The network analyzed the year 2022 to determine which game earned the most Game of the Year accolades. Dominating the field by a substantial margin was Elden Ring, a title that captivated critics and players alike through a broad sweep of recognition. Its triumphs spanned both professional reviews and fan voting, underscoring its broad appeal and lasting impact on the gaming landscape that year.
Elden Ring amassed an impressive 119 awards in total—110 awarded by critics and 9 by players through community voting. In second place, God of War: Ragnarok gathered 23 awards, signaling its strong competitiveness and enduring prestige in the same award cycle. Immortality, developed by Twisted Pixel and published by Troika, concluded the year with 3 awards, rounding out a year with a diverse range of standout titles across genres.
Beyond the sheer count of Game of the Year honors, Elden Ring claimed several of the most esteemed prizes that season. It was singled out as the best game by a slate of influential outlets and organizations, including Polygon, IGN, GameSpot, Empire, Giant Bomb, Famitsu, Destructoid, Game Informer, and Attack of the Fanboy. The accolades extended to celebrated industry events as well, with recognition at the Golden Joystick Awards and The Game Awards, underscoring the game’s cross-platform and cross-audience resonance during the year.
Special note is often made of the games that achieved the highest outputs in specific categories, and 2022 featured a diverse lineup that highlighted not only visual prowess but also design innovation, storytelling, and player freedom. The year’s leaders in award tallies demonstrated how a single title can influence direction and conversation across both mainstream and enthusiast communities, shaping expectations for future releases in action RPGs and open-world experiences alike.
Earlier in the year, industry observers had identified standout candidates for the best graphics in 2022, recognizing technical artistry and art direction as a key driver of overall reception. The year also sparked active engagement from fans on official platforms, where multiple readers participated in year-end polls across numerous categories. The voting timeline invited participants to cast ballots through January, reflecting the community’s ongoing involvement in the evaluation of titles across genres and platforms. The broader ecosystem of 2022’s releases benefited from this ongoing dialogue between developers, reviewers, and players, helping to shape the narrative around what made a game notable that year.
As the conversation around top titles continued, the industry’s pulse remained reflective of wide audience preferences, from narrative depth and world-building to mechanical refinement and replayability. Disciplined attention to craftsmanship—whether in combat systems, exploration, or technical polish—contributed to the year’s enduring popularity and the continued relevance of influential franchises in shaping future development and expectations. The year’s award landscape, with Elden Ring at the forefront, illustrates how a well-crafted game can transcend traditional boundaries to become a cultural touchstone within the gaming community.
Note: the momentum surrounding 2022’s Game of the Year discourse was amplified by lively debates, community reflections, and the ongoing evaluation of what defines a landmark title in a rapidly evolving industry. As audiences revisit the awards and rewatch the critical conversations, Elden Ring’s place in the pantheon of acclaimed games is reaffirmed, while other distinguished titles continue to be remembered for their contributions to the year’s rich, diverse catalog of experiences.
Death Stranding: Director’s Cut, released on Epic Games, also drew attention in 2022 as a moment of unexpected distribution missteps that sparked discussions about release practices and quality expectations in the evolving digital marketplace.
Times