Game Critics Awards


The Game Critics Awards were a set of annual awards held after the E3 video game conference since 1998. The awards were given to products displayed at E3 with the title Best of E3 of their category. The 21st Annual Game Critics Awards was showcased for the final time in 2019, four years before E3 was permanently discontinued.

Format

The nominees and winners of the awards were chosen by individual judges representing 35 major North American media outlets. The awards were given independently of the Expo's organizers.

Categories

Best of Show

  • 2019: Final Fantasy VII Remake
  • 2018: Resident Evil 2
  • 2017: Super Mario Odyssey
  • 2016: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
  • 2015: Fallout 4
  • 2014: Evolve
  • 2013: Titanfall
  • 2012: The Last of Us
  • 2011: BioShock Infinite
  • 2010: Nintendo 3DS
  • 2009: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
  • 2008: Fallout 3
  • 2007: Rock Band
  • 2006: Wii
  • 2005: Spore
  • 2004: PlayStation Portable
  • 2003: Half-Life 2
  • 2002: Doom 3
  • 2001: GameCube
  • 2000: Black & White
  • 1999: ''Freelancer''

    Best Original Game

  • 2019: The Outer Worlds
  • 2018: Dreams
  • 2017: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
  • 2016: Horizon Zero Dawn
  • 2015: Horizon Zero Dawn
  • 2014: No Man's Sky
  • 2013: Titanfall
  • 2012: The Last of Us
  • 2011: BioShock Infinite
  • 2010: Dance Central
  • 2009: Scribblenauts
  • 2008: Mirror's Edge
  • 2007: LittleBigPlanet
  • 2006: Spore
  • 2005: Spore
  • 2004: Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
  • 2003: Full Spectrum Warrior
  • 2002: Psychonauts
  • 2001: Majestic
  • 2000: Black & White
  • 1999: ''Black & White''

    Best Console Game

  • 2019: Final Fantasy VII Remake
  • 2018: Spider-Man
  • 2017: Super Mario Odyssey
  • 2016: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
  • 2015: Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
  • 2014: Evolve
  • 2013: Titanfall
  • 2012: The Last of Us
  • 2011: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  • 2010: Rage
  • 2009: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
  • 2008: LittleBigPlanet
  • 2007: Mass Effect
  • 2006: Gears of War
  • 2005: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
  • 2004: Halo 2
  • 2003: Halo 2
  • 2002: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
  • 2001: Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
  • 2000: Jet Grind Radio
  • 1999: Perfect Dark
  • 1998: ''Metal Gear Solid''

    Best PC Game

  • 2019: Doom Eternal
  • 2018: Anthem
  • 2017: Destiny 2
  • 2016: Civilization VI
  • 2015: Fallout 4
  • 2014: Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
  • 2013: Titanfall
  • 2012: XCOM: Enemy Unknown
  • 2011: BioShock Infinite
  • 2010: Portal 2
  • 2009: Star Wars: The Old Republic
  • 2008: Spore
  • 2007: Crysis
  • 2006: Spore
  • 2005: Spore
  • 2004: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
  • 2003: Half-Life 2
  • 2002: Doom 3
  • 2001: Star Wars Galaxies
  • 2000: Black & White
  • 1999: Freelancer
  • 1998: ''Half-Life''

    Best Handheld Game

  • 2017: Metroid: Samus Returns
  • 2015: The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
  • 2014: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
  • 2013: Tearaway
  • 2012: Sound Shapes
  • 2011: Sound Shapes
  • 2010: God of War: Ghost of Sparta
  • 2009: Scribblenauts
  • 2008: Resistance: Retribution
  • 2007: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
  • 2006: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
  • 2005: ''Nintendogs''

    Best Peripheral/Hardware

  • 2019: Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2
  • 2018: Xbox Adaptive Controller
  • 2017: Xbox One X
  • 2016: PlayStation VR
  • 2015: Oculus Touch
  • 2014: Oculus Rift
  • 2013: Oculus Rift
  • 2012: Wii U
  • 2011: PlayStation Vita
  • 2010: Nintendo 3DS
  • 2009: Project Natal
  • 2008: Rock Band 2 Ion "Drum Rocker" Set
  • 2007: Rock Band instruments
  • 2006: Wii
  • 2005: PlayStation 3
  • 2004: PlayStation Portable
  • 2003: EyeToy
  • 2002: WaveBird Wireless Controller
  • 2001: Nvidia GeForce 3
  • 2001: GameCube
  • 2000: nVidia GeForce 2
  • 2000: Xbox
  • 1999: Nvidia RIVA TNT2
  • 1999: Dreamcast
  • 1998: Microsoft SideWinder Freestyle Pro

