Summary

  • Even the best games struggle to keep players engaged, but these GOTY winners have completion rates above 40%.
  • Games like Sekiro and Dark Souls 2 prove that difficulty doesn't deter determined players from finishing the game.
  • Titles like Journey and What Remains Of Edith Finch offer unique experiences that keep players invested until the end.

With Game of the Year (GOTY) awards stretching back nearly as long as video games have been an industry, there's a variety of genres and experiences waiting for the player. Lauded as the best of the best, these are the games that should have the best chance of beating the trend of most players not completing video games.

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So, looking at The Game Awards, The Game Developer's Choice Awards, the British Video Game Awards, and The Golden Joystick Awards, which GOTY games have the highest completion rates?

The research for these completion rates comes from Steam Achievements, Xbox Achievements, and PSN Trophies. Games outside these sites were left out. When faced with multiple completion rates on different consoles, we took the sample from the consoles with the highest number of players reporting.

10 Batman: Arkham Asylum

44 Percent Via PSN Trophies (PS3)

  • Voted GOTY by British Video Game Awards

The first of the Batman games created by Rocksteady (and one by WB Games Montréal), this game not only set the tone for the Arkham series but also raised the bar for DC video games. You take on the role of Batman, battling your way through the iconic, and twisted, Arkham Asylum, taking on the most famous members of his rogues' gallery.

The completion rate getting above 40 percent shows how good the game is at guiding you through its dark story.

    9 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

    44 Percent Via PSN Trophies (PS4)

    • Voted GOTY by The Game Awards

    Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

    Action RPG Released March 22, 2019 Developer(s) From Software Publisher(s) Activision Platform(s) PS4, PC, Xbox One Powered by Expand Collapse

    It may be a surprise to see a game known for being difficult have a higher completion rate, but it isn't the only one. Maybe this can be explained by the fact that if you go into a game knowing it's difficult, that probably means you're also determined to beat it. Isn't it also great players that are seeking out challenges?

    Sekiro is a game that trains you to play it the more you do. It requires a high level of precision to best pursue your path to vengeance, and it, clearly, is a game that keeps you trying until you do finally succeed.

    8 Dark Souls 2

    45 Percent Via PSN Trophies (PS3)

    • Voted GOTY Via The Golden Joysticks Awards

    Dark Souls 2

    Action RPG Released March 11, 2014 Developer(s) From Software Publisher(s) Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software Platform(s) PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Xbox One Powered by Expand Collapse

    Despite being one of the games that inspired an entire genre due to its difficulty, Dark Souls 2 has a completion rate of nearly 50 percent. Again, maybe this means that players self-select out, and in, leaving more people ready to actually take on these challenges.

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    Of course, there's something invigorating about failing only to make it through, and Dark Souls certainly gives you that high. It's also beautifully designed, and it allows you to make your own way through, both of which are incentives to keep moving even when you want to quit.

    7 Journey

    46.6 Percent Via Steam

    • Voted GOTY by The Game Developers Choice Awards.

    Journey

    Adventure Released March 13, 2012 Developer(s) Thatgamecompany Publisher(s) Sony Platform(s) PS3, PS4, PC Powered by Expand Collapse

    A short game, at only two hours, you don't play Journey alone. In fact, one of the unique features of the game is how it throws strangers together in a way that has the two of you bonding over the course of your, well, journey.

    One gorgeous landscape, and a memorable protagonist, later, and you've got the recipe for the higher completion rate. Because of the function of helping each other, this game also encourages replay, and there is probably a pretty good chance that if you've beat it once, you'll go back and help someone else do the same.

    6 The Last of Us Part 2

    47.25 Percent Via PSN Trophies (PS4)

    • Voted GOTY by The Game Awards, and The Golden Joystick Awards.

    The Last of Us Part 2

    Action Adventure Released June 19, 2020 Developer(s) Naughty Dog Publisher(s) Sony Platform(s) PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 Powered by Expand Collapse

    The first game in this series had a very low completion rate, but clearly, the developers learned a few lessons between games in order to better balance the game play and story. You take up the roles of Ellie and Abby in the same post-apocalyptic, zombie setting (and you're no longer tasked with keeping track of an NPC).

    The Last of Us takes about 24 hours to play, and it has a variety of game mechanics, neither of which make the game easy to beat. Instead, it seems like people want to reach the end of the game on the strength of the story, and the game play isn't standing in the way of that but facilitating it.

    5 Resident Evil 2

    49.9 Percent Via Steam

    • Voted GOTY by The Golden Joysticks Awards.

    Resident Evil 2

    Horror Released January 25, 2019 Developer(s) Capcom Publisher(s) Capcom Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand Collapse

    A remake, this version of Resident Evil 2 had the benefit of both a well-received classic game and over a decade of feedback from players. With this in mind, the developers decided to not only update the graphics, but also re-imagine the story and game play.

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    You can play the game as either Leon or Claire, and this already gives you some options if you don't like one or the other on the first go. Fans of the series, and those filled with nostalgia for the classic version, no doubt gives a boost to this remake, wanting to experience that same Resident Evil magic again.

    4 God Of War

    50 Percent Via PSN Trophies (PS4)

    • Voted GOTY by The Game Developers Choice Awards, and British Video Game Awards.

    God of War

    Action Adventure Released April 20, 2018 Developer(s) Santa Monica Studio Publisher(s) Sony Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4 Powered by Expand Collapse

    Blending mythology, combat, and strong character writing, God of War is a beloved series as much for the combat sequences as for the strength of the main character, Kratos. This game improves on both. It explores that character further, juxtaposing him with his son, and makes some small adjustments to the combat system.

    Sequels can be disappointing, but God of War lives up to the original with a completion rate of 50 percent.

    3 Portal

    52.3 Percent Via Steam

    • Voted GOTY by The Game Developers Choice Awards

    Portal

    Puzzle Released October 10, 2007 Developer(s) Valve Publisher(s) Valve Platform(s) PC, PS3, Switch, Xbox 360 Powered by Expand Collapse

    Based on a simple puzzle-solving mechanic that gets more complex each level, Portal earned its popularity through snappy writing and clever design that isn't recreated in any other game. Each of the levels build on each other, making progress feel as natural as disobeying GLaDOS.

    The game's popularity is self-perpetuating. The more people talk about its iconic moments, the more new players will want to make their way through the game themselves.

    2 What Remains Of Edith Finch

    57.3 Percent Via Steam

    • Voted GOTY By British Video Game Awards.

    What Remains of Edith Finch

    Adventure Released April 25, 2017 Developer(s) Giant Sparrow Publisher(s) Annapurna Interactive Platform(s) PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, iOS Powered by Expand Collapse

    A breakout indie game that tackles the idea of grief, storytelling, and the power of carrying on, it would be very difficult not to finish What Remains of Edith Finch. A walking simulator, you literally just have to keep moving forward in order to get to the end. This no doubt helps with over half of the people who start the game also finishing it.

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    It does, also, obviously, have a very engaging story that makes the two-and-a-half hour length fly by. If you have the time to watch a movie, you can probably knock out this game in one sitting.

    1 Mass Effect 2

    73 Percent Via PSN Trophies (PS4)

    • Voted GOTY by The Golden Joysticks Awards, and The Game Developers Choice Awards.

    Mass Effect 2

    Action RPG Third-Person Shooter Released January 26, 2010 Developer(s) BioWare Publisher(s) Electronic Arts Platform(s) PS3, Xbox 360, PC Powered by Expand Collapse

    Coming hot off the success of the first game, and taking the feedback on it into consideration, you continue Commander Shepard's story, the developers concerned with making sure the RPG elements and shooting elements blended together.

    With only 27 percent of people not beating Mass Effect 2, the game has an impressive claim to fame as not only GOTY but also a game the majority of players do complete. And this is especially no easy feat with how many players this game has. This rate is from the PS4, which means that it continues to retain players no matter where it's ported to.

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