GTAIV named Time's GOTY

The economy may be tanking, but Time magazine spared no expense on its annual year-end awards for 2008. This week, the news magazine delivered its verdict on the top 10 biggest happenings of the year, spanning 50 different categories. And as in years past, games were party to the proceedings. ...

The economy may be tanking, but Time magazine spared no expense on its annual year-end awards for 2008. This week, the news magazine delivered its verdict on the top 10 biggest happenings of the year, spanning 50 different categories. And as in years past, games were party to the proceedings.

Microsoft and Bungie Studios' Xbox 360-exclusive sci-fi shooter Halo 3 took home the crown last year. For 2008, Time has named Take-Two's multiplatform action adventure Grand Theft Auto IV as its top game. As per Time's noted tech writer Lev Grossman, GTAIV received the honor because it's "a grade-A shoot-'em-up that doubles as an interactive novel and triples as a sly critique of American consumer culture."

GTAIV is sure to be a staple of many a gaming outlets' Game of the Year awards, but Time also included a few sleeper hits in its 2008 awards. Braid, an Xbox Live platforming puzzler that received glowing praise from GameSpot, ranked second on the magazine's list, while other dark horses included Hunted Forever at eighth and Fieldrunners at ninth.

The remainder of Time's awards went to awards-season frontrunners. Notable runners-up included Little Big Planet, Rock Band 2, Gears of War 2, and Spore.

The news magazine's top 10 games of 2008 are listed in full below.
1. Grand Theft Auto IV
2. Braid
3. Little Big Planet
4. Rock Band 2
5. Gears of War 2
6. Dead Space
7. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
8. Hunted Forever
9. Fieldrunners
10. Spore

379 Comments

  • sensei_hEnRY

    Posted Jan 29, 2009 11:17 pm PT

    weird list, but at least they not MGS4's fanboy

  • greedom

    Posted Jan 13, 2009 5:30 pm PT

    A rather uninformed list. Although I would say that GTA 4 is well deserving.

  • markweyers

    Posted Jan 4, 2009 5:31 pm PT

    Sigh. I haven't even played most of the really great games out there and have enough knowledge to know they're FAR better than the games listed here from TIME. Wow.

  • drew0987

    Posted Jan 2, 2009 10:40 pm PT

    I've learned a few things for sure reading this post at least... one of which is that the editor was most certainly tempted to type "LOL" at more than one point in the middle of the article and a big "ROFLMAOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL" at the end of it.

  • -LC-

    Posted Dec 24, 2008 11:25 pm PT

    Err.... They let an iPhone game in the top 10?
    And as far as I know, "Hunted Forever" is a flash game.

  • munchlax99

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 8:56 am PT

    i hate GTA4

  • munchlax99

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 8:55 am PT

    what about mgs4, fable 2, fallout 3, CoD5! WTF TIME

  • jimmy8118

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 1:26 pm PT

    I really don't care for Time's Game of the Year, but this is a pretty bad list.

    1. Metal Gear Solid 4
    2. Grand Theft Auto IV
    3. Fallout 3
    4. Gears of War 2
    5. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
    6. Little Big Planet
    7. Resistance 2
    8. Dead Space
    9. Fable II
    10. Call of Duty: World at War

  • maxmax1234

    Posted Dec 17, 2008 12:35 am PT

    GTA4 is realistic, but absolutly not fun.

  • WiLdStyLe37

    Posted Dec 16, 2008 6:53 pm PT

    wtf.. these guys dont no what they are talking about

  • metalgeargod22

    Posted Dec 16, 2008 4:37 pm PT

    omfg... Hunted Forever is a flash game and Fieldrunners is a cell phone game? I didn't even realize those counted... ugh.. thoroughly disappointed...

  • metalgeargod22

    Posted Dec 16, 2008 4:27 pm PT

    thank you Fanboy4Hire and necronaux...

    Idk what to say really... wow kinda works.

    GTA IV deserves it because of the quite literally perfect ratings it received but come on.. SW Force Unleashed and spore? I haven't even heard of # 8 or 9... I am appalled not to see Metal Gear Solid 4 or Fallout 3 or even Super Smash... Awful compilation =[

  • boybrushdred

    Posted Dec 16, 2008 4:22 pm PT

    wtf? they forgot mgs4 and fallout3? and they included hunted forever and fieldrunners?

