Short answers, pulled from the story.
GoldenEye 007 won the inaugural Interactive Title of the Year award on the 28th of May 1998. Developed by Rare and published by Nintendo, this licensed adaptation of a movie transformed the spy thriller into a multiplayer phenomenon.
The category was renamed Game of the Year in 1999, the year following the inaugural ceremony. This name change signaled a shift in how the industry viewed its own output and the maturity of the medium.
Journey became the first indie game to win the award in 2013. Developed by thatgamecompany, this minimalist experience relied on emotional resonance rather than complex mechanics or high-fidelity graphics.
The years 2019, 2020, 2023, and 2026 were the only years that had more than one indie game nominee. In 2020, Disco Elysium, Outer Wilds, and Untitled Goose Game all vied for the title.
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences conducts the voting process open to all active creative, technical, business, and affiliate members. This peer-based system ensures that the winner is chosen by individuals who understand the craft from every angle.