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Epic RPG The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has walked away the star of this year’s Golden Joysticks awards, taking five prizes at today’s ceremony.
CD Projekt Red’s PC, PS4 and Xbox One title was bestowed with the Best Storytelling, Best Visual Design, Best Gaming Moment and coveted Ultimate Game of the Year trophies.
In addition, the developer itself was recognised as the Studio of the Year.
Grand Theft Auto V also emerged a victor, claiming four prizes.
The introduction of a first-person mode in the PS4, Xbox One and PC versions of Rockstar’s open-world crime title was namedInnovation of the Year, with GTA V also named asBest PC Game and swiping the PlayFire Most Played Award.
Meanwhile, the game’s multiplayer mode, Grand Theft Auto Online, was proclaimed as the Best Multi-Player experience of the last 12 months.
The PS4-exclusive spiritual successor to the Souls series, Bloodborne, fought off competition to win the Best Original Game and Best PlayStation Game divisions.
Meanwhile, Xbox and PC title Ori and the Blind Forest won Best Audio and Best Xbox Game.
Wii U shooter Splatoon picked up Best Family Game and Best Nintendo Game.
Over on mobile, Fallout Shelter was voted Best Mobile Game, while its upcoming console sibling Fallout 4 was named as the Most Wanted Game – a prize previously claimed by The Witcher 3.
In a bittersweet announcement, Nintendo’s late CEO Satoru Iwata was honoured with the Joysticks’ Lifetime Achievement Award. Iwata passed away earlier this year at the age of 55.
Kerbal Space Program took away Best Indie Game; YouTube sensation PewDiePie claimed the Gaming Personality Award for another year running and eSports Icon went to Counter-Strike GO’s Anders Blume.
Elsewhere, Ashly Burch, who portrays Chloe in Life Is Strange, was recognised as the Best Gaming Performance and Sam Barlow’s indie full-motion video hit Her Story won the inaugural Breakthrough Award.
Steam, once again, was voted Best Gaming Platform.
The first-ever Critic’s Choice prize went to Hideo Kojima’s swansong, Metal Gear Solid V: the Phantom Pain, after a close battle that saw the winner decided by a single vote.
Nine million votes were cast in the judging process, which is decided by consumers.
