Golden Joystick Awards
The Golden Joystick Awards, also known as the People's Gaming Awards, is a video game award ceremony; it awards the best video games of the year. Although originally solely voted for by the British public, it is now a global event that is voted for online by millions of fans worldwide via GamesRadar+. Launched in 1983, the Golden Joystick Awards is the longest-running and one of the biggest public-voted video game award shows.
The awards were initially focused on computer games, but were extended to include console games. The ceremony is not directly related to the golden joystick prize given away to successful contestants on GamesMaster, a British television show, but both properties belong to Future plc.
Winners
1983
Awards were presented by DJ Dave Lee Travis at a ceremony in London's Berkeley Square.| Award | Winner | Runners-up |
| Game of the Year | Jetpac | Arcadia, Manic Miner, The Hobbit |
| Best Arcade-Style Game of the Year | Manic Miner | Arcadia, Penetrator, Zalaga |
| Strategy Game of the Year | The Hobbit | Football Manager, Planet Invasion, Scrabble |
| Best Original Game of the Year | Ah Diddums | Ant Attack, Pssst, Splat! |
| Software House of the Year | Ultimate Play the Game | Imagine Software, Llamasoft, Melbourne House |
1984
Awards were presented by Jools Holland, at a ceremony in London.| Award | Winner | Runner-Up | Commended |
| Game of the Year | Knight Lore | Ghostbusters | Avalon, Impossible Mission |
| Software House of the Year | Ultimate Play the Game | Beyond Software | Hewson Consultants, Mikro-Gen |
| Best Original Game of the Year | Elite | Deus Ex Machina | Ancipital, Pyjamarama |
| Best Adventure Game of the Year | Claymorgue Castle | Erik the Viking | Eureka, Tir Na Nog |
| Best Strategy Game of the Year | Lords of Midnight | Beach Head | NATO Commander, Battle for Midway |
| Best Arcade-Style Game of the Year | Daley Thompson's Decathlon | Boulderdash | Wanted: Monty Mole, 3D Starstrike |
| Best Programmer of the Year | Ultimate Team | Mike Singleton | Tony Crowther, Acornsoft |
1985
Awards were presented by Jools Holland, at a ceremony on a Thames Riverboat.| Award | Winner | Runners-up |
| Game of the Year | The Way of the Exploding Fist | Elite, Summer Games II |
| Software House of the Year | Melbourne House | U.S. Gold, Elite Systems, Firebird Software |
| Best Original Game of the Year | Little Computer People | Spy vs. Spy, Paradroid |
| Adventure Game of the Year | Red Moon | Gremlins, Bored of the Rings |
| Strategy Game of the Year | Theatre Europe | Shadowfire, Battle of Britain |
| Arcade-Style Game of the Year | Commando | Hyper Sports, Dropzone |
| Programmer of the Year | Stephen Crow | Jeff Minter, Andrew Braybrook, Bo Jangeborg |
1986
The ceremony took place at Cadogan Hall.| Award | Winner | Runners-up |
| Game of the Year | Gauntlet | Uridium, Space Harrier |
| Software House of the Year | Elite Systems | U.S. Gold, Hewson Consultants |
| Best Original Game of the Year | The Sentinel | Trap Door, Trivial Pursuit |
| Adventure Game of the Year | The Pawn | Lord of the Rings, Heavy on the Magick |
| Strategy Game of the Year | Nam | Johnny Reb II, Silent Service |
| Arcade-Style Game of the Year | Uridium | Gauntlet, Ghosts'n Goblins |
| Programmer of the Year | Andrew Braybrook | Chris Butler, Stephen Crow |
| Best Soundtrack of the Year | Sanxion | Knucklebusters, Starglider |
1987
Awards were presented by Chris Tarrant.| Award | Winner | Runners-up |
| Game of the Year | Out Run | The Last Ninja, Renegade |
| Software House of the Year | U.S. Gold | Ocean Software, Elite Systems |
| Best Original Game of the Year | Nebulus | Wizball, Driller |
| Arcade Game of the Year | Out Run | Renegade, Bubble Bobble |
| Adventure Game of the Year | The Guild of Thieves | Knight Orc, Shadows of Mordor |
| Strategy Game of the Year | Vulcan | Defender of the Crown, Annals of Rome |
| Programmer of the Year | Jon Ritman | Andrew Braybrook |
1988
The ceremony took place at Kensington Roof Gardens.1989
The ceremony took place at Kensington Roof Gardens, 11 April 1990.1990
The ceremony took place at Kensington Roof Gardens, 4 April 1991.| Award | Winner | Winner |
| Computer Game of the Year | Rick Dangerous 2 | Kick Off 2 |
| Console Game of the Year | Mega Man | John Madden American Football |
| Best Graphics of the Year | Midnight Resistance | Shadow of the Beast 2 |
| Best Soundtrack of the Year | RoboCop 2 | Speedball 2 |
| Best Simulation Game of the Year | F19 Stealth Fighter | F19 Stealth Fighter |
| Best Coin-Op Conversion of the Year | Rainbow Islands | Golden Axe |
| PC Game of the Year | Railroad Tycoon | |
| Hardware Manufacturer of the Year | Sega | |
| Software House of the Year | Ocean Software |
1991
The ceremony took place at Hyde Park Hotel, London, on 7 April 1992.| Award | Winner | Developer |
| Overall Game of the Year | Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic Team |
| 16-Bit Computer Game of the Year | Heimdall | Core Design |
| Best Coin-Op Conversion | Toki | TAD |
| Best Simulation | Jimmy White's 'Whirlwind' Snooker | Virgin |
| Best Graphics | Heimdall | Core Design |
| Best Soundtrack | The Secret of Monkey Island | U.S. Gold |
| Programmer of the Year | Archer Maclean | |
| Software House of the Year | Electronic Arts |
1992
The ceremony took place at Kensington, London, in May 1993.| Award | Winner | Platform | Publisher |
| Game of the Year | Street Fighter II | Super NES | Capcom |
| Computer Game of the Year | Sensible Soccer | Amiga | Renegade Software |
| Console Game of the Year | Street Fighter II | Super NES | Capcom |
| Handheld Game of the Year | Super Kick Off | Game Gear | U.S. Gold |
| Best Licensed Console Game | Street Fighter II | Super NES | Capcom |
| Best Licensed Computer Game | Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis | PC | LucasArts |
| Best Original Console Game | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Mega Drive | Sega |
| Best Original Computer Game | Alone in the Dark | PC | Infogrames |
| Best Console Original Action Game | Desert Strike | Mega Drive | Electronic Arts |
| Best Computer Simulation | Formula One Grand Prix | PC | Microprose |
| Promotional Campaign of the Year | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Mega Drive | Sega |
| Programming Team of the Year | LucasArts | ||
| Software House of the Year | Electronic Arts | ||
| Software House of the Year | Team17 |
1993
The ceremony took place in London, on 16 May 1994.| Award | Winner | Platform |
| Console Game of the Year | Super Mario All-Stars | Super NES |
| Hand Held Game of the Year | The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | Game Boy |
| Best Original Computer Game | Cannon Fodder | Amiga |
| Best Computer Simulation | TFX | Amiga |
| Best Advert of the Year | The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | Game Boy |
| Best Software House | Virgin Interactive | |
| Best Computer Programmer | Sensible Software | |
| Services to the Industry | Acclaim Entertainment |