The inaugural Game of the Year award from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (now D.I.C.E. Awards) went to GoldenEye 007 in 1997, beating classics like Final Fantasy VII and Age of Empires. Yet fast-forward to 2025, and GoldenEye’s clunky controls and unstable framerate highlight how some acclaimed titles simply don’t hold up over time. After scouring over 25 years of nominees, we’ve identified eight GOTY contenders that aged like milk left in the sun—games whose flaws magnify with each passing year despite initial brilliance.

8-game-of-the-year-nominees-that-haven-t-aged-well-image-0

8 Donkey Kong 64

8-game-of-the-year-nominees-that-haven-t-aged-well-image-1

On paper, Donkey Kong 64 is a tour de force—masterful platforming, the legendary DK Rap 🎤, and just the right mix of chaos. But holy moly, the mandatory character-swapping mechanic feels archaic today. Players must backtrack constantly to fetch items with specific Kongs, turning fun into frustration. A simple quality-of-life update allowing on-the-fly character changes would’ve saved this gem from becoming a relic.

People Also Ask: Why does Donkey Kong 64 feel tedious now? Unlike modern open-world games, its design forces repetitive traversal without shortcuts or dynamic mechanics.

7 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

8-game-of-the-year-nominees-that-haven-t-aged-well-image-2

Let’s call a spade a spade—New Horizons was lightning in a bottle during 2020’s COVID lockdowns. It gave us virtual beach parties 🏝️ and socially distanced hangouts when reality was off-limits. But strip away the pandemic context, and the game’s lack of depth compared to 2012’s New Leaf becomes glaring. Limited events, repetitive tasks, and shallow NPC interactions make it feel like a pretty but empty shell today.

6 Final Fantasy VII Remake

8-game-of-the-year-nominees-that-haven-t-aged-well-image-3

Don’t get it twisted—Remake’s combat and visuals slay. But stretching Midgar’s opening hours into a full game? That’s like watering down fine wine. The added “destiny” plot and filler quests (looking at you, sewer labyrinths) dilute FFVII’s original charm. What fans craved was a tight, modernized retelling—not a padded epic that loses the OG’s playful spirit. Thankfully, Rebirth course-corrected big time! 🙌

People Also Ask: Did FFVII Remake need new story elements? Critics argue its meta-narrative overcomplicated a straightforward classic, prioritizing spectacle over substance.

5 Call of Duty (2003)

8-game-of-the-year-nominees-that-haven-t-aged-well-image-4

Mind-boggling how this beat 2003 heavyweights like Wind Waker and Knights of the Old Republic! Sure, it pioneered WWII shooters, but playing it now? Yikes. The graphics look like mashed potatoes 🥔, and the gameplay feels stiff next to era-defining peers like Halo. While pivotal for the franchise, it’s outclassed in every way—proof that innovation doesn’t always equal longevity.

4 Battlefield 1

8-game-of-the-year-nominees-that-haven-t-aged-well-image-5

How this snagged a 2016 GOTY nod over Uncharted 4 or Dark Souls III is anyone’s guess. Its WW1 setting wowed initially, but the shallow campaign and janky multiplayer wore thin faster than cheap socks. Once the “whoa” factor faded, players realized DICE prioritized looks over depth—a recurring Achilles’ heel. Battlefield 1’s legacy? A pretty but hollow tech demo.

3 PUBG: Battlegrounds

8-game-of-the-year-nominees-that-haven-t-aged-well-image-6

PUBG rode the battle royale wave to fame, but let’s keep it 100: it was always a hot mess. Even at launch, critics roasted its bugs and jank (57% recommendation score on OpenCritic!). Gamers tolerated it for lack of alternatives, but once Fortnite and Warzone dropped with polished gunplay and events, PUBG became yesterday’s news. Its fall from grace? A cautionary tale about hype over substance.

People Also Ask: What killed PUBG’s dominance? Competitors offered smoother gameplay, frequent updates, and—crucially—fun. PUBG’s rigidity made it feel outdated overnight.

2 Angry Birds

8-game-of-the-year-nominees-that-haven-t-aged-well-image-7

This mobile darling’s 2010 GOTY nomination aged worse than bananas in a blender. Sure, it defined smartphone gaming, but stacked against snubbed masterpieces like Super Mario Galaxy 2 or Mass Effect 2? No contest. By 2025, its simplistic slingshot gameplay feels quaint beside goliaths like Genshin Impact. Once a phenomenon, now a footnote—Rovio’s bird-flinging frenzy got plucked clean by time.

1 Blade Runner (1997)

8-game-of-the-year-nominees-that-haven-t-aged-well-image-8

Kudos for nailing the film’s neo-noir vibe, but dang, playing it now is rough. The combat’s clunkier than a rusty tin man 🤖, and obscure puzzles leave you wandering aimlessly. While revolutionary for licensed games, its lack of direction and janky mechanics shatter immersion faster than a Replicant failing the Voight-Kampff test. A stunning relic—but only if you avoid actually playing it.

🔥 Over to You! These GOTY picks might’ve ruled their era, but time waits for no game. Think we missed one? Sound off in the comments with your top "aged like milk" nominees! 👇 #GOTY #GamingHistory