The Game Awards 2025 nominations reveal a clear frontrunner

The Game Awards 2025 has finally revealed its nominees for categories such as Best Racing Game, Best Sports Game, and the coveted Game of the Year. This has been one of the best years for gaming in recent memory. Nintendo launched the Switch 2, the successor to its dominating console and handheld hybrid, and Xbox dipped its own toes into the handheld market with the ROG Xbox Ally.

There have been some incredible hits across the industry from small indies like Blue Prince and Despelote, as well as blockbusters like Doom: The Dark Ages, Split Fiction, and Monster Hunter Wilds. There have also been quite a few late-year surprises like ARC Raiders and Dispatch.

But only one game can take home 2025’s Game of the Year award, and there are only six nominees. Keep reading to learn how to vote in The Game Awards 2025 as well as the full list of categories and nominees, from best indie game to best art direction.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the clear fan favorite to win 2025’s Game of the Year award. Made by a small group of passionate developers in France, this game combines engaging turn-based combat with believable characters to tell one of the most emotional impactful stories this year. Plus, unlike every other game of the year nominee, Expedition 33 isn’t a sequel or franchise title, which may give it an extra edge among players.

Expedition 33 is also leading the pack with a staggering 12 nominations this year in other categories, including Best Art Direction and Best Narrative.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

The sequel to Hideo Kojima’s post-apocalyptic epic, Death Stranding, is another fantastic narrative-driven game with themes about connection, grief, and loss. With Death Stranding 2, Helldivers 2, and Ghost of Yotei, Sony is this year’s most nominated publisher with 19 nominations.

Death Stranding was a nominee for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2019, but ultimately lost out to From Software and Activision’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Let’s see if Kojima can take home the award this time.

Donkey Kong Bananza

Nintendo has taken its ape mascot and created one of the best 3D platformers this year with Donkey Kong Banaza. The camaraderie between Donkey Kong and Daisy is so charming, and the game’s innovative destruction mechanics make it fun to smash the environment into pieces. 

Nintendo has received plenty of Game of the Year nominations throughout the years with games like Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Metroid Dread, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but hasn’t won the category since 2017 with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Hades 2

Hades was 2020’s indie darling. The incredibly addictive “just one more round” roguelite gameplay, appealing cast of characters, and bold comic-book art direction captivated players all across the world. Hades 2 brings more of the same but turns the dial up. With even more gameplay refinements, areas to explore, and deities to meet, it’s no wonder that Hades 2 has received a Game of the Year nomination.

Hades was nominated for Game of the Year in 2020, but lost to The Last of Us Part 2. Now’s another chance for it to win.

Hollow Knight Silksong

Together with Hades 2 and Expedition 33, Hollow Knight Silksong completes the indie trifecta of nominations this year. It’s surprising that this game actually came out this year after numerous delays, but the wait definitely paid off. Its exploration and difficulty are immensely rewarding, making it one of the best 2D platformers in years.

Its predecessor, Hollow Knight, was nominated for Best Debut Indie Game in 2017, but lost to Cuphead. Now, its sequel joined the big leagues with a Game of the Year nomination. Talk about a glow up!

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

This one is a bit of a surprise because for as great as Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is, there are other games that could’ve taken its place in this nomination. The other nominees have stayed in the cultural zeitgeist and were shoe-ins. Still, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s dedication to historical realism and gameplay is impressive, and its story is more emotionally charged than the first game, making it an excellent medieval simulation RPG.

The first game didn’t receive any nominations at previous shows, so it must be exciting for the devs to get their first nomination at The Game Awards, and for the ultimate Game of the Year category, no less.

How to vote in The Game Awards 2025

The Game Awards 2025 takes place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California and will air on December 11. You can vote for your favorite games on The Game Awards website. All you have to do is create an account and sign in to start voting right away. However, the winners aren’t simply chosen by popular vote.

In addition to fan votes, The Game Awards has a “jury of over 100 global media and influencer outlets, selected for their history of critical video game evaluation. Specialized juries also convene for other categories including esports, accessibility and best adaptation.” In the end, “Winners are determined by a blended vote between the voting jury (90%) and public fan voting (10%). Fans can vote for their favorite games on TheGameAwards.com.

The Game Awards 2025: Full list of nominees

Besides the six Game of the Year nominees, here’s the full list of categories and nominations for 2025.

Best Independent Game:

Best Debut Indie Game:

Best Mobile Game:

• Destiny: Rising

• Persona 5: The Phantom X

• Sonic Rumble

• Umamusume: Pretty Derby

• Wuthering Waves

Best Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Game:

• Alien: Rogue Incursion

• Arken Age

• Ghost Town

• Marvel’s Deadpool VR

• The Midnight Walk

Best Action Game:

Best Role-Playing Game:

Best Fighting Game:

• 2XKO

• Capcom Fighting Collection 2

• Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

• Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection

• Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage

Best Family Game:

Best Simulation/Strategy Game:

• The Alters

• Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles

• Jurassic World Evolution 3

• Sid Meier’s Civilization VII

• