Well not all games can be masterpieces, I'm still very much looking forward to getting some closure on the Lords of Shadow storyline.

Been a disappointing year so far review wise for my preordered games, lets hope the worst is out of the way.

@dazzler_dazzles I haven't had the pleasure to start this one yet but the first LOS did indeed have excellent boss battles, The Forgotten One was one of the cheapest bosses I've ever faced though.

On paper 2014 should be by far the best year of gaming for me personally. The Witcher 3, Dragon Age: Inquisition, MGS V, Lords of Shadow 2, Infamous: Second Son, South Park: The Stick of Truth, Pillars of Eternity, Wasteland 2 (full release not early access), Thief, Diablo: Reaper of Souls PS4, Watchdogs, Lords of the Fallen, The Order: 1886, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Fable: Anniversary, Mad Max, and probably a ton of other shit that I can't remember or hasn't been annoucned, and all of this is in more or less in order from most anticipated to less anticipated.

Almost seems too good to be true.

@Gelugon_baat You know I still believe this particular poll will largely be unaffected by trolls and what not, but I was looking at the ratings of the highest reviewed games of 2012 and click on Mass Effect 3 suddenly remembered how so many people unjustifiably shit on that game just for the ending, handing out an outstanding game like that 0's and 1's once not one professional reviewer out of 74 gave it a negative review. I wholeheartedly agree that you can never underestimate the drive of a bunch of pissed off people on the internet.

@Gelugon_baat @R083R70 Like I said, I would assume (and hope) that that's a tiny minority even with their extra accounts.

Even if the most dedicated group of trolls banded together and manage to win the award for a game on the list it still must have been a pretty damn good game if it was nominated; however, if any game could recieve a vote some ludicrous stuff could indeed occur (though if I saw Ride to Hell: Retribution as the People's GOTY I would be too busy laughing my ass off to care).

@Gelugon_baat @R083R70 Well on the point of popularity of course if someone has played one of the nominees but not the other of course they'll choose the one they actually have played and that's completely understandable I imagine very few people have played all of them, but I don't anyone is just going to randomly click and tap away to make their choice like in the way you described, and if anyone out there actually does do that they really must have absolutely nothing better to do then to delegitimize polls and I would assume (at least I hope) that would make up a very small percentage of Gamespot users.

@Gelugon_baat @R083R70 Grand Theft Auto V has an abundance of merit as well so I still don't feel like merit is being thrown out the window; actually, if you look at professional reviews V has the most merit, I know review scores don't neccesarily prove the best game and many people scream BRIBE! once a big budget title is received well but to receive such overwhelmingly universal acclaim is an astonishing accomplishment and must speak to the games quality because I hardly believe there are that many crooked reviewers out there.

Really if you're arguing merit all of these game must have had enough to even be considered the best game of the year or else they wouldn't have received a nomination.

@Gelugon_baat The Last of Us is in the lead and it was not nearly as popular as GTA V so so far it seems like the most popular won't when and I believe The Last of Us has plenty of merit.

It was a truly amazing year, the fact that games like Bioshock: Infinite, The Last of Us, and Grand Theft Auto V were all released in the same year is astounding, and I personally feel the title of game of the year is interchangeable between all three and I consider myself incredibly lucky to have experienced them.

I think Saints Row IV is also an excellent choice.