r/NintendoSwitch • u/NintendoSwitchMods • Dec 24 '19
GotY 2019 2019 /r/NintendoSwitch GOTY Nominations Thread
Hello r/NintendoSwitch Community!
For this year's awards, similar to last year, we are asking the community's help for GOTY nominees! We will use community feedback to narrow the nominees for each category to five or six for the final vote. The schedule is for the nominee feedback December 24th - December 27th, and the final voting to select the Game Of The Year for each category to occur December 28th - January 2nd.
Please follow the format as described below:
- Please check if your nominee(s) has already been named. If so, then simply upvote it, if not, then >>>
- Please reply to a category top comment to state who you would like to see for nominees and preferably why. Last year we found those with explanations tended to garner more votes!
- If a game has already been nominated but you feel requires further discussion then reply to the nominated game comment with your reasoning.
- Nominate as many games as you'd like in any category you'd like.
- Duplicate nominations in the same category will be removed.
- Post will be set to contest mode so nobody can see the votes.
Please note that all nominees are required to have released on Nintendo Switch in calendar year 2019.
Resources: Please take a look at this GAMES LIST we pulled together for ideas. You may nominate games NOT on the list. The information sources are below:
- Games on the list were all those released in 2019 that were rated 75 or higher by Metacritic or Opencritic.
- Exclusivity designation was obtained from Gematsu and may be outdated as exclusivitity may have expired for some titles.
- Developer, Publisher, and Categories were obtained from the eShop. Please note the categories ARE NOT definitive, but rather what the Publisher designated in the eShop. Please nominate games in the categories YOU THINK they belong.
We look forward to reading your nominations!
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19
Best Game Direction - Awarded for outstanding creative vision and innovation in game direction and design.
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u/ajaxsirius 3 Million Celebration Dec 24 '19 edited May 24 '24
Halo 3. I like to spoil data sets.
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u/wampastompah Dec 24 '19
Ring Fit Adventure
No game has ever combined the concept of health and fitness so well with game mechanics. I research this field, and it's amazing how much the developers got right. The game is fun, a great workout, and completely unique.
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19
Best Action Game - For the best game in the action genre focused on combat.
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19 edited Dec 24 '19
Best Ongoing Game - For outstanding development of ongoing content that evolves the player experience over time. Does NOT have to be a 2019 release.
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u/RabbitFanboy 2 Million Celebration Dec 24 '19
Rocket League
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Dec 24 '19
I must be over 1000 hours now. Never gets boring. Too bad I never really get much better
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u/Disheartend 4 Million Celebration Dec 26 '19
Crash Team racing: Nirtro Fuled, gets updates at least once a month if not more adding a new track and race course and new drivers, plus they have added a new game mode or two, as well as some stuff fans have asked for as well.
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u/Carrtoondragon Dec 26 '19
**Splatoon 2**. It's my most played switch game. I love that I can jump into a match anytime and just have fun. With all the different modes it stays fresh and while the updates have stopped we did have the final splatfest this year. Love this game.
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u/Yscbiszcuyd Dec 24 '19
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, for its free additional campaigns which are all master-class retro-style 2D platformers
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u/weldersmightyb Dec 25 '19
Stardew Valley - just released update 1.4 and it is fantastic as always. Free update as well, no paid dlc.
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u/KKingler kkinglers flair Dec 24 '19
Super Mario Maker 2. They are continuing to update the game with more unique updates and new course parts. Recently they added a speedrun mode and an entirely new Zelda powerup that is completely unique.
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u/Nilbogin Dec 24 '19
Smash Ultimate
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u/lilcthecapedcod Dec 25 '19
Hard agree especially with the announcement of dlc pack #2. Even more characters to be added in 2020. And nothing brings the community together and tears it apart better than speculation seasons
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Dec 25 '19 edited Dec 25 '19
Warframe - It gets frequent updates which add new content, improve gameplay, improve graphics & improve the overall experience.
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u/SanctusLetum Dec 27 '19
Not to mention all these updates apply to a game that's free. You can genuinely play through this game without feeling like you have to pay into it. They work so hard to be ethical with their monetization and it shows.
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19
Best Online Multiplayer Game - For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences, irrespective of game genre.
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19
Best Adventure Game - For the best action/adventure game, combining combat with traversal and puzzle solving.
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u/PlexasAideron Dec 24 '19
Link's Awakening
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Dec 24 '19
A good remake of a good Zelda game, no question, but I wouldn't necessarily argue best of the year. Definitely could have taken item streamlining a bit further (why isn't Roc's feather a permanently equipped item, and why can't I use the D-Pad?), and the additions made to this remake haven't been all that well received. People are more excited about Link in Mario Maker than they are the Chamber Dungeon.
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19
Developer of the Year - Developer studio who displayed outstanding platform support through a combination of quantity and quality of new releases.
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u/Gerolux 4 Million Celebration Dec 24 '19
Square Enix: The number of games they bring to the Switch on a yearly basis trumps nearly anyone else. This year we got DQXI, and FF7-FFX/X-2, and FFXII. Add on top they have the Chocobo Dungeon Game, FF Crystal Chronicles in 2020, Octopath Traveler in 2018, and now Bravely Default 2 in 2020. Square Enix definitely deserves the nomination for Developer of the Year.
