All Rockstar Games That Won Game of the Year Awards

Summary

• Rockstar Games often sets the standard for high-quality video games, producing titles that are consistently recognized for their excellence.
• GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas have all earned Rockstar multiple Game of the Year awards in successive years.
• The Red Dead and Grand Theft Auto games stand out not only for their accolades but also for their influence on the industry and innovative open-world gameplay.

Rockstar Games and their various subsidiaries have been one of the dominant forces in the video game industry for decades, with series like Red Dead and the absolute juggernaut that is Grand Theft Auto releasing to critical acclaim and high sales. Often flirting with controversy, the company is well-known for pushing boundaries, both with its use of dark humor and excessive violence, but also pioneering gameplay elements.

There is generally an expectation that any game released under the Rockstar name will be nominated for Game of the Year by many reputable outlets, thanks to the company’s track record of high-quality products. Some notable titles like L.A. Noire, Max Payne 2 and 3, and Midnight Club did not win any Game of the Year awards, but these stellar entries below did.

Grand Theft Auto 3

Five Game of the Year Victories

Initially released exclusively on the PlayStation 2, Grand Theft Auto 3 is arguably one of the most important video games ever made, thanks to its pioneering 3D open world and unprecedented levels of player freedom. Claude’s dealings in the criminal underworld of Liberty City present some tough missions that can be completed at the player’s discretion (or ignored if they wish), which was a fairly novel concept at the time.

The many innovations of GTA 3 earned it five Game of the Year awards, including at the Golden Joystick Awards. Its impact is still felt in the industry today, with many developers of prominent open-world games citing Grand Theft Auto 3 as a key source of inspiration, and the franchise has only gone from strength to strength in the years since.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Three Game of the Year Victories

Possessing one of the most compelling settings and immersive soundtracks in all video games, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City captures the atmosphere of Miami in the 1980s perfectly. Launching only one year after GTA 3, Vice City features many improvements compared to its predecessor, from a wider variety of vehicles and weaponry to more focused mission structures and a tighter narrative.

Tommy Vercetti’s exploits in the titular city earned the company another Game of the Year win at the Golden Joystick Awards, alongside two other notable publications. Though its gameplay may no longer appeal to players with modern sensibilities, it’s still a vibrant and impressive game world and is widely regarded as one of the best PS2 games ever made.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Two Game of the Year Victories

Despite being over two decades old, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is still an incredibly impressive game and was the first in the series to feature a freely moveable camera. Compared to its 3D predecessors, there is a plethora of new optional content, and the world map is many times larger, boasting three major cities, each with their own unique identities.

There is much more customization in San Andreas than most of its contemporaries, from changing CJ’s appearance and transforming his body shape to tuning vehicles and owning multiple properties around the map. Despite the game’s prominence and enduring popularity in the decades since, it only garnered two Game of the Year awards at the time, including another Golden Joystick win for Rockstar.

Grand Theft Auto 4

Eight Game of the Year Victories

Returning to Liberty City and introducing a major online component to the series, Grand Theft Auto 4 is grittier and more realistic than prior entries. The story of Serbian war veteran Niko Bellic chasing the American Dream and seeking revenge on an individual who betrayed his unit in the war is still one of the most compelling in video games, and it features some twisted villains in the criminal underworld of the big city.

Breaking records at launch for the rapid speed of sales, GTA 4 also performed well critically, bringing in eight prominent Game of the Year victories, including at the Spike Video Game Awards. The two expansions, The Lost and the Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, are as big as some fully-fledged games and are among two of the best DLCs ever made.

Red Dead Redemption

Eleven Game of the Year Victories

Often compared to GTA 4, due to its similar themes of seeking revenge and living the American Dream, Red Dead Redemption is the second game in the Red Dead series—but it’s the first one to really break through. The Western-themed tale of John Marston is one of the most well-known in recent times, and the sprawling landscape of the historic Wild West in its dying days somehow feels both full and isolated simultaneously.

Picking up the top award from eleven major publications, Red Dead Redemption achieved Game of the Year status at both the Spike and Game Developers Choice Awards. The game has certainly stood the test of time and is often cited as not only one of the best games of its console generation, but one of the best games ever made.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Four Game of the Year Victories

What appeared at the time to be a long wait for Grand Theft Auto 5 only served to increase the level of hype surrounding it. Fortunately, players were not disappointed, and the game went on to become the fastest-selling product in entertainment history, generating billions of dollars in revenue over the last decade (further enhanced by the enduring popularity of GTA Online).

Returning to Los Santos and the wider countryside of San Andreas, the game stars three protagonists who are brought together to complete several dangerous jobs and heists on behalf of some powerful and sinister organizations. GTA V won the top prize at both the Spike and Golden Joystick Awards, plus nods from two other outlets, alongside countless awards and nominations for various elements like music and voice acting.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Six Game of the Year Victories

Returning to the Wild West during its declining years, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to John Marston’s epic, putting players in control of his fellow Van der Linde gang member, Arthur Morgan. The world is much larger than in its predecessor, and players have much more agency in this follow-up title, making choices that have an impact on Arthur’s honor and respect.

The rich narrative, enthralling open world, and stellar gameplay earned Red Dead Redemption 2 Game of the Year status from six prominent publications, but it did miss out at the major award ceremonies, much to the chagrin of many fans (it was a great year for great video games). Still, almost a decade since its release, the game remains among the best ever made and has even been used as a primary resource in university courses teaching United States history.