Honestly, if you were hovering around a message board or scrolling through Twitter in December 2018, you probably remember the tension. It was palpable. Everyone knew the Game Awards were coming up, and everyone knew it was a two-horse race. On one side, you had the technical behemoth that was Red Dead Redemption 2. On the other? A complete reinvention of a PlayStation icon. When God of War won Game of the Year 2018, it wasn't just a win for Sony Santa Monica; it was a massive statement about how we value tight, emotional storytelling over sprawling, simulation-heavy sandboxes.
It’s wild to think about now.
Most people just assumed Rockstar Games had it in the bag. I mean, Red Dead 2 was—and still is—one of the most detailed digital worlds ever constructed. You could watch horse coats get matted with mud. You could see the protagonist’s beard grow in real-time. But when Jeff Keighley announced the winner at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, the room exploded. Kratos had done it. The "Dad of War" era had officially arrived, and the industry changed forever.
The Night God of War Won Game of the Year 2018
The 2018 Game Awards felt different. Usually, there's a clear frontrunner that sweeps everything, but 2018 was stacked. You had Celeste, an indie darling about mental health and precision platforming. There was Spider-Man, which finally gave us a web-swinging mechanic that didn't feel like garbage. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey was there too, proving Ubisoft could actually do a full-blown RPG. Oh, and Monster Hunter: World finally made that franchise click for Western audiences.
But the air was thin at the top.
It really came down to the Cowboy vs. the Ghost of Sparta. Red Dead Redemption 2 actually took home more trophies that night—Best Narrative, Best Score, and Best Audio Design. It seemed like the momentum was squarely in Rockstar's camp. Yet, the big one, the "Big Kahuna," went to Cory Barlog and his team. Why? Because God of War (2018) managed to do something almost impossible: it took a one-dimensional rage-monster from the PS2 era and turned him into a grieving, relatable father.
It was a miracle of direction.
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Why the Critics Sided with Kratos
If you look back at the voting jury—which consists of global media outlets—the consensus was that God of War felt more "cohesive" as a game. Red Dead 2 was beautiful, sure, but it was also clunky. It wanted you to open every single drawer individually. It wanted you to clean your gun. It was a simulation.
God of War was a refined, "no-cut" masterpiece.
Think about that for a second. The entire game, from the moment you start chopping down that tree in the opening scene to the final credits, is one continuous camera shot. No loading screens. No cuts to black. That kind of technical wizardry kept players locked into the relationship between Kratos and Atreus. When God of War won Game of the Year 2018, the industry was basically rewarding a game that respected the player's time while still delivering an "HBO-quality" narrative.
Christopher Judge’s performance as Kratos cannot be understated. He replaced Terrence C. Carson, the original voice, and brought a gravelly, restrained sorrow to the role. In the past, Kratos screamed at gods. In 2018, he whispered "Boy" with more weight than a thousand screams. That shift in tone is precisely why the game resonated. It wasn't just about the Leviathan Axe—which, by the way, feels incredible to throw and recall—it was about the fear of being a bad parent.
The "Red Dead" Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about the runner-up. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a monumental achievement. It holds a 97 on Metacritic. It sold tens of millions of copies. Arthur Morgan is arguably one of the greatest protagonists in fiction, period.
So why didn't it win?
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Some critics pointed to the "Rockstar jank." The shooting mechanics felt a bit dated compared to the fluid combat of God of War. Others were frustrated by the slow pace of the opening chapters in the snow. While Red Dead offered a world you could live in, God of War offered a journey you couldn't put down. It’s the difference between a 1,000-page historical novel and a perfectly paced, 200-page thriller. Both are great. Only one keeps you up until 3:00 AM because you just have to see the next boss.
Also, the "Leviathan Axe" vs "The Lasso."
In terms of pure gameplay loops, hitting a draugr with that axe felt better than almost anything in gaming that year. The haptic feedback, the sound of the metal returning to Kratos' hand—it was tactile perfection. Rockstar's gameplay felt more like guiding a heavy ship through a narrow canal. Beautiful ship, but heavy.
The Legacy of 2018
What happened after God of War won Game of the Year 2018?
Well, it validated Sony’s strategy of "prestige" single-player games. We saw this influence bleed into everything that followed. The "over-the-shoulder" tight camera, the emphasis on a companion character who actually helps in combat (Atreus wasn't an escort mission; he was a tool), and the heavy focus on Norse mythology.
It also set the stage for the 2022 rematch.
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When God of War Ragnarok came out, it faced off against Elden Ring. This time, Kratos didn't take the top prize. But the fact that we were even having that conversation four years later shows how high the 2018 game set the bar. It transformed a franchise that felt like it had run out of steam after God of War: Ascension into the crown jewel of the PlayStation brand.
Key Takeaways from the 2018 Win
If you're looking back at this era of gaming, here’s what you actually need to remember:
- Execution over Scale: God of War had a smaller world than Red Dead, but every inch of it was polished to a mirror shine.
- Character Arc Matters: Turning a violent anti-hero into a soulful father is one of the hardest writing prompts in media. Santa Monica nailed it.
- The "One-Shot" Camera: This wasn't just a gimmick. It removed the barrier between the player and the world, making the journey feel personal.
- Combat Feedback: The Leviathan Axe is a case study in how to make a digital object feel heavy and satisfying.
What You Should Do Now
If you haven't played the 2018 winner, you're genuinely missing out on a piece of history.
- Play it on PC or PS5: The PC port is fantastic, and on PS5, you get a buttery smooth 60 FPS patch that makes the combat feel even more responsive.
- Watch "Raising Kratos": This is a feature-length documentary on YouTube about the making of the game. It shows how close the project came to disaster and how much passion the team poured into it. It’s a must-watch for anyone interested in game dev.
- Don't skip the side content: Unlike most games, the "favors" (side quests) in God of War actually build the world and the bond between father and son. The Valkyrie fights are also some of the best optional challenges in any action game ever made.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: Bear McCreary's score is haunting. The main theme—those three deep notes—perfectly captures the weight of Kratos' past.
The 2018 Game Awards will always be remembered as the year of the "Titan Clash." While both games deserved the crown, God of War took it because it felt like the future of cinematic gaming. It proved that you don't need a thousand hours of content if the twenty hours you provide are life-changing.
Go back and play it. Even years later, that axe throw still feels like magic.