The /r/NintendoSwitch Best of 2019 Award Winners!
Greetings!
With 2019 behind us, it's time to look back at what YOU thought were the best games of the year.
We appreciate your patience while we prepared the results this week. We got a bit of a late start on the process this year, and we have already discussed some new ideas for 2020, but we'd love to know your feedback below. What would you like to see, or think might be fun, to increase community engagement in this process next year?
This year we had a total of 3,550 responses. The results are listed below. For those who prefer visual graph results, please click here for the imgur album.
#Nintendo Switch Game of the Year
Recognizing a game that delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Fire Emblem: Three Houses | 41.3% |
| #2 | Luigi's Mansion 3 | 20.3% |
| #3 | Super Mario Maker 2 | 15.3% |
| #4 | Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age DE | 10.5% |
| #5 | Astral Chain | 6.9% |
| #6 | Tetris 99 | 5.8% |
#Developer of the Year
Developer studio who displayed outstanding platform support through a combination of quantity and quality of new releases.
| Rank | Name | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Nintendo | 65.7% |
| #2 | Square Enix | 15.1% |
| #3 | Platinum Games | 7.8% |
| #4 | Koei Tecmo | 5.9% |
| #5 | Capcom | 4.6% |
| #6 | Inti Creates | 0.9% |
#Publisher of the Year
Publishing studio who displayed outstanding platform support through a combination of quantity and quality of new releases.
| Rank | Name | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Nintendo | 65.6% |
| #2 | Devolver Digital | 13.5% |
| #3 | Square Enix | 7.8% |
| #4 | Humble Bundle | 5.1% |
| #5 | Capcom | 4.3% |
| #6 | Bandai Namco | 3.8% |
#Best Action Game
For the best game in the action genre focused on combat.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Astral Chain | 55.9% |
| #2 | Katana Zero | 13.0% |
| #3 | Overwatch: Legendary Edition | 10.3% |
| #4 | Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order | 9.0% |
| #5 | My Friend Pedro | 8.1% |
| #6 | Daemon X Machina | 3.8% |
#Best Adventure Game
For the best adventure game, combining combat with traversal and puzzle solving.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Luigi's Mansion 3 | 43.6% |
| #2 | The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | 36.4% |
| #3 | Dragon Quest Builders 2 | 9.8% |
| #4 | Return of the Obra Dinn | 5.9% |
| #5 | What Remains of Edith Finch | 2.6% |
| #6 | Dauntless | 1.7% |
#Best Fighting Game
For the best game designed primarily around head-to-head combat.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Mortal Kombat 11 | 45.0% |
| #2 | Shovel Knight Showdown | 31.6% |
| #3 | Skullgirls 2nd Encore | 9.6% |
| #4 | BlazBlue Centralfiction SE | 8.0% |
| #5 | Lethal League Blaze | 3.9% |
| #6 | Crystal Crisis | 1.9% |
#Best Music/Rhythm Game
For the best game with a focus on dance or the simulated performance of musical instruments.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Feat. TLOZ | 79.7% |
| #2 | Sayonara Wild Hearts | 12.9% |
| #3 | Cytus Alpha | 2.9% |
| #4 | Songbird Symphony | 1.9% |
| #5 | Groove Coaster Wai Wai Party!!!! | 1.3% |
| #6 | Hexagroove: Tactical DJ | 1.2% |
#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.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Super Mario Maker 2 | 45.2% |
| #2 | Cuphead | 19.7% |
| #3 | Ori and the Blind Forest DE | 16.7% |
| #4 | Shovel Knight: King of Cards | 6.9% |
| #5 | Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair | 6.0% |
| #6 | Yoshi's Crafted World | 5.5% |
#Best Puzzle/Strategy Game
Best game focused on real-time or turn-based strategy gameplay.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Untitled Goose Game | 31.6% |
| #2 | Tetris 99 | 23.4% |
| #3 | Baba is You | 18.7% |
| #4 | Slay the Spire | 16.3% |
| #5 | Wargroove | 8.0% |
| #6 | SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech | 2.1% |
#Best Racing/Sports Game
For the best traditional and non-traditional sports and racing game.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ring Fit Adventure | 44.6% |
| #2 | Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled | 24.2% |
| #3 | Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 | 12.9% |
| #4 | GRID Autosport | 8.0% |
| #5 | Asphalt 9: Legends | 5.2% |
| #6 | Team Sonic Racing | 5.0% |
#Best Role Playing Game
For the best game designed with rich player character customization and progression.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Fire Emblem: Three Houses | 41.1% |
| #2 | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt CE | 21.0% |
| #3 | Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age DE | 16.0% |
| #4 | Pokemon Sword & Shield | 15.3% |
| #5 | Divinity Original Sin 2 DE | 4.9% |
| #6 | Tales of Vesperia DE | 1.7% |
#Best Art Direction
For outstanding creative achievement in artistic design and animation.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | 29.3% |
| #2 | Luigi's Mansion 3 | 22.0% |
| #3 | Ori and the Blind Forest DE | 14.0% |
| #4 | Fire Emblem: Three Houses | 13.8% |
| #5 | Astral Chain | 12.3% |
| #6 | Yoshi's Crafted World | 8.7% |
#Best Family Game
