Yes. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2017. The ceremony also recognized the game for Best Game Direction, according to the awards’ archive, while Nintendo’s contemporaneous recap lists Best Action/Adventure Game among its wins.
What did Breath of the Wild win?
The Game Awards’ 2017 archive names Breath of the Wild the Game of the Year winner and also lists it as the winner of Best Game Direction. Nintendo’s November 17, 2017 awards recap adds Best Action/Adventure Game at the same ceremony. Together, these sources document three awards; their lists cover different subsets.
The Game Awards archive says Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi accepted the Game of the Year honor. It does not provide a quotation from either of them about accepting it.
When and where was the ceremony?
The fourth Game Awards ceremony took place on Thursday, December 7, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater. The organizer reported 11.5 million viewers for the live show. That is The Game Awards’ historical figure for the 2017 ceremony, not an independently audited count or a measure of current viewership.
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- Discover Hyrule as never before: by making your own path, choices, and consequences
- Ingenuity is the key to survival: find multiple solutions to tons of dynamic puzzles
- Surprises hide around every corner: scavenge weapons, armor, plants, animals, and more
- Live off the land: find weapons and armor, cook food, and brew elixirs
- Utilize special technology: the in-game Sheikah Slate controls, objects and enemies in fun ways
Which game and platforms did the award recognize?
The Japan Game Awards’ 2017 entry identifies Nintendo as both developer and publisher, gives March 3, 2017 as the release date, and lists Nintendo Switch and Wii U as platforms. Nintendo’s Switch product page also identifies the game as Nintendo Switch software and gives the same release date.
Why did the Japan Game Awards recognize the game?
The Japan Game Awards entry describes an expansive adventure with puzzles, distinctive characters, and a large story, emphasizing that players can decide how to explore and which activities to pursue. Its rationale mentions options such as hunting, fighting monsters, and visiting scenic areas. It also quotes the phrases “Just walking is very fun” and “I can do everything I want” as audience reactions; the page does not identify individual speakers or present them as results from a representative survey.
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- Enhanced resolution, framerates, and load times optimized for Nintendo Switch 2.
- Explore a massive open-air version of Hyrule with complete freedom.
- Solve physics-based puzzles, survive dynamic weather, and uncover hidden secrets.
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- Use the ZELDA NOTES app for bonuses, item sharing, and social features.
What does “Game of the Year” mean here?
It refers specifically to The Game Awards’ 2017 result, not a single universal award. Nintendo’s recap also records wins at other award ceremonies, including the Golden Joystick Awards, but those are separate honors and should not be confused with The Game Awards’ Game of the Year title.
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Rank #3
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- Discover Hyrule as never before: by making your own path, choices, and consequences
- Ingenuity is the key to survival: find multiple solutions to tons of dynamic puzzles
- Surprises hide around every corner: scavenge weapons, armor, plants, animals, and more
- Live off the land: find weapons and armor, cook food, and brew elixirs
- Utilize special technology: the in-game Sheikah Slate controls objects and enemies in fun ways
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