  • nynthninja

    Posted Dec 16, 2008 3:04 pm PT

    necronaux- i dont the the creator of Braid had the funds to pay Time magazine for the number 2 spot....sales either mag reviews probably not this is totally one mans opinion who has his favorites and doesn't play others (MGS and Fallout)

  • Fanboy4Hire

    Posted Dec 16, 2008 10:49 am PT

    GT!IV as game of the year is iffy, but not including Fallout 3 and Metal Gear 4 is totally unforgivable. Credibility lost.

  • necronaux

    Posted Dec 16, 2008 9:20 am PT

    So, how'd they get this list? Sales? Mag reviews? Fan reviews? Who ever paid them the most?

  • 2fistsintheair

    Posted Dec 15, 2008 9:59 pm PT

    Raise your hands if you think that ANY list they would have put out would get the gaming community's approval. Fable 2 was my favorite from this year and MGS4 isn't my cup of tea and wouldn't touch my top 10. I like the list. At least it's a little different with plenty of good games on it. Face it folks, worse frickin things have happened.

  • naruto7777

    Posted Dec 15, 2008 6:42 pm PT

    What no Gears 2 and the Masterpiece game MGS4 this is terrible

  • TehUndeadHorror

    Posted Dec 15, 2008 5:02 pm PT

    7. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed?!?! No way. It was a great experience at first I'll tell you that but no replay value at all. Most of the physics based force sequences were just old game fillers disguised with a new layer! Example: Opening doors. Awesome the first time, then you realise it's just a gimmick. Gargh! So many other great games could have taken its spot... I agree with finalfangurl. =(

  • finalfangurl

    Posted Dec 15, 2008 3:33 pm PT

    Metal Gear Solid 4 has been snubbed the game of the year title to many times this year has come to be a big disappointment to me . Sorry for being biased but I even heard from a GTA fan that IV got really annoying after a while. I would really love to try Fallout 3 though, heard a lot of people say that is a really good game. Time's list isn't really that good at all;most of those games are over hyped.

  • MInoAquiles

    Posted Dec 15, 2008 3:12 pm PT

    GTA4 sucks ass. nothing and i mean NOTHING new there

  • JediNaruto

    Posted Dec 15, 2008 12:41 pm PT

    Okay, why the hell is everyone suddenly bashing on The Force Unleashed...sure it shouldnt be on here but can you really say you did not have fun tossing stormtroopers around and knocking them over like bowling pins?

  • rktPYZQShWz

    Posted Dec 15, 2008 12:03 pm PT

    Lol its just an opinion sure but its an opinion that will decide what to buy >.>. I've never even heard of Hunted Forever and Fieldrunners....and I've played waaaay better games that came out this year over TFU.

  • Jedilink109

    Posted Dec 14, 2008 10:01 pm PT

    WOW. They pick an Iphone game over Fallout 3....

    And where's Sonic Chronicles, Banjo Kazooie; Nuts And Bolts, and so on? I mean these last two games aren't THE BEST of the year type stuff, but dude...I'd refer to see that than what they put.

  • BuckGame

    Posted Dec 14, 2008 4:54 pm PT

    Yeah what about MEtal Gear SOLID COME ON (BuckGame) is my (Ps ID) if u want to join mY clan T.K.S Team.Kissin.SIN

  • Ghost_Ryda

    Posted Dec 14, 2008 11:24 am PT

    WHAT!!

    WHAT ABOUT MGS4!!!!!!!!!!!!

    TIMES YOU SU#K

  • burback2

    Posted Dec 14, 2008 11:05 am PT

    I didn't anything about Hunted Forever being GOTY worthy. All I said is the game is fun and people should give it a try. Obviously Fallout 3 and MGS4 should be there. I also disagree with Star Wars but oh well.

  • Sydwynder

    Posted Dec 14, 2008 9:36 am PT

    Force Unleashed? Did they actually play the games or name them based on their titles? Force Unleashed was terrible and the best way to waste TIME this year....

  • niukas

    Posted Dec 13, 2008 11:46 pm PT

    Leave it to Time to make terrible lists of just about everything

  • biggest_loser

    Posted Dec 13, 2008 10:31 pm PT

    Terrible list. Where is Left 4 Dead and Mass Effect? Hunted Forever isn't even listed on Gamespot. I don't know how Star Wars is on there. Did someone at Time just randomly google for games released in 2008 and stick them in? Their Top 20 Films list is just as awful.

