“God of War didn't even come close.” Gamers believe RDR 2 was wrongly denied “Game of the Year” in 2018

In 2018, God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2 were the two front-runners for the “Game of the Year” title. While both games were considered outstanding at the time, the latter became a catalyst for the evolution of the open-world genre.

At the same time, God of War stood out by offering a fresh look at a familiar brand. Both games received awards in various categories, but God of War took home the biggest accolade of the year, including at The Game Awards. Far from everyone was satisfied with this decision.

Five years later, the debate has flared up with renewed vigor, with many arguing that Rockstar’s 2018 title was a more worthy candidate, as it featured superior writing, immersion, and open-world gameplay.

In addition, it was a technological marvel that delivered incredible results on aging console hardware. All these qualities led many to believe that no game could challenge Red Dead Redemption 2.

Some point out that God of War had a slight edge in better stability. Nevertheless, fans like SynthPotato believe that Rockstar’s game cannot be surpassed even by 2023 releases. Meanwhile, user NikTek states that he played both and considers GOW’s award undeserved, as it didn’t even come close to RDR2 in terms of story, gameplay, and characters.

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