What are your GOTY choices from 1997 to 2009?

This idea came from the AIAS Awards, since it started from 1997. I would like to ask what were your choices for GOTY from 1996 to 2009? 
 
These are my GOTY picks: 
 

• 1997: The Last Express (It's a very overlooked masterpiece from Jordan Mechner, the creator of the Prince of Persia series.)
• 1998: Half-Life tied with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
• 1999: Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings
• 2000: Deus Ex
• 2001: Shenmue 2 (I bought the European version for the Dreamcast)
• 2002: Metroid Prime
• 2003: Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
• 2004: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
• 2005: Resident Evil 4
• 2006: Okami
• 2007: Super Mario Galaxy
• 2008: World of Goo 
• 2009: Demon Souls

*sighs* views and my thread still doesn't have any replies.

You have quite diverse tastes. Lot of different game varieties there, and about half of them Japanese and the other half Western. I like that in people's lists. Also, Age of Empires II, fuckin-a!

" @DoctorOptimist:  I've seen threads like this before.  The problem I have and I assume a lot of people have is it's hard to make a list like this.  I have a hard time remembering what games came out in 2008 let alone what I was playing in 1997, or God forbid earlier.  It's a cool idea but it's hard for people to reply. "

• 97 - Star Fox 64
• 98 - Tekken 3
• 99 - Super Smash Bros./Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
  
• 00 - Vagrant Story/Counter-Strike
• 01 - Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
• 02 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City/Halo
• 03 - Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne/Call of Duty
  
• 04 - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
• 05 - Call of Duty 2/Jade Empire/Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
  
• 06 - Gears of War
• 07 - Halo 3
• 08 - Grand Theft Auto IV
• 09 - Battlefield 1943
  

1997: Final Fantasy VII
1998: Ocarina of Time
1999: Final Fantasy VIII
2000: Chrono Cross
2001: Final Fantasy X
2002: Kingdom Hearts
2003: Fire Emblem 7
2004: Metal Gear Solid 3
2005: Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
2006: Baten Kaitos: Origins
2007: Super Mario Galaxy
2008: Metal Gear Solid 4
2009: New Super Mario Bros. Wii
 
This is what I used to look through the years. I would say there aren't going to be niche games, but Baten Kaitos Origins was listed, and that's my niche game (everyone has at least one, and most people only have one...like me). Some of my decisions might be questionable to some (2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009), but trust me. There were some close calls in there. 
 
You can probably also tell what kind of games I like...they're all made by Japanese people and are from either Nintendo, Square SOFT, or Kojima.

"2009: Modern Warfare 2"

97: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (originally Star Fox 64, bad at dates)
98: Pokemon Red and Blue 
99: Final Fantasy VIII 
00: Skies of Arcadia 
01:  Silent Hill 2
02: Rez
03: Prince of Persia Sands of Time
04: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
05: Killer7
06: Elite Beat Agents or Final Fantasy XII, 06 kind of sucked for games, neither of these are ones I'd fight too hard for. 
07: Portal, though Mass Effect is a close 2nd
08: Fallout 3, Mirrors Edge, and No More Heroes are all strong contenders. Probably Fallout
09: Batman: Arkham Asylum 
 
Game series that exist in this time that I feel bad about not putting on here: the portable Castlevanias, though SotN is the best and came out in 96; (EDIT: I'm an idiot, and SotN is apparently 97, list updated to reflect that) and the Professor Layton games, which are never the best but always awesome.

" @CitizenKane said:

"2009: Modern Warfare 2"

 Really? "

Here's my list. If some of the releases seem screwed up, that's because I'm European.

• 1997: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
• 1998: Metal Slug 2
• 1999: Pokemon Blue
• 2000: Metal Slug 3
• 2001: Pokemon Gold
• 2002: Project Zero
• 2003: Pokemon Sapphire
• 2004: Project Zero II: Crimson Butterfly
• 2005: Resident Evil 4
• 2006: Okami
• 2007: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption / Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (if enhanced ports are eligible) / God Hand
• 2008: Dead Space / Fallout 3
• 2009: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4

The OP's list is pretty kickass (OKAMI WOO!!!11), but I'll reserve this spot for my list later.

I'll give it a try...
1997: Goldeneye 007
1998: Half-Life
1999: Super Smash Bros.
2000: Counter-Strike
2001: Super Smash Bros: Melee
2002: Metroid Prime
2003: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
2004: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
2005: Resident Evil 4
2006: Gears of War
2007: Bioshock / Mass Effect
2008: Fallout 3 / Gears of War 2
2009: Batman: Arkham Asylum
2010: Mass Effect 2 (so far)

" 97: Star Fox 6498: Pokemon Red and Blue 99: Final Fantasy VIII 00: Skies of Arcadia 01:  Silent Hill 202: Rez03: Prince of Persia Sands of Time04: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater05: Killer706: Elite Beat Agents or Final Fantasy XII, 06 kind of sucked for games, neither of these are ones I'd fight too hard for. 07: Portal, though Mass Effect is a close 2nd08: Fallout 3, Mirrors Edge, and No More Heroes are all strong contenders. Probably Fallout09: Batman: Arkham Asylum  Game series that exist in this time that I feel bad about not putting on here: the portable Castlevanias, though SotN is the best and came out in 96; and the Professor Layton games, which are never the best but always awesome. "

1997 -  Age of Empires /   Need for Speed II
1998 - Fifa World Cup 98 
1999 -  GTA 2 / Unreal Tournament / FIFA 99
2000 -  Soldier of Fortune
2001 -  Max Payne / Halo: Combat Evolved
2002 -  ?
2003 -  Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne / Call of Duty 
2004 -  GTA: San Andreas / Half-Life 2
2005 -  Battlefield 2
2006 -  Gears of War
2007 -  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare / Crysis
2008 - GTA IV
2009 - Assassin's Creed 2 /  Batman: Arkham Asylum
2010 - Red Dead Redemption

• 1997: Final Fantasy VII
• 1998: Pokemon Red and Blue
• 1999: Sonic Adventure
• 2000: Shenmue
• 2001: Grand Theft Auto III
• 2002: Kingdom Hearts
• 2003: The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
• 2004: ESPN NFL 2K5
• 2005: Shadow of the Colossus
• 2006: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
• 2007: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
• 2008: Grand Theft Auto IV
• 2009: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
• 2010 So Far...: Red Dead Redemption

" @CitizenKane said:

"2009: Modern Warfare 2"

 Really? "

" *sighs* views and my thread still doesn't have any replies. "

• 1997: Star Fox 64
  
• 1998: Starcraft
  
• 1999: Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
  
• 2000: Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 / Pokemon Gold/Silver
  
• 2001: Final Fantasy X
  
• 2002: Kingdom Hearts
  
• 2003: Beyond Good & Evil / Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
  
• 2004: Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
  
• 2005: Shadow of the Colossus / Resident Evil 4
  
• 2006: Okami
  
• 2007: Bioshock / Super Mario Galaxy
  
• 2008: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
  
• 2009: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

• 1997: FF VII 
• 1998: Half Life 
• 1999:   Unreal Tournamnet/   Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike    
• 2000: The Sims    
• 2001: Halo    
• 2002: Kingdom Hearts(Its been that long!!)
• 2003: Freedom Fighters
• 2004: San Andreas
• 2005: Battlefield 2
• 2006: Gears Of War
• 2007: Mass Effect
• 2008: Fallout 3
• 2009:  Batman: Arkham Asylum/Street Fighter IV
• 2010: So far Mass Effect 2

1997: Lego Island
 
I might do the rest of the years later, its just that whenever i think of 1997, lego island is the first thing that pops into my head. Even though i dont think ive even played it since 1997 and still replay other games from that year.

1997: Final Fantasy VII
1998: Pokemon Red and Blue
1999: Sonic Adventure
2000: Jet Set Radio
2001: Super Smash Bros. Melee
2002: Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
2003: Need For Speed: Underground
2004: Halo 2
2005: Resident Evil 4
2006: Mother 3
2007: Mass Effect
2008: Saints Row 2
2009: Borderlands
 
It was hard for me to remember some of these games so I did my best although I might have left out a few here and there.

• 1997: Star Fox 64
• 1998: Half-Life
• 1999: Counter Strike
• 2000: Pokemon Silver
• 2001: Max Payne
• 2002: Kingdom Hearts
• 2003: Max Payne 2
• 2004: Half-Life 2
• 2005: Fahrenheit
• 2006: Half- Life 2: Episode 1
• 2007: Mass Effect
• 2008: Dead Space
• 2009: Dragon Age: Origins

I'm not going to make a complete  list mainly because I only got into games during the 2000s and even so I'm only a kid so I can't play every game that's come out since 1997. Though I have played some older games, and pretty much every other popular SNES game is my GOTY for 1997-1999. 
 
1999: Silent Hill
2000: The Sims
2001: Halo:CE is the winner, but I had more fun with Max Payne, Pikmin and Paper Mario. However their sequels were much better. 
2002: Super Mario Sunshine. I just started Mafia and so far it seems like it could easily take it's place for me. I need to get Metroid Prime apparently.
2003: Good year. I have to go with Viewtiful Joe.
2004: Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
2005: Nothing for now. Probably Jade Empire/Psychonauts.
2006: Half Life 2
2007: Portal
2008: Fallout 3
2009: Dragon Age: Origins

1997   Fallout
1998   Grim Fandango
1999   Homeworld
2000   The Longest Journey
2001   Max Payne
2002   Syberia
2003   Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
2004   Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
2005   Civilization IV
2006   Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
2007   Mass Effect
2008   Fallout 3
2009   Dragon Age: Origins
2010   Mass Effect 2 (so far)

Note: Some of these games I did not play during their original release year, but have placed them within their appropriate year for consistency.

• 1997: Goldeneye 007
• 1998: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
• 1999: Super Smash Bros.
• 2000: Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2
  
• 2001: Halo: Combat Evolved/ Grand Theft Auto 3
  
• 2002: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
  
• 2003: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
  
• 2004: Halo 2/ World of Warcraft/ Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
  
• 2005: Shadow of the Colossus
  
• 2006: Gears of War
  
• 2007: Portal
  
• 2008: Fallout 3
• 2009: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
• 2010: Mass Effect 2 (so far)
  

These are fascinating lists. They say a lot about individual tastes as you'd expect, but also which games manage to break through and become all-around favorites.

 Gah, some years were really hard to work out =|

• 1997: Fallout
  
• 1998: Grim Fandango
  
• 1999: System Shock 2
• 2000: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
  
• 2001: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
  
• 2002: Metroid Fusion
  
• 2003: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
  
• 2004: Half-Life 2
  
• 2005: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
  
• 2006: Mother 3
  
• 2007: Bioshock
  
• 2008: Braid
  
• 2009: Borderlands

" @CitizenKane said:

"2009: Modern Warfare 2"

 Really? "

1997: Harvest Moon 
1998: Ocarina of Time 
1999: Final Fantasy VIII 
2000: Diablo 2
2001: Grand Theft Auto III 
2002: The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind / Mafia 
2003: Beyond Good And Evil 
2004: Halo 2
2005: Black And White 2
2006: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
2007: Mass Effect
2008: Grand Theft Auto IV
2009: Dragon Age: Origins / Uncharted 2 
2010: So far (and probably the one)... Mass Effect 2

What I'd like to know is why that odd range of years.  Why start at 1997?  

Anyway, here is my list.  I tried to recall games I played the most those years.  Some games like World of Warcraft, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 and Civilization IV would become favorites a couple of years after their initial release.  They probably would have taken the awards had I discovered them when they came out and not much later on.

1997 - Quake II
1998 - Half-Life
1999 (tie)  -  Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri - System Shock 2
2000 - Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
2001 - Halo Combat Evolved
2002 - MechAssault
2003 - Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
2004 - Burnout 3: Takedown
2005 - Call of Duty 2
2006 - Elder Scolls IV: Oblivion
2007 - Crackdown
2008 - Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
2009 - Dragon Age: Origins
2010 (inc) - Mass Effect 2

" @CitizenKane said:

"2009: Modern Warfare 2"

 Really? "

2000: The Sims 
2001: Conker's Bad Fur Day 
2002: Kingdom Hearts 
2003: Ratchet and Clank 2: Locked and Loaded. 
2004: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas 
2005: Tekken 5 
2006: Kingdom Hearts 2 
2007: Mass Effect/Crysis 
2008: Persona 4 
2009: InFAMOUS 

" @Ace829: Yeah, but sometimes, taste comes into play. Modern Warfare 2 is filled with flaws, it's the equivalent of a Michael Bay movie. Even though, it's not as bad as the latest Transformers movie. "

• 1997: Goldeneye 007
• 1998: Half Life
• 1999: Pokemon Snap
• 2000: Pokemon Gold and Silver I suppose, 2000 was kinda a wash
• 2001: GTA3
• 2002: Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4
  
• 2003: Rise of Nations
• 2004: GTA: SA
• 2005: Shadow of the Colossus or Civ 4 (can't decide)
• 2006: Final Fantasy 12 or Bully
• 2007: Stalker: SoC, Persona 3 or the Orange Box (don't make me choose D: )
• 2008: Persona 4 (Tales of Vesperia came close though)
• 2009: Left 4 Dead 2
  
• 2010: Metro 2033 or Call of Pripyat or Strange Journey or Alpha Protocol (shut up)
  

" @PenguinDust: Actually, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri was released at 1999. I will say, that I really love that game to bits. It's my runner-up for GOTY, it even beat System Shock 2 to that place. "

1997:  Final Fantasy VII
1998:  StarCraft
1999: System Shock 2
2000: Diablo II
2001: Final Fantasy X
2002: The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
2003: Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
2004: Half-Life 2
2005: Call of Duty 2/ Guild Wars
2006: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
2007: Bioshock
2008: Grand Theft Auto IV
2009: Batman: Arkham Asylum

1997: Fallout 1
1998: Metal Gear Solid
1999: System Shock 2
2000: Deus Ex or Majora's Mask
2001: Metal Gear Solid 2
2002: The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind
2003:
2004: Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
2005:
2006: Metal Gear Solid 3 Subsistence
2007: Persona 3
2008: Metal Gear Solid 4
2009: Demon's Souls
2010:Strange Journey