  • KhanhAgE

    Posted Dec 13, 2008 8:18 pm PT

    "burback2" whether Hunted Forever is a good game or not, ain't the point. The point is does anyone beside this "Grossman" believe that this 'Hunted Forever' (or 'Fieldrunners') is better than MGS4, SSBB, Fallout 3 or Fable 2.

    I'm surprise Wii Music isn't in that top 10.

  • D3dr0_0

    Posted Dec 13, 2008 12:18 pm PT

    There's a reason why I don't care about this GOTY it's Time magazine they know nothing about games they accept bribes. I'm not a fan boy but MGS4, SSBB, Fallout 3, L4D and Fable 2 should be in that list.

  • burback2

    Posted Dec 13, 2008 9:45 am PT

    I just looked up Hunted Forever and it was created by a 21 year old student at Simon Frasier University in Vancouver Canada. I spent about a half hour with it and its pretty cool. I would buy it if it was on Live Arcade. Its a simple flash based platformer with excellent gameplay in my opinon. I'll probably play it again.

  • Darkman2007

    Posted Dec 13, 2008 9:26 am PT

    they put in games like star wars and spore but didnt put in MGS4, these guys dont play very many games do they?

  • Jimmyeatsknives

    Posted Dec 13, 2008 8:50 am PT

    Its about time GTA4 got some recognition....esp after G4 snubbed it to Fable 2 >

  • Cloudkirby

    Posted Dec 13, 2008 12:11 am PT

    GTAIV was a boring hell-slide who's appeal only lasted for a few days and had angst written all over it. It does not deserve any spot on this list. and for those of you saying MGS4...no...just...no...that game was boring as well (and confusing as hell).

  • joe_momma129

    Posted Dec 12, 2008 6:36 pm PT

    I dont think that GTA 4 should have gotten GOTY. The game was good but it wasnt that good. I think it should have been MGS4.... but thats just my opinion. -_-

  • TwistedMetalFan

    Posted Dec 12, 2008 4:14 pm PT

    I think MGS4, and Fallout 3 should be on the list as well, and about at least half these games don't seem like they should be on the list.

  • the_Bongsabre

    Posted Dec 12, 2008 1:23 pm PT

    How can a game, that brings ZERO originality or freshness to it's latest sequel, be named anyone's GOTY? Oh, wait our culture praises rehashed banality and sends creativity to the toolshed for some learnin', I forgot that I live in the good ol' boy U.S.of A., where majority rules. Too bad that the majority of you suck.

  • SPYDER0416

    Posted Dec 12, 2008 12:42 pm PT

    Pretty good, and I understand why MGS4 wasnt 1 (GTA IV's story is new and the world and game is more mainstreamed), but I can't understand why its not on the list at all. GTA IV is a pretty good game on its own right thoough, definitely one of the best games this year.

  • TaintedSaint666

    Posted Dec 12, 2008 12:42 pm PT

    Wow, I really didn't see that coming. *rolls eyes*

    And no mention of Fallout 3? Evidently the paycheck from Bethesda wasn't large enough to make the list...shame...

  • rtazen

    Posted Dec 12, 2008 11:43 am PT

    Yup, once agains proves that the larger media market is full of fail. No mention of Metal Gear 4, Fallout 3 or SSB:Brawl only shows that the people who put this list together are either being well paid by some developers or are clearly clueless as to what makes a game legendary.

  • leon-fenrir

    Posted Dec 12, 2008 10:31 am PT

    No, I take that back. GTA wouldn't even make my list. I played it, and to me, it's just a polished San Andreas.

  • leon-fenrir

    Posted Dec 12, 2008 10:28 am PT

    I may have put GTA in the Top 10, but I would've had either Metal Gear or Fallout 3 at #1. GTA would've been #10 IMO.

  • Scullyy

    Posted Dec 12, 2008 7:39 am PT

    haha fail

  • drumbreak1

    Posted Dec 12, 2008 6:30 am PT

    i take you havnt played rb2 then sunnystarz? it's better in my opinion

  • Postal_Guy

    Posted Dec 12, 2008 6:29 am PT

    lol they put the force unleashed on 7... worst list ever

  • sunnystarz

    Posted Dec 12, 2008 3:33 am PT

    how's rock band 2 on the list but guitar hero world tour is not? it's virtually the same game with different set of songs

  • JunoFallon

    Posted Dec 11, 2008 11:11 pm PT

    This is a prime example of uninformed people making a list in this fashion. It's not the games on the list it's the order in which they're listed. Also if Rock Band 2 and Force Unleashed are on this list then where is Metal Gear Solid 4 and Fallout 3?

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