Well, folks, I have to say—watching The Game Awards 2019 unfold at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles was quite the roller coaster ride. 🎮 As someone who's spent more hours than I'd like to admit glued to my controller this year, I had opinions about who deserved to take home that shiny Game of the Year trophy.
The Moment We'd All Been Waiting For
Let me set the scene. The nominees for GOTY were absolutely stacked this year—I'm talking about some serious heavy-hitters. We had Death Stranding with its bizarre baby-carrying gameplay, the absolutely stunning Resident Evil 2 remake, The Outer Worlds bringing that classic RPG magic, Control with its mind-bending supernatural vibes, and of course, FromSoftware's punishing masterpiece Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Unlike last year when God of War was practically a shoo-in (don't get me wrong, that game was phenomenal), 2019's lineup was all over the place in the best possible way. Every single nominee had die-hard fans ready to defend their pick to the death. I personally spent weeks debating with my gaming buddies about which title would—or should—claim the crown.
And The Winner Is...
When they finally announced Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice as the Game of the Year winner, I'll admit my reaction was a mix of "YES!" and "My controller still has the scars from dying 47 times to that one boss." 😅 FromSoftware absolutely earned this recognition. The game is brutal, beautiful, and demands nothing less than your complete attention and commitment.
What makes Sekiro's victory so satisfying is that it represents a different kind of gaming excellence. This isn't your hand-holding, quest-marker-following experience. No, this is a game that looks you dead in the eye and says, "Git gud or go home." And we loved it for exactly that reason.
Other Notable Winners That Caught My Eye
While Sekiro grabbed the big prize, let's talk about some of the other winners that made the night memorable:
Death Stranding's Consolation Prizes
Hideo Kojima's latest mind-bender might not have snagged GOTY, but it walked away with some well-deserved recognition:
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Best Game Direction - Because only Kojima could convince us that being a futuristic delivery person could be this engaging
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Best Score & Music - The soundtrack absolutely slaps, no arguments there
The Esports Scene Shines Bright
The esports categories always get me hyped, and this year was no exception:
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Esports Game | League of Legends |
| Content Creator of the Year | Shroud |
| Best Esports Coach | Danny "Zonic" Sorensen |
Seeing Shroud take home Content Creator of the Year felt absolutely right. 🏆 The man is a legend, and if you've ever watched his streams, you know he makes the impossible look casual. As for Zonic winning Best Esports Coach—totally deserved. The strategic mind behind some of the best CS:GO plays we've seen this year definitely earned that recognition.
Reflecting on a Year of Gaming Excellence
You know what strikes me most about The Game Awards 2019? The sheer diversity of games being celebrated. We're not just talking about one type of experience dominating the conversation anymore. We've got:
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Hardcore action games like Sekiro demanding perfection
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Narrative-driven experiences pushing the boundaries of storytelling
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Remakes showing us how to honor classics while bringing them into the modern era
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Competitive esports continuing to grow and legitimize gaming as a spectator sport
Comparing this year to 2018's awards where God of War dominated feels like comparing apples to oranges (or should I say, comparing swords to axes? 😄). Last year felt more predictable—God of War was that game, and we all knew it. But 2019? This year kept us guessing until the very end.
My Two Cents on the Controversy
Look, I know not everyone agrees with Sekiro winning GOTY. I've seen the Twitter debates. I've read the Reddit threads. Some people felt Death Stranding's innovation deserved the top spot. Others argued that Resident Evil 2's remake was technically flawless. And you know what? They're not wrong to have those opinions.
But here's the thing—Sekiro represents something special. It's a game that doesn't compromise its vision. It doesn't offer an easy mode (much to the internet's eternal debate). It trusts players to rise to the challenge, and when you finally overcome that boss that's been wrecking you for hours, the feeling is absolutely unmatched. 💪
What This Means for Gaming's Future
Seeing Sekiro take home the grand prize sends an interesting message to the industry. It tells developers that taking risks and sticking to your artistic vision can pay off. It shows that gamers appreciate being challenged and respected enough to figure things out on our own.
At the same time, the variety of winners across different categories proves there's room for all kinds of gaming experiences. Whether you're into the meditative walking simulator vibes of Death Stranding, the precision combat of Sekiro, or watching Shroud pull off inhuman plays in competitive shooters, 2019 had something for everyone.
Final Thoughts
As I look back on The Game Awards 2019, I can't help but feel grateful to be a gamer in this era. The quality, diversity, and innovation we're seeing across the industry is genuinely incredible. Sure, we all have our favorites, and not everyone's going to agree with every winner announced that night.
But whether you're team Sekiro, team Death Stranding, or still campaigning for one of the other nominees in your heart, we can all agree on one thing—2019 was an absolutely stellar year for gaming. And if the quality of these nominees is any indication, 2020 and beyond are looking pretty damn bright. 🎮✨
Now if you'll excuse me, I think it's time for another Sekiro playthrough. Those skills aren't going to master themselves, and that Game of the Year trophy is making me want to prove I can actually beat the game without dying 500 times. Wish me luck!
If you're looking to dive back into the action—or experience it for the first time—you can Compare Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice prices on DealNest to snag the best deal.