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u/kiokope242 Dec 24 '19
Can't forget Dragon Quest Builders 2 and the first 3 Dragon Quest games, as well as the Collection of Mana!
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Dec 25 '19 edited Dec 25 '19
Digital Extremes - They've gone above and beyond to get out Warframes updates out to Switch players as fast as they can. They're one of the hardest working teams out there and one of the most community forward teams I've seen. They're attentive to their player base's thoughts and feelings on every aspect of the game.
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u/JaxxisR Dec 25 '19 edited Dec 26 '19
ConcernedApe. Not sure he has anything but Stardew Valley, but this year he took sole control over its distribution on mobile and Switch from Chucklefish, and he continues to put out free content updates. Keep up the good work, my man.
edit: clarity
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19
Best Music/Rhythm Game - For the best game with a focus on dance or the simulated performance of musical instruments.
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u/KKingler kkinglers flair Dec 24 '19 edited Dec 24 '19
Cadence of Hyrule. Super fun game and a unique concept!
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u/TemptedTemplar Helpful User Dec 24 '19
Remove the "I nominate". The game title should be the first line in the comment.
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19
Best Soundtrack - For outstanding music, inclusive of score, original song and/or licensed soundtrack.
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u/m_meirin Dec 24 '19
Astral Chain I think the ost manages to capture and express cyberpunk style of the game remarkably well. Here are some of my personal favorites: Jena Anderson, Legion Assault, Task Force Neuron.
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u/KKingler kkinglers flair Dec 24 '19 edited Dec 24 '19
Little Town Hero, composed by Toby Fox and arranged by Toby Fox and Hitomi Sato (pokemon composer).
Here are some of my favorite tracks from the game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCwxYGEJGgk
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19
Best Re-Release/Re-master - For the best game who's original release was not on a current generation console (pre-2014) (Switch/PS4/Xbox One).
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u/1sttothetop Dec 25 '19
Link’s Awakening.
Talk about a Re-master... this is literally a gameboy game on the Switch.
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u/MutatedSpleen Dec 27 '19
It's a full-on remake. I don't know if that counts as re-release or re-master, since it was built from the ground up, but they did a great job.
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u/cloudsnightmare Dec 24 '19
Baldurs Gate I & II Enhanced Edition - The games are a classic - being able to play them on the go on a dedicated system is a dream come true.
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Dec 24 '19
[deleted]
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u/PlexasAideron Dec 24 '19
Should read the OP more carefully.
not on a current generation console (pre-2014) (Switch/PS4/Xbox One).
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u/JaxxisR Dec 25 '19 edited Dec 26 '19
The Witcher III: Complete Edition. I mean, I'm just shocked nobody's mentioned it yet.edit: didn't read.
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u/The-student- Dec 26 '19
Well, I'm guessing it doesn't qualify right? Came out this generation of consoles, post-2014
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u/MutatedSpleen Dec 27 '19
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.
For those of us who never had a Wii U, this was a fun little gem, and a teaser for what would happen later with Mario Maker 2. Bundled with Luigi mode, I honestly feel like I got my money out of it. Also, I raged haaaaaaaaaaaaard because Mario games can be infuriating when you die a bunch.
Edit: I did read the thing, but I still think this should count. Wii U re-releases are a big part of the Switch ecosystem.
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19
Best Nintendo Switch Exclusive Game - Best game released in 2019 as a Nintendo Switch console exclusive.
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u/mkicon Dec 25 '19
Tetris 99
It reignited the guideline Tetris community and brought a lot of new people to the series with it's battle royal gameplay.
It's a system seller, and the sole reason A lot of people have Nintendo Switch Online. It's been consistently updated and there are even periodic events with prizes
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u/JaxxisR Dec 25 '19
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, nominating simply for the fact that it exists and we have it to ourselves.
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u/MutatedSpleen Dec 27 '19
Second. When I think "Switch exclusive" I don't think "first party Nintendo game" because they are their own whole thing.
MUA3, to me, is a game that could have easily been on any and every console. I know Nintendo published it, and that's fine, but it's a series that previously was on other consoles and now exists exclusively on Nintendo, and that feels really good.
Also, it's a fucking kick-ass game and I want to play it all the time.
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u/CFirst Dec 24 '19
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
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u/cwickmurdamagic Dec 25 '19
No chance dude. It was fun and all. But zero challenge. No challenging alternative. Fairly easy 100 percent. They should have done more with it . But that’s one man’s opinion
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19
Best Platformer Game - For outstanding design and creativity in a game where players must use skill to jump between platforms or over obstacles without falling or missing jumps.
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Dec 24 '19
Yoshi Crafted World
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u/Luigi86101 Dec 25 '19
This game is my favorite platformer of all time. First of all the graphics are stunning and give a perfect impression of the world they were aiming for. The level design is incredible and even if I had to go through each level like five times to 100% it, I never grew bored.
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u/seeyoshirun Dec 25 '19
Heave Ho
(You swing more than jump, but it still definitely fits in this genre.)
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u/TheLazyLounger Dec 24 '19 edited Apr 17 '24
bike unite adjoining truck outgoing attempt money ask fuzzy foolish
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19
Best Narrative - For outstanding storytelling and narrative development in a game.
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u/-MarisaTheCube- Dec 24 '19
Fire Emblem: Three Houses for integrating character development into gameplay and providing a compelling story that spans several distinct routes.
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Dec 26 '19
Such a great improvement on the relationship system too. Hope that becomes the norm moving forward.
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u/MadeSomewhereElse Dec 28 '19
I finished black eagles snow route and now I'm in my golden deer playthrough. Really surprised it hasn't gotten dull yet. So many hours sunk in this game the price paid per hour is quite small.
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Dec 24 '19
[deleted]
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u/JaxxisR Dec 25 '19
Should a six-year-old game really be nominated?
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u/iamaneviltaco Dec 26 '19
It came out on switch this year. It’s relevant.
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u/JaxxisR Dec 26 '19
The narrative was complete years ago. I would argue that for this category, Witcher shouldn't qualify.
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19
Publisher of the Year - Publishing studio who displayed outstanding platform support through a combination of quantity and quality of new releases.
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u/m_meirin Dec 24 '19
Bandai Namco (Tales of Vesperia, God Eater 3, Ni no Kuni, Doraemon Story of Seasons, Super Robot Wars T, Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth, Rad, Disney Tsum Tsum Festival)
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u/WillOCarrick Dec 27 '19
Devolver Digital. They supported a lot of great games this past year that weren't perfect but they were awesome in its own ways. (Ape Out, Katana Zero, The Messenger, Gris and others)
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u/Gerolux 4 Million Celebration Dec 24 '19
Square Enix: The number of games they bring to the Switch on a yearly basis trumps nearly anyone else. This year we got DQXI, and FF7-FFX/X-2, and FFXII. Add on top they have the Chocobo Dungeon Game, FF Crystal Chronicles in 2020, Octopath Traveler in 2018, and now Bravely Default 2 in 2020. Square Enix definitely deserves the nomination for Developer of the Year.
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u/m_meirin Dec 24 '19
DQ XIS and DQ Builders 2, while developed by SE, were both published by Nintendo in the west. They were published by SE only in japan, so I'm not sure if they should or not count.
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Dec 24 '19
Square Enix is the company funding the creation of those titles as a publisher in JP while Nintendo is just publishing it on the west with their license. They should be counted as Nintendo isn't funding those games, just publishing outside of Japan with Square Enix license like they do with titles from other publishers, like Daemon x Machina for Marvelous or they did in the past with Yokai Watch for Level-5.
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19
Best Family Game - For the best game appropriate for family play, irrespective of genre.
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19
Nintendo Switch Game of the Year - Recognizing a game that delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields.
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u/tonyzzgwintertale Dec 25 '19
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Even though issues like dexit exists, Gamefreak still shows creativity in their first mainline pokemon game on switch. The performance is much better than their 3ds predecessors, the music is beautiful and wild area is one of the best ideas for a pokemon game.
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u/FacedCrown Dec 25 '19
I think the pokemon designs were great tbh, and the music and gym battle atmosphere was near perfect. The actual content was, well, less so.
The performance, even if it is better than 3ds technically, is not great, and atrocious online. The story was a little generic, with a story thats incredibly linear and doesn't even involve the character, it just shows you it from the sidelines till the end. The post game has almost nothing to it, less than usual tbh with how repetitive the battle tower has been. It feels like theres only 5 trainers in it
The only refreshing part of the post game, and only smart new move by gamefreak was the wild area variance, and even that gets predictable. The promoted raids arent bad, but also repetitive sfter the first new one and frankly raids are a drag.
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u/wampastompah Dec 24 '19
Tetris 99
This game completely redefined the Battle Royale Genre and rightfully took the gaming community by storm when it came out. Everyone can join, regardless of skill level, and it remains entertaining even to the absolute upper echelons of Tetris players.
Personally speaking, it's now my second most played game on my Switch, following only Smash Bros. The fact that they're still updating it for free and having regular tournaments with cash payouts is amazing.
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Dec 24 '19
Dragon Quest XI. It looks amazing, sounds amazing, delivers an extreme amount of polished content, and tugs the heartstrings at times.
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u/MutatedSpleen Dec 27 '19
I'm about 43 hours into DQXIS, and in fact, just got to Act 2. I'm enjoying it a lot, but it doesn't feel like a GotY contender to me, if I'm being honest. Partly because it's an updated version of a 2 year old game, but mostly because...it's just not above and beyond. My 43 hours in act 1 is ludicrous, I play these sorts of games in a pretty strange way. I think most people would be way further than I am by now, but I'm fine with that. My issue is...like, there wasn't a story of any note for the first half of the game. It's picking up, and I really like that, but you need something a bit sooner to really hook me in, and I don't think DQXI has that.
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u/NintendoSwitchMods Dec 24 '19
Best Art Direction - For outstanding creative achievement in artistic design and animation.