• The "One That Got Away" Syndrome: Being a Game of the Year (GOTY) nominee is a massive achievement, but many "transcendent" titles lose the spotlight once the ceremony ends.
  • The Vanishing Nemesis: Monolith’s Nemesis system remains one of gaming’s greatest "missing links"—a revolutionary mechanic that the industry strangely failed to adopt.
  • Genre Peaks: Several nominees, including Titanfall 2 and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, represent the absolute mechanical zenith of their respective genres despite missing the top trophy.
  • Platformer Persistence: From Psychonauts 2 to Inside, the platforming genre continues to deliver some of the most creative, high-impact experiences in the medium.

The High-Stakes World of "Almost" GOTY

In the 2026 gaming climate, the sheer volume of quality content is staggering. At "In Game News," we see it every week: incredible titles get buried under the next big launch before they’ve had their time in the sun. Even hitting the stage at The Game Awards isn't a guarantee of staying power. We’ve looked at the data and the history, and there’s a shortlist of nominees that—while they didn't take home the crown—are mandatory plays for anyone who calls themselves a gamer.

Action and RPG Evolution

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014)

Looking back from 2026, Shadow of Mordor feels like a relic from a better time—the sweet spot before live services and aggressive microtransactions cluttered the experience. It was just fun. The standout remains the Nemesis system. The fact that enemies remembered your previous fights and evolved based on those outcomes added a layer of personal stakes we rarely see today. It’s still one of the industry's biggest mysteries why this mechanic didn't become a standard across the board.

The Outer Worlds (2019)

Labeling this "Fallout in space" is reductive, but accurate. Obsidian took their New Vegas pedigree and pushed it beyond Earth's atmosphere. With the 2025 sequel now in the wild, it’s clear this brand has legs, yet it still doesn't command the same "household name" status as Fallout. We’d argue that in terms of pure FPS RPG mechanics, The Outer Worlds actually improves on the formula in almost every way. If you haven't touched this one, you’re missing a pillar of the genre.

Metaphor: ReFantazio (2024)

Coming from the heavy hitters at Studio Zero and Atlus, Metaphor: ReFantazio brought that signature Persona-style depth to a new fantasy setting. It’s a high-water mark for the JRPG space that proved there's plenty of room for innovation outside of established franchises.

Masterclass in Platforming and Design

Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023)

The "Nintendo Bump" usually means first-party games get plenty of love, but Wonder is still somehow underrated. We’ve been playing Mario since the NES days, and this might actually be the best 2D entry in the franchise's history. It’s more creative than Mario 3 or World, breaking every rule we thought was set in stone for the series. It deserved more than just a nomination; it deserved a serious conversation about being the GOAT of 2D platformers.

Psychonauts 2 (2021)

Double Fine captured lightning in a bottle here, channeling the Golden Age of 3D platformers. Despite being a first-party Xbox title (that also hit PlayStation), it seems to have exited the collective consciousness far too quickly. If you want a game that’s easy to grasp but mechanically deep, this is your fix.

Inside (2016)

Playdead’s follow-up to Limbo is a masterclass in atmospheric, haunting design. While Limbo gets the nostalgia votes, Inside "eats its lunch" in every category. The final ten minutes are still some of the most "bonkers" moments in gaming history. Our advice: don’t look it up, just play it.

The FPS Benchmarks

Titanfall 2 (2016)

Even a decade later, Titanfall 2 remains the benchmark for what a pure FPS campaign should look like. In an era where shooters are pivoting hard into multiplayer live services, Respawn’s 2016 masterpiece stands as a reminder that a focused, 6-hour campaign can be more impactful than 100 hours of "content." We recently jumped back in, and it still holds up perfectly.

Deathloop (2021)

Arkane games like Dishonored and Prey get all the talk in 2026, but Deathloop is arguably the coolest thing they’ve ever done. It’s quippy, stylish, and gives you total freedom to play stealthy or go loud. If you haven't pushed for the Platinum trophy on this one, you haven't seen everything it has to offer. It’s a blast from start to finish.