Rank #1
- Available points earned
- 50.1% 19,620 pts
- Times picked #1
- 193
- Sources awarding points
- 197
2020 Game of the Year (GOTY) Rankings
Top game that year
The Last of Us Part II Original
- Available points earned
- 50.1%
- Score
- 19,620 pts
- Sources used
- 392
- All sources checked
- Apr 24, 2026
How this year's score was calculated
Sources used for this ranking
See the sources used to calculate this year's ranking, including each source's name and type.
Collection complete
We have checked every source and possible result we found. Nothing is currently waiting for review.
- Sources used
- 392
- All sources checked
- Apr 24, 2026
Sources by type
- Editorial
- 355
- Reader vote
- 26
- Industry award
- 10
- Judges and voters
- 1
Sources by scoring method
- Published vote count
- 0
- Published vote percentage
- 0
- Top 10 list
- 8
- Winner and nominees
- 0
- Winner only
- 384
Sources used for scoring
See each source's name and type, who made the selection, and how its points were calculated.
Show sources Hide sources 392
Ranking
| Rank | Game | Available points earned | Times picked #1 | Sources awarding points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 50.1% 19,620 pts | 193 | 197 | |
| #2 | 12.3% 4,820 pts | 46 | 49 | |
| #3 | 12.1% 4,760 pts | 45 | 48 | |
| #4 | 6.4% 2,520 pts | 24 | 27 | |
| #5 | 6% 2,340 pts | 23 | 24 | |
| #6 | 5.8% 2,260 pts | 20 | 26 | |
| #7 | 2.9% 1,140 pts | 11 | 13 | |
| #8 | 2.4% 930 pts | 9 | 10 | |
| #9 | 2% 790 pts | 6 | 9 | |
| #10 | 1.4% 540 pts | 3 | 7 | |
| #11 | 1% 380 pts | 1 | 5 | |
| #12 | 0.8% 310 pts | 3 | 4 | |
| #13 | 0.7% 280 pts | 2 | 5 | |
| #13 | 0.7% 280 pts | 1 | 4 | |
| #15 | 0.6% 250 pts | 0 | 4 | |
| #16 | 0.5% 180 pts | 1 | 3 | |
| #16 | 0.5% 180 pts | 1 | 2 | |
| #18 | 0.3% 100 pts | 1 | 1 | |
| #18 | 0.3% 100 pts | 1 | 1 | |
| #18 | 0.3% 100 pts | 1 | 1 |
Rank #2
- Available points earned
- 12.3% 4,820 pts
- Times picked #1
- 46
- Sources awarding points
- 49
Rank #3
- Available points earned
- 12.1% 4,760 pts
- Times picked #1
- 45
- Sources awarding points
- 48
Rank #4
- Available points earned
- 6.4% 2,520 pts
- Times picked #1
- 24
- Sources awarding points
- 27
Rank #5
- Available points earned
- 6% 2,340 pts
- Times picked #1
- 23
- Sources awarding points
- 24
Rank #6
- Available points earned
- 5.8% 2,260 pts
- Times picked #1
- 20
- Sources awarding points
- 26
Rank #7
- Available points earned
- 2.9% 1,140 pts
- Times picked #1
- 11
- Sources awarding points
- 13
Rank #8
- Available points earned
- 2.4% 930 pts
- Times picked #1
- 9
- Sources awarding points
- 10
Rank #9
- Available points earned
- 2% 790 pts
- Times picked #1
- 6
- Sources awarding points
- 9
Rank #10
- Available points earned
- 1.4% 540 pts
- Times picked #1
- 3
- Sources awarding points
- 7
Rank #11
- Available points earned
- 1% 380 pts
- Times picked #1
- 1
- Sources awarding points
- 5
Rank #12
- Available points earned
- 0.8% 310 pts
- Times picked #1
- 3
- Sources awarding points
- 4
Rank #13
- Available points earned
- 0.7% 280 pts
- Times picked #1
- 2
- Sources awarding points
- 5
Rank #13
- Available points earned
- 0.7% 280 pts
- Times picked #1
- 1
- Sources awarding points
- 4
Rank #15
- Available points earned
- 0.6% 250 pts
- Times picked #1
- 0
- Sources awarding points
- 4
Rank #16
- Available points earned
- 0.5% 180 pts
- Times picked #1
- 1
- Sources awarding points
- 3
Rank #16
- Available points earned
- 0.5% 180 pts
- Times picked #1
- 1
- Sources awarding points
- 2
Rank #18
- Available points earned
- 0.3% 100 pts
- Times picked #1
- 1
- Sources awarding points
- 1
Rank #18
- Available points earned
- 0.3% 100 pts
- Times picked #1
- 1
- Sources awarding points
- 1
Rank #18
- Available points earned
- 0.3% 100 pts
- Times picked #1
- 1
- Sources awarding points
- 1
2020 Criticism and Records
In 2020, an Uncomfortable Story Met a Brilliant Loop
The Last of Us Part II led the year-end lists, while BAFTA, D.I.C.E., and GDC chose Hades. One forced players to inhabit a viewpoint they resisted. The other moved its story forward with every failed escape.
