God of War Won Game of the Year Over RDR2 in 2018

2018‘s Game Awards crowned a new king, as Santa Monica Studio‘s epic God of War reboot bested tough competition to claim the coveted Game of the Year award. The father-son tale of Kratos and Atreus faced its strongest challenger in Rockstar‘s Red Dead Redemption 2, but ultimately emerged victorious due to refined gameplay, a bold new narrative direction, and stunning visual presentation.

The Heavyweight Contenders

God of War released in April 2018 as a re-imagining of the hack-and-slash franchise. The once vengeance-driven Kratos now journeyed through a stirring Norse mythological world with his young son Atreus in tow. Red Dead Redemption 2 dropped in October, ambitiously evolving Rockstar‘s open world design with immense depth and detail across its cowboy-themed frontier (see data comparison below).

Both titles enjoyed strong critical reception and sales, cementing their status as two of the most impactful releases in gaming history. On paper, RDR2 perhaps boasted greater scope and commercial success. Yet God of War offered focus – and the divine magic to take down a giant.

Trading Blows: Reasons for God of War‘s GoTY Win

In many ways, God of War and RDR2 represented a clash of philosophical game design ideals:

• Narrative Focus: RDR2‘s sprawling open world and plethora of systems took precedence over storytelling. Meanwhile, God of War centered the purposeful, emotional journey of Kratos and his son.
• Accessibility: RDR2 gameplay catered more toward hardcore gamers with intricate systems to master. God of War smoothed out difficulty barriers in combat and traversal to welcome a broader audience.
• Innovation: While RDR2 iterated staggeringly well on the open world blueprint, God of War‘s reinvention of a beloved franchise felt bolder and more surprising to many.

By streamlining systems and putting story first, God of War gave players razor-sharp focus and room to invest in its characters‘ bonds. As director Cory Barlog stated, "We guided everything through the lens of that relationship between father and son." Aligning gameplay with narrative resonated deeply with fans and critics.

Meanwhile, Red Dead Redemption 2‘s granular attention to open world minutiae and gunplay could sometimes overwhelm its poignant tale of loyalty and loss among the Van der Linde gang. This may have dulled its emotional impact next to God of War‘s concentrated narrative power.

Ultimately, by leaning into bold creative choices like a single-take camera and totally revamped combat style, God of War showcased innovation and accessibility that made it feel remarkably fresh despite its iconic legacy.

The Divine Journey Continues

Since 2018, God of War Ragnarok has shipped over 11 million copies as of February 2023, further cementing Kratos and Atreus‘s saga as a commercial and critical titan. Red Dead Online has sustained a loyal community, though not likely on the scale Rockstar envisioned. Much like 2018, God of War once again appears to hold greater cultural momentum.

By stripping away past franchise baggage for a more intimate portrait of a father and son, God of War tapped into something profound and beautiful. For this divine balancing act of old and new, God of War continues its deserved ascension as both games stand tall among gaming‘s greatest exemplars.