10 Most Awarded Games Of All Time In Gaming History

Whenever Oscar season rolls around, we inevitably find ourselves talking about the most prestigious, award-winning projects that defined a year or even an entire generation – and in the video game industry, it is no different!

These awards basically represent the pinnacle of our medium, celebrating everything from groundbreaking narratives and complex mechanics to breathtaking art direction and character development.

And, as someone who has heard far too many people argue that games aren't “real art” or that they are just made for quick entertainment, I’m incredibly happy to see how seriously people take gaming awards now. We have finally reached a point where a Game of the Year title isn't just a marketing sticker on a box, but an actual stamp of cultural impact and technical mastery that stays with a franchise forever.

Winning a major award often cements a game’s legacy, turning a successful release into a historic milestone. However, some even manage to secure a spot on the list of the most awarded games of all time, which is a massive achievement that very few titles can claim! That is why we have decided to look back at the ten heavy hitters that have collected the most trophies in the history of the medium.

Also, as you look through this list, you will notice that most of the titles are relatively recent titles (mostly released after 2010). This isn't because older games weren't masterpieces, but because video game awards are a relatively young phenomenon. The concept only truly began to hit the mainstream with the Spike Video Game Awards (VGAs), which eventually evolved into the massive event we know today as The Game Awards.

So, with that in mind, let’s finally “please, wrap it up” this history lesson and dive into the list!

10 Astro Bot

196 Awards

If the Astro Bot theme song started playing in your head the moment you read the game's name (just like it did for me), then you already know exactly why it’s opening this list! Jokes aside, Team Asobi’s 3D platformer is a true masterpiece for the genre by exhaling the pure aura of what a video game should be, offering one of those rare experiences that leaves you feeling completely refreshed after playing.

The game brings PlayStation’s mascot back for an adventure across diverse planets with unique biomes, imaginative bosses, and mechanics that shift with every level. One moment you are shrinking down to size to navigate a stage as a tiny mouse, and the next you are a giant sponge stomping everything around!

All of this creative, fun-filled variety led to Astro Bot being crowned the definitive Game of the Year in 2024 and literally swept top honors and technical categories across numerous ceremonies, including the BAFTA Games Awards and the NAVGTR Awards. Oh, and it even secured a record as the platformer with the most Game of the Year awards in history.

229 Awards

This is the “oldest” game on our list, and arguably one of the most influential titles in the history of the medium. At the time of its release, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was simply groundbreaking in its open-endedness – in practically every way imaginable –, becoming an instant gold standard for the RPG genre and for Bethesda’s history.

We also can't overlook the game’s incredible lore, since it expanded the world of The Elder Scrolls to such an extent that it made the player feel like they were stepping into a universe that existed long before their introduction. It is a place where people lived and died, and a world that feels like it will continue to thrive regardless of your presence, especially due to the sheer amount of history and secrets to discover, which makes the world feel truly alive.

It is no surprise, then, that Skyrim has 229 awards under its belt! It emerged victorious at prestigious ceremonies like the Golden Joystick Awards and the Spike Video Game Awards (the predecessor to the TGAs), cementing its legacy as a true RPG titan.

8 The Last of Us

257 Awards

The Last of Us is the first PlayStation exclusive to appear in this ranking, and it stands as one of the primary reasons the brand solidified its reputation for having a powerhouse lineup of first-party studios – a pillar that remains central to their identity today.

Developed by Naughty Dog, this was the game that saw the studio pivot from the swashbuckling adventure spirit of the Uncharted franchise to explore much deeper territory in narrative and character development. The result was so critically acclaimed and popular that it eventually transcended gaming to become a hit HBO series.

That success was instantaneous from day one, with a wave of glowing reviews that translated into over 250 awards. Interestingly, The Last of Us wasn't actually the game with the most Game of the Year titles in 2013 – that spot went to GTA V. However, Joel and Ellie’s story ended up with the highest total trophy count, dominating ceremonies like the DICE Awards, the Game Developers Choice Awards, and the SXSW Gaming Awards.

7 God of War (2018)

263 Awards

I have to confess that I was never really into the original God of War trilogy, but the 2018 soft reboot is exactly what transformed the franchise into one of the biggest names in gaming today, since it took incredible courage to shift not only its mythology but also its thematic focus.

Contrary to what some purist fans might think, the game actually strengthens the original trilogy through fantastic character development, iconic moments, and some technically impressive mechanics to match. It simply managed to humanize a character many of us thought was just pure rage, turning the series into a deep, emotional journey.

And you don't just have to take my word for it – the 263 awards the game won speak for themselves! It is also important to highlight that it achieved this in the same year that the powerhouse Red Dead Redemption 2 was released, which is certainly no easy feat.

6 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

264 Awards

Due to the fact that award ceremonies are a relatively recent phenomenon in the gaming industry, Breath of the Wild stands as the most awarded The Legend of Zelda title of all time – this is true even if we can all agree that Ocarina of Time remains one of the greatest games ever made and, consequently, often holds the title of "best Zelda" in our hearts.

