    What about:
    Gamespot Readers Choice
    PCWorld
    Eurogamer.pt
    OXCGN (which is acutally an XBOX site)
    Fox News
    Gamezine
    PALGN
    IGN Readers Choice
    1up
    VGChartz Readers Choice
    NeoGAF
    Playfire
    Games on Smash
    VG-Reloaded
    WildGames

    That's fifteen already! And these are all major, professional websites, most of them being some of the most major ones out there!
    The total count for MGS4 is 45 GOTYs! More than GTA4's AND LittleBigPlanet's!

    MGS4 is simply, without a doubt, unquestionably the best game of 2008, and probably of the decade. I wouldn't quite say of all time, but definitely a contender.

  • Phxsns1

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 6:56 pm PT

    WHERE'S DEAD SPACE???????????????

  • barney-22-

    Posted Apr 18, 2009 3:09 pm PT

    To all those who think mgs 4 sucks pls stop calling yourself gamers because that is the best game ever made !!!!! and is the ultimate reason to get a ps3

  • 1995_1996_1997

    Posted Apr 18, 2009 4:53 am PT

    come on!! they are the only website who decided to put mgs 4 game of the year

  • 1995_1996_1997 posted Apr 18, 2009 4:52 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    1995_1996_1997

    Posted Apr 18, 2009 4:52 am PT (hide)

    mgs!!mgs!! are you kidding me. this game sucks!!gamespot is fully crap, they didnt even put gears of war in the nominees. they retarted but other websites are much better

  • Hunter_2727

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 11:47 pm PT

    I got a PS3 just before the holidays and it's great. I bought MGS4 because of all the reveiws it had. I mean come on people MGS owns! But why isn't Little Big Planet there?

  • lancer_87

    Posted Apr 13, 2009 1:10 pm PT

    haha Gears of WAr 2 isnt even a nominee

  • vladex00

    Posted Apr 9, 2009 1:42 am PT

    What???
    Fallout 3 is Game of the year

  • spiralhedgehog

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 3:32 am PT

    Don't get me wrong, I think MGS4 is awesome, but I think with these votes it's a little overhyped, just a little, not like GTA4

  • samigarnett

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 11:39 pm PT

    I am glad to own Wii, 360, PS3, and a PC so that I can enjoy all of these great games. That being said, MGS rulz!!!!!!!! I've stuck with the series ever since MGS1 and I love it!!!

  • roughnecks17

    Posted Mar 28, 2009 7:17 am PT

    MGS gives me the reason why i should stick to PS 3...

  • tiggerboy

    Posted Mar 26, 2009 2:35 pm PT

    Dead Space should have been there, and Braid?!?! BRAID?!?! WTFF! Braid sucked. Castle Crashers was 1000% better than that over priced pile!