Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThere is no single, universal Game of the Year award—and no reliable measure showing that “everyone” quickly forgot any of its winners. The five games below are better treated as a subjective look at past winners whose award-year recognition is easier to document than any claim about how much the public remembers them today.
What “Game of the Year” means here
Different organizations choose their own winners. The Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCA) describes its honor as recognizing “the choice of game developers for the overall best game release.” The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) runs the separate D.I.C.E. Awards. A win from one body is not a universal verdict, and the award body and year matter.
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There is also no named population study or statistic establishing how quickly the general public forgets former winners. So “faded from the conversation” is an editorial impression, not a measured ranking. The records below establish the wins and, where available, contemporary recognition; they do not prove that a game is now obscure.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Five past winners—and what the evidence supports
1. Dragon Age: Inquisition — 2014 D.I.C.E. Game of the Year
AIAS named Dragon Age: Inquisition the top D.I.C.E. winner for 2014. TIME also included it on its list of the best games of 2014, confirming that it had contemporary attention beyond the awards ceremony. Those records establish a celebrated launch period, not a later decline in public recognition.
#1 Best Overall
- Experience your Favorite MARVEL vs. CAPCOM classics All in One – Enjoy 7 of your favorite classic titles that helped shaped the MARVEL vs. CAPCOM universe both single player and online.
- Enjoy Enhanced Features Added to the Classic Collection – To enhance your playability experience, we incorporated the favorite added features from Capcom Fighting Collection including gallery mode, quick save, training mode for all fighting titles, and the high score challenge. Beginners and first timers into the franchise are also welcome to play through adjusted settings and execution of one-button specials!
- Play with Friends Worldwide through Online Compatibility – This collection also includes rollback net code for a smooth and enjoyable experience online. Play casually or competitively through casual, ranked, or custom matches using rules of your choosing!
2. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor — 2014 Game Developers Choice Game of the Year
The GDCA archive records Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor as its 2014 winner. Its launch-year reception was substantial: AIAS reported that it won eight of its nine D.I.C.E. nominations, and TIME included it among its best games of 2014, highlighting its enemy hierarchy and combat. That acclaim makes it difficult to call the game overlooked at release; the available evidence does not establish how its reputation or audience has changed since.
3. Journey — 2012 Game Developers Choice Game of the Year
Journey appears in the GDCA archive as the 2012 winner. That is a clear award record, but the sources available here do not document a later drop in attention. Its place on a list of supposedly forgotten games is therefore a subjective choice, not a conclusion supported by evidence of public memory.
Rank #2
- The following games are included in the cartridge: STAR WARS Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (3.6 GB)
- STAR WARS Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (1.1 GB)
- STAR WARS Episode I Racer (254 MB)
- STAR WARS Republic Commando (2.5 GB)
- STAR WARS: The Force Unleashed (3.4 GB)
4. Untitled Goose Game — 2019 Game Developers Choice Game of the Year
The GDCA archive names Untitled Goose Game its 2019 winner. Because that win is comparatively recent, calling the game “quickly forgotten” would require a defined time frame and evidence of its later visibility. The award record alone supplies neither.
5. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — 2017 D.I.C.E. Game of the Year
AIAS identifies The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as its 2017 D.I.C.E. Game of the Year and reports that it received four awards. That is evidence of strong recognition at the time, not of subsequent obscurity; the award results cannot substantiate a claim that players have forgotten it.
Rank #3
- The games that inspired a generation come to life once more, in the ultimate 2D pixel remaster!
- These games are newly developed remaster editions based on the original titles. Some of the changes and additional elements found in other remakes of these games are not included.
- The Anniversary Edition includes a pixel character sticker sheet.
- Universally updated 2D pixel graphics, including the iconic FINAL FANTASY character designs created by Kazuko Shibuya, the original artist and current collaborator.
- Beautifully rearranged soundtrack in a faithful FINAL FANTASY style, overseen by original composer Nobuo Uematsu.
How to read a “forgotten winner” list
An award is a snapshot of a particular organization’s judgment in a particular year. To make a stronger case that a winner later faded from view, a comparison would need later evidence—such as documented franchise activity, re-releases, official retrospectives, or player and community data—applied consistently to every game. The records here do not provide that comparison, so the five titles are illustrative past winners rather than a verified ranking of forgotten games.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- The Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection includes Mega Man Star Force Pegasus, Mega Man Star Force Leo, Mega Man Star Force Dragon, Mega Man Star Force 2 Zerker x Ninja, Mega Man Star Force 2 Zerker x Saurian, Mega Man Star Force 3 Black Ace & Mega Man Star Force 3 Red Joker.
- Browse over 1,000 pieces of official artwork, including rare concept illustrations. You can also rock out to music from all three Mega Man Star Force titles plus newly arranged tracks, with select tracks that can be set as in-game background music.
- Customize gameplay by increasing your Mega Buster power, adjusting encounter rates, and playing through Casual for easy play or Ranked Matches for global competition.
- Optional high-resolution filters allow you to enjoy smoother visuals or toggle them off at any time to experience the classic look.
- Rare bonus cards previously obtainable only through events or merchandise are included. You can also combine them with cards earned during gameplay to build even more powerful decks (some bonus cards are not included).
Sources
- Game Developers Choice Awards archive — the GDCA award definition and winner history.
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences: 2015 D.I.C.E. Awards — the 2014 D.I.C.E. results, including Dragon Age: Inquisition and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.
- TIME: The 10 Best Video Games of 2014 — contemporary context for both 2014 games.
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences: 2018 D.I.C.E. Awards — the 2017 results, including Breath of the Wild.
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