The Game Awards has become an institution since its founding in 2014. In the eight years since the award show was debuted, we’ve witnessed a countless number of impressive moments. From the reveal of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice in 2017 to the announcement of Quantic Dream’s Star Wars Eclipse in 2021, the show is no stranger to high-profile premieres.
So, with The Game Awards 2022 almost upon us, let’s take a look at some of the best moments from past shows! These don’t necessarily have to be world premieres; they could just as easily be fun exchanges by presenters, gaffs, or any other generally entertaining moments! To that end, we’ll be picking the best one from each show since its founding in 2014.
Top 8 Biggest Moments from Game Awards From Years Past
2014 — The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Gameplay Premiere
It’s honestly awe-inspiring looking back at the gameplay premiere for what would come to be known as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. At the time, it was simply known as Zelda Wii-U or Zelda NX (NX being the internal name for the Switch). And, if you watch closely, you’ll see many familiarities and things that were changed in the years prior to Breath of the Wild’s launch.
2015 — No Man’s Sky Wins Most Anticipated Game
To think — there was once a time when we looked forward to No Man’s Sky. To be clear, that’s not a dig at what the game has become in the time since its release the following year. But rather, that’s a comment about the massive amount of hype we once had for what amounted to an indie game made by the studio behind what was effectively a mobile game. I’m glad we’ve learned since then. *laughs in disappointment*
2016 — Hideo Kojima Wins Honorary Industry Icon Award
In looking back through past shows, it would be a tragedy to ignore this moment in particular. After Hideo Kojima was prevented by Konami from attending the show in 2015, it was a moment of vindication for not only Kojima, but many, many others, when he took the stage in 2016 to accept his Industry Icon Award. Say what you will about the divisive developer, he deserved that moment of victory.
2017 — “F——K the Oscars!”
On the other side of the coin, this piece wouldn’t be complete without a mention of Josef Fares’ expletive-laden rant at this year’s show. It’s not as if this is the only time he’s delivered a memorable speech, and it certainly wasn’t the last. In 2021, when It Takes Two won Game of the Year, Fares also gave a passionate speech, encouraging the audience to have children. It may not have been as memorable as his verbal assault on the Academy, but at this point, it’s on brand for Fares.
2018 — The Game Awards Orchestra Performs GOTY Music
I admit, this might be a tad bit basic of a choice for 2018. But in my opinion, there’s not much cooler than a well-performed medley of amazingly epic music from well made games. And, it shows the dedication and love put into the construction of the show on behalf of Geoff Keighley and the show’s entire staff.
2019 — Project Scarlett is Officially the Xbox Series X
I have always associated big console reveals with events like E3. But, given that Microsoft revealed the branding and name of the Xbox Series X at this year’s show, it proves that The Game Awards is just as big of an event, if not bigger. It may not be the full point of the show, but there’s a balance to be had between world premieres and awards. I think they’re still working on that balance to this day.
2020 — Sephiroth Announced in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
It goes without saying that the 2020 show was heavily impacted by a certain world event. So, there wasn’t a whole lot of epic moments to pick from. But, given that game’s earlier inclusion of Cloud, it was both surprising and kinda disappointing to see that they were adding another character from Final Fantasy VII.
2021 — The Game Awards Becomes the New E3
Remember the balance I mentioned? I think last year’s show is most remembered for the density of new game announcements over awards. Which is odd, considering the show is called The Game Awards. In the lead-up to the event, Keighley claimed that new announcements were “probably in the double digits,” and the focus seemed to shift from games to movies / TV with the premiere of the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 trailer and Imagine Dragons’ performance of the Arcane theme song.
Related: How to Watch and Vote in the 2022 Game Awards
But, at the end of the day, The Game Awards is still a powerhouse event in the industry. It’s a time for all of us to stop what we’re doing and celebrate the thing we love: games. Whether it’s new games, or games that have occupied our time over the last year, it’s important to remember we’re all into the same things.
The Game Awards 2022 will stream on Dec. 8, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. CT, 7:30 p.m. ET, and 4:30 p.m. PT. Stick with Gamer Journalist for more coverage of the event, and make us your source for gaming news.