Year-End Lists and Major Awards Split
The Last of Us Part II earned 197 of 392 records, or 50.1%. Ghost of Tsushima had 49 and Hades 48, each around 12%. Across a broad set of media and player lists, Naughty Dog's game was the clear leader.
Major awards told a different story. The Game Awards chose The Last of Us Part II, while BAFTA, D.I.C.E. Awards, and Game Developers Choice Awards chose Hades. Neither result cancels the other. Broad year-end lists and peer juries responded to different strengths. [1] [2] [3] [4]
The two games differed in the way they treated players. The Last of Us Part II demands that you follow the established story to the end, even if it may be uncomfortable. In Hades, even if you fail dozens of times, your next attempt will vary depending on the weapons and abilities you choose and the characters you meet. It is a clash between a set experience and an experience that continues to change.
The Last of Us Part II Made Players See Through a Hated Character
The boldest choice isn't the number of gory scenes. It puts players directly in control of Abby, whom they have already come to hate. First, it follows Ellie's revenge for a long time, and then shows Abby's daily life and people again. It may not completely erase the initial judgment, but it can make you shake it.
The Guardian praised the technical craft, tension, and complicated characters, reading the game as a relentless study of how revenge destroys people. TIME disagreed. It argued that a story criticizing violence still forced players to repeat it and extended the suffering for too long. [5] [6]
The disagreement did not come from one side misunderstanding the game. It makes players carry out actions they may resist. Some felt that this pressure forced them to remain inside another person's perspective. Others felt it repeated a message they already understood. That tension explains why so many first-place selections arrived alongside strong backlash.
In Hades, Death Moved the Story Forward
Roguelike is a genre where you fail, start over, and improve your skills. Hades put character stories in repetition. When you return home after failing to escape, people talk about the weapon you just used and the gods and bosses you met. Even if you lose, the story doesn't stop. Rather, it opens up new conversations and relationships.
Supergiant explained that the key was combining a repetitive roguelike with a character-driven story. The game developer also paid attention to the fact that story rewards were added to each death and return process. Even if you fail in battle, the story moves forward. [7] [8]
This structure also accommodates skill differences. Even if those who did well escaped quickly, they tried again to see the next story. Even those who often failed gained new dialogue each time they returned. The fact that it made people not miss the story even if their skills were different was especially well received by fellow developers.
Both Games Had Clear Strengths and Weaknesses
The Last of Us Part II's 197 records include 176 editorial, 18 reader, 2 industry, and 1 mixed. The center of the results was the selection of the editorial department. It is difficult to say that the overall evaluation was determined solely by the debates of online fans. Hades came in third place overall, but was recognized at major industry awards for its combination of repetition and storytelling.
The Last of Us Part II paired exceptional acting, technology, and direction with an attempt to push through player resistance. Hades adapted gracefully to failure and choice, but it still depended on repeated combat and random builds. Neither game was stronger by every possible measure.
In 2020, large narrative games and small independent roguelikes were compared with equal weight. How well the gameplay and themes are connected has become more important than production cost. The first place in the tally was The Last of Us Part II. But to understand that year's evaluation, you must also look at Hades' awards.
External references
- The Game Awards 2020 winners View source
- BAFTA Winners Announced: British Academy Games Awards 2021 View source
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences 2021 Awards: Game of the Year View source
- Game Developers Choice Awards Game of the Year Award archive View source
- The Guardian The Last of Us Part II review: a gut-wrenching sequel View source
- TIME The Last of Us Part II Is a Dark Game for a Dark Time View source
- Supergiant Games Hades FAQ View source
- Game Developer How Supergiant weaves narrative rewards into Hades' cycle of perpetual death View source
How this year's score was calculated