However, there is no denying that this Nintendo Switch chapter was monumental, not just for the saga, by introducing a much more ambitious and expansive scope, but also for the entire open-world subgenre. It arrived exactly when the “more is better” philosophy was the basic rule, even if that meant filling maps with empty spaces and repetitive mission pings.

So Breath of the Wild came out to change the conversation, leading countless players to buy a Switch just to experience it (myself included). It went on to sweep the awards season, winning Game of the Year against incredibly strong contenders like Super Mario Odyssey and Persona 5 in 2017.

5 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

281 Awards

It seems that award ceremonies love an RPG that sets a new industry standard, right? Following in Skyrim’s footsteps, we have The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in fifth place, the game responsible for skyrocketing CD Projekt Red into the ranks of the world's elite developers.

What captivated fans most, beyond the fantastic tale of Geralt of Rivia and the search for Ciri, of course, was the game's sheer complexity. I mean, the close-up encounters you have with multiple different NPCs feel truly unique depending on your choices, affecting not just dialogue but the state of the open world itself. And that’s mind-blowing!

It is so carefully crafted and orchestrated in practically every way that it became an instant icon of the decade, and this naturally was reflected in its 281 total awards, securing Game of the Year in a notoriously difficult year against giants like Bloodborne, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, and even the indie modern classic Undertale.

4 Baldur's Gate III

288 Awards

Baldur’s Gate III is the most literal “suffering from success” situation on this entire list because the game won so many awards throughout 2023 and 2024 that it actually began to affect development, forcing Larian Studios to send rotating teams of developers to various ceremonies just to accept their trophies.

And we can say with total certainty that this "suffering" was well-earned, since it is an exceptional experience with an incredible ratio of detail to quality. It’s often assumed that as games get bigger, the weird quirks of old-school CRPGs (like characters you can go an entire playthrough without meeting or obscure dialogue) will be phased out as an inefficient use of resources.

However, Baldur’s Gate III manages to combine AAA-level polish and cinematic storytelling with an old-school RPG sensibility that I have never seen done on this scale. In the end, the constant rotation of developers was a small price to pay, so we could applaud this masterpiece for its 288 awards!

3 The Last of Us Part II

326 Awards

Love it or hate it, you simply can’t deny that The Last of Us Part II made a massive impact on the gaming community by forcing players far outside their comfort zones.

It remains one of the few AAA titles that simply refuses to chase safe trends to please the widest possible audience. Instead, it treated video games not just as entertainment, but as a form of art capable of making you feel a complex whirlwind of conflicting emotions all at once – and even need a bit of therapy afterward, but that’s a talk for another article.

Despite these heavy controversies and the leaks that spoiled surprises for many players, Naughty Dog’s sequel still managed to grab a staggering number of awards. Even with much of its awards season happening in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, the game fought its way to 326 trophies, proving that its technical and narrative ambition resonated deeply with critics worldwide.

2 Elden Ring

429 Awards

I don’t think there is another Soulsborne (or even any Souls title in general) that has ever influenced the gaming industry consensus quite like Elden Ring did.

While FromSoftware was essentially the father of this genre with Demon’s Souls and later Dark Souls, those games always felt like they belonged to a hardcore-only club. As someone who has always been part of that niche, I could always feel that divide when talking to friends who weren't quite into them.

Before 2022, a Souls game was never the most talked-about thing on social media at launch, nor was it the best-selling game of the year – but Elden Ring changed everything! It proved that a game doesn't have to sacrifice its challenge to be accessible to a broader audience; maybe it just needs a world so breathtaking and a sense of freedom so absolute that players are willing to brave the danger.

So, by blending the studio's signature boss design with a masterclass in open-world exploration, it secured 429 awards and cemented its place as a modern classic.

1 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

436 Awards (so far, still counting)

Paving the way for all who come after, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 made history in 2025 as an indie game at its core that delivers a high-level experience easily rivaling AAA projects.

While you could argue whether Sandfall Interactive’s RPG is "the best game in the world," the fact that it sits at the very top of this ranking speaks for itself. You simply cannot deny its triumph within the genre or its massive impact on the industry, especially considering the studio is formed by veterans from Ubisoft, a company often known for strictly following trends.

With complete creative freedom, the team delivered a story that stands completely apart, which means a lot in an era of recycled tropes. Expedition 33 managed to offer a level of depth and emotional resonance that we rarely see in the medium. On top of that, the turn-based combat is dynamic enough to hook even those who usually aren't fans of the genre, thanks to its mechanical depth and the variety of possibilities available in every fight.

Boasting over 430 awards (and still counting, as some ceremonies take place the year following release), this game has officially been crowned a masterpiece! It definitely leaves us with the hope that the industry has been paying attention and will begin to prioritize bold, daring ideas over recycled ones.