For the best game appropriate for family play, irrespective of genre.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Luigi's Mansion 3 | 42.2% |
| #2 | Super Mario Maker 2 | 28.0% |
| #3 | Yoshi's Crafted World | 13.2% |
| #4 | Ring Fit Adventure | 12.1% |
| #5 | Heave Ho | 2.3% |
| #6 | The Stretchers | 2.1% |
#Best Game Direction
Awarded for outstanding creative vision and innovation in game direction and design.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Fire Emblem: Three Houses | 37.7% |
| #2 | Luigi's Mansion 3 | 21.7% |
| #3 | Untitled Goose Game | 19.5% |
| #4 | Astral Chain | 10.2% |
| #5 | Baba is You | 5.5% |
| #6 | Ring Fit Adventure | 5.4% |
#Best Indie Game
For outstanding creative and technical achievement in a game made outside the traditional publisher system.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Untitled Goose Game | 42.7% |
| #2 | Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer feat. TLOZ | 18.7% |
| #3 | Slay the Spire | 14.4% |
| #4 | Baba is You | 11.5% |
| #5 | Katana Zero | 8.4% |
| #6 | Risk of Rain 2 | 4.2% |
#Best Local Multiplayer Game
For outstanding local multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op, irrespective of game genre.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Super Mario Maker 2 | 30.8% |
| #2 | Luigi's Mansion 3 | 27.7% |
| #3 | The Jackbox Party Pack 6 | 20.7% |
| #4 | Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order | 11.9% |
| #5 | Wargroove | 5.0% |
| #6 | Heave Ho | 3.9% |
#Best Narrative
For outstanding storytelling and narrative development in a game.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Fire Emblem: Three Houses | 37.7% |
| #2 | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt CE | 35.6% |
| #3 | Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age DE | 12.0% |
| #4 | Divinity: Original Sin 2 DE | 5.5% |
| #5 | AI : The Somnium Files | 4.9% |
| #6 | Katana Zero | 4.3% |
#Best Nintendo Switch Exclusive
Best game released in 2019 as a Nintendo Switch console exclusive.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Fire Emblem: Three Houses | 43.0% |
| #2 | Luigi's Mansion 3 | 19.0% |
| #3 | Super Mario Maker 2 | 14.3% |
| #4 | The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | 10.0% |
| #5 | Astral Chain | 8.2% |
| #6 | Tetris 99 | 5.5% |
#Best Non-Switch Game
Best game released in 2019 on PC, Playstation 4, or Xbox One.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | 29.7% |
| #2 | Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order | 21.1% |
| #3 | Resident Evil 2 | 17.5% |
| #4 | The Outer Worlds | 16.5% |
| #5 | Disco Elysium | 9.8% |
| #6 | Outer Wilds | 5.3% |
#Best Ongoing Game
For outstanding development of ongoing content that evolves the player experience over time. Does not have to be a 2019 release.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | 50.8% |
| #2 | Stardew Valley | 22.7% |
| #3 | Super Mario Maker 2 | 10.5% |
| #4 | Tetris 99 | 5.6% |
| #5 | Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove | 5.5% |
| #6 | Rocket League | 4.9% |
#Best Online Multiplayer Game
For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences, irrespective of game genre.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Tetris 99 | 42.8% |
| #2 | Super Mario Maker 2 | 30.0% |
| #3 | Overwatch: Legendary Edition | 16.3% |
| #4 | Dauntless | 4.6% |
| #5 | Killer Queen Black | 3.5% |
| #6 | Daemon X Machina | 2.8% |
#Best Re-Release/Re-master
For the best game whose original release was not on a current generation console (Switch/PS4/Xbox One).
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | 62.4%** |
| #2 | Spyro Reignited Trilogy | 12.8% |
| #3 | Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch | 8.4% |
| #4 | Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age | 7.4% |
| #5 | Tales of Vesperia DE | 5.7% |
| #6 | Baldur's Gate I & II: Enhanced Editions | 3.2% |
#Best Soundtrack
For outstanding music, inclusive of score, original song and/or licensed soundtrack.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Feat. TLOZ | 32.7% |
| #2 | Fire Emblem: Three Houses | 28.2% |
| #3 | Pokemon Sword & Shield | 17.0% |
| #4 | Astral Chain | 10.3% |
| #5 | Sayonara Wild Hearts | 6.6% |
| #6 | Katana Zero | 5.2% |
#Best Technical Achievement
For the game which achieves a combination of gameplay and graphics which goes well beyond hardware expectations.
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt CE | 32.7% |
| #2 | Luigi's Mansion 3 | 28.2% |
| #3 | Ring Fit Adventure | 17.0% |
| #4 | Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes fo an Elusive Age DE | 10.3% |
| #5 | Astral Chain | 6.6% |
| #6 | Alien: Isolation | 5.2% |
#Bonus: Favorite House in Fire Emblem: Three Houses
| Rank | Game | Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Black Eagles | 40.1% |
| #2 | Golden Deer | 33.8% |
| #3 | Blue Lions | 26.1% |
So there you have it!
Congratulations to all of our winners, a special shoutout to all of the nominees and their respective dev teams, to everyone in the community who provided feedback and participated in the process, and to everyone who voted.
Now when you see the endless stream of "What game should I buy?" posts, this is a resource you can send them.
Cheers,
The r/NintendoSwitch Mod Team
Posted Jan 11, 2020, 4:10 PM UTC