    Best Action Game

  • 2019: Doom Eternal
  • 2018: Anthem
  • 2017: Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
  • 2016: Battlefield 1
  • 2015: Star Wars Battlefront
  • 2014: Evolve
  • 2013: Titanfall
  • 2012: Halo 4
  • 2011: Battlefield 3
  • 2010: Rage
  • 2009: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
  • 2008: Gears of War 2
  • 2007: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
  • 2006: Gears of War
  • 2005: F.E.A.R.
  • 2004: Halo 2
  • 2003: Half-Life 2
  • 2002: Doom 3
  • 2001: Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
  • 2000: Halo: Combat Evolved
  • 1999: Team Fortress 2
  • 1998: ''Half-Life''

    Best Action/Adventure Game

  • 2019: Watch Dogs: Legion
  • 2018: Spider-Man
  • 2017: Super Mario Odyssey
  • 2016: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
  • 2015: Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
  • 2014: Batman: Arkham Knight
  • 2013: Watch Dogs
  • 2012: The Last of Us
  • 2011: BioShock Infinite
  • 2010: Portal 2
  • 2009: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
  • 2008: Dead Space
  • 2007: BioShock
  • 2006: Assassin’s Creed
  • 2005: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
  • 2004: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
  • 2003: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
  • 2002: Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell
  • 2001: Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
  • 2000: Escape from Monkey Island
  • 1999: Oni
  • 1998: ''Grim Fandango''

    Best Role Playing Game

  • 2019: Final Fantasy VII Remake
  • 2018: Kingdom Hearts III
  • 2017: Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
  • 2016: Final Fantasy XV
  • 2015: Fallout 4
  • 2014: Dragon Age: Inquisition
  • 2013: The Elder Scrolls Online
  • 2012: South Park: The Stick of Truth
  • 2011: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  • 2010: Star Wars: The Old Republic
  • 2009: Mass Effect 2
  • 2008: Fallout 3
  • 2007: Mass Effect
  • 2006: Mass Effect
  • 2005: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
  • 2004: Jade Empire
  • 2003: Fable
  • 2002: Neverwinter Nights
  • 2001: Neverwinter Nights
  • 2000: Neverwinter Nights
  • 1999: Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption
  • 1998: ''Baldur's Gate''

    Best Racing Game

  • 2019: Crash Team Racing
  • 2018: Forza Horizon 4
  • 2017: Forza Motorsport 7
  • 2016: Forza Horizon 3
  • 2015: Need for Speed
  • 2014: The Crew
  • 2013: Need for Speed Rivals
  • 2012: Need for Speed: Most Wanted
  • 2011: Forza Motorsport 4
  • 2010: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
  • 2009: Split/Second
  • 2008: Pure
  • 2007: Burnout Paradise
  • 2006: Excite Truck
  • 2005: Burnout Revenge
  • 2004: Burnout 3: Takedown
  • 2003: Gran Turismo 4
  • 2002: Auto Modellista
  • 2001: Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
  • 2000: Need For Speed: Motor City
  • 1999: Driver
  • 1998: ''Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit''

    Best Sports Game

  • 2019: eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer 2020
  • 2018: FIFA 19
  • 2017: FIFA 18
  • 2016: Steep
  • 2015: FIFA 16
  • 2014: NHL 15
  • 2013: NHL 14
  • 2012: FIFA Soccer 13
  • 2011: FIFA Soccer 12
  • 2010: NBA Jam
  • 2009: Fight Night Round 4
  • 2008: Madden NFL 09
  • 2007: Madden NFL 08
  • 2006: Wii Sports
  • 2005: Madden NFL 06
  • 2004: Madden NFL 2005
  • 2003: Tony Hawk's Underground
  • 2002: NFL 2K3
  • 2001: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
  • 2000: Madden NFL 2001
  • 1999: NFL 2K
  • 1998: ''Madden NFL 99''

    Best Fighting Game

  • 2018: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
  • 2017: Dragon Ball FighterZ
  • 2016: Injustice 2
  • 2014: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
  • 2012: Injustice: Gods Among Us
  • 2011: Street Fighter X Tekken
  • 2010: Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds
  • 2009: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars
  • 2008: Street Fighter IV
  • 2007: Virtua Fighter 5
  • 2006: Heavenly Sword
  • 2005: Soulcalibur III
  • 2004: Def Jam: Fight for NY
  • 2003: Soulcalibur II
  • 2002: Tekken 4
  • 2001: Super Smash Bros. Melee
  • 2000: Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • 1999: Soulcalibur
  • 1998: ''Tekken 3''

    Best Strategy Game

  • 2019: John Wick Hex
  • 2018: Total War: Three Kingdoms
  • 2017: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
  • 2016: Civilization VI
  • 2014: Civilization: Beyond Earth
  • 2013: Total War: Rome II
  • 2012: XCOM: Enemy Unknown
  • 2011: From Dust
  • 2010: Civilization V
  • 2009: Supreme Commander 2
  • 2008: Tom Clancy's EndWar
  • 2007: World in Conflict
  • 2006: Supreme Commander
  • 2005: Company of Heroes
  • 2004: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth
  • 2003: Command & Conquer: Generals
  • 2002: Rome: Total War
  • 2001: Age of Mythology
  • 2000: Black & White
  • 1999: Homeworld
  • 1998: Homeworld
  • 1998: ''Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri''