Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • Submit your game clips
  • GDC
  1. Games

All the Golden Joystick Awards winners

Features
By GamesRadar_UK published 31 October 2008

Who walked away from this year's ceremony with a coveted stick of goldness?

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

BBC 1Xtra Soundtrack of the year
Winner: Grand Theft Auto IV
First runner-up: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Second runner-up: Super Mario Galaxy

We say: Ambient, disco, punk, electro, rock, hip-hop, dub, Russian... GTA pretty much covers every - ahem - bass, so what's not to like. Good tunes are every bit as essential as a homicidal mind when running over innocent civilians, and Rockstar - as ever - delivered some sublime music to murder by.

Xbox Game of the Year
Winner: Grand Theft Auto IV
First runner-up: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Second runner-up: Halo 3

We say: We're still impressed by Niko's leetle treep to Liberty City, months after its release. Incredible characters, exciting missions and even the ability to throw drivers through car windshields... it's every kind of game. And of course we've already said how much we love Cod4, but we'll say it again: We love CoD4. Lots and lots. By the way, we wholly agree that both are better than Halo 3. Yeah, deal with it.

Edge Most Wanted Award
Winner: Fallout 3
First runner-up: Resident Evil 5
Second runner-up: Far Cry 2

We say: No, not a game about having a barny with your best mate for the third time this week. Good thing, really, as that would be rubbish. No, this is Oblivion creator Bethesda's new game and it's looking utterly superb. Mind you, Resi 5 probably would have won it if Capcom hadn't announced it was getting Gears of War-style conrols and shown that the enemies all use Resi 4 animations halfway through the vote. D'oh!

Online Game of the Year
Winner: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
First runner-up: Lord of the Rings Online
Second runner-up: World of Warcraft

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

We say: That votes don't lie. COD 4 is so good, it's quite literally a World of Warcraft beater. Who'd have thunk it?

UK Developer of the Year
Winner: Rockstar North
First runner-up: Codemasters
Second runner-up: Lionhead

We say: Not only did they make Grand Theft Auto IV, but they were even nice enough to cover up the nastiest bits of Manhunt 2 after all that BBFC ugliness. Can't be easy to neuter your own game - kudos to you, R* North.

E4 Grand Master Flash award
Winner: Stickman Madness
First runner-up: Strawhat Samurai
Second runner-up: Ants

We say: We haven't played any of them. Sorry. But we're sure they're brilliant. And hope that Status Quo's psychedelic 'Pictures of Matchstick Men' features in the winning game somewhere.


Above: We don't think they actually won that award. They're just holding it

The 'One To Watch' Award
Winner: Call of Duty: World at War
First runner-up: Fable 2
Second runner-up: Gears of War 2

We say: The gargantuan brilliance of Call of Duty 4 has exponentially ramped up expectations of the next CoD, even though it's being put together by a different developer. Can Treyarch better Infinity Ward's masterpiece? That's a very mighty ask. What we've seen and played so far looks promising enough, but, as every out of ideas critic likes to safely sign off with, only time will tell.

Publisher of the Year
Winner: Activision Blizzard
First runner-up: Nintendo
Second runner-up: Rockstar

We say: With such powerhouse franchises as Call of Duty, Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk's filling the pages of Activision's portfolio over the last 12 months, it's no surprise that they bring home the Publisher of the Year bacon. Just nobody mention Soldier of Fortune Payback.

Virgin Media's Ultimate Game of the Year
Winner: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
First runner-up: Grand Theft Auto IV
Second runner-up: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

We say: CoD4 had to win. Whereas GTAIV deserves to be right up there, it's CoD that we're still playing on a nightly basis thanks to its magnificent online multiplayer. It's still selling well too and should get a load more fans this Christmas - especially after this prestigious accolade.


Above: Some people holding the Ultimate Game of the Year award. And probably laughing at how they crushed the competition

  • 1
  • 2

Current page: Page 2

Prev Page Page 1
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Nintendo PlayStation Xbox Platforms
GamesRadar_UK
Latest in Games
Palworld Pal looking shocked
Survival Games Palworld 1.0 won't force you to start over, but the devs "softly recommend" that you do
 
 
A black dragon roaring with a manor house behind it and lighting in the sky during Skyrim.
The Elder Scrolls "The majority of this building is working on The Elder Scrolls 6": Bethesda's focus is on the RPG it revealed in 2018
 
 
Todd Howard Starfield explainer
RPGs Todd Howard was "really, really sorry" to see former Xbox chief Phil Spencer retire
 
 
The Il Toro Shotgun in Arc Raiders
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders update nerfs notorious Il Toro shotgun from basically every angle
 
 
Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky tease shows a weathervane in front of a cloudy background.
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders boss says Marathon has "done a really good job" fixing things after "heavily criticized" technical test
 
 
Arc Raiders
FPS Games Arc Raiders dev Embark Studios confirms co-founder is gone after allegations of misconduct
 
 
Latest in Features
The Future of Starfield branding
The Elder Scrolls Everything Todd Howard told us about The Elder Scrolls 6, Creation Engine 3, and the future of Bethesda RPGs
 
 
The Future of Starfield branding
RPGs Here's the 5 biggest changes coming to Starfield this April, from interplanetary travel to more varied exploration
 
 
A side by side of a character from Hogwarts Legacy with and without DLSS 5
Desktop PCs There's upscaling, and then there's changing a game's art direction, and your GPU should only do one
 
 
Photo of the ear cups of the Skullcandy PLYR 720 wireless gaming headset.
Headsets & Headphones Should you buy an open-back headset for gaming?
 
 
Future Games Show
Games Future Games Show Spring Showcase 2026
 
 
Artwork showing Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, a remake of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, with protagonist Edward Kenway looking out from the side of ship
Assassin's Creed Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced – Everything you need to know about the Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. A black dragon roaring with a manor house behind it and lighting in the sky during Skyrim.
    1
    "The majority of this building is working on The Elder Scrolls 6": Bethesda's focus is on the RPG it revealed in 2018
  2. 2
    Arc Raiders boss says Marathon has "done a really good job" fixing things after "heavily criticized" technical test
  3. 3
    "We were never going to make Mass Effect": Skyrim and Fallout artist says Bethesda had to adapt
  4. 4
    With The Elder Scrolls 6, Todd Howard says Bethesda has "handled" the Creation Engine "better than we ever have"
  5. 5
    New Maul – Shadow Lord trailer teases more duels and a detective hot on the former Sith's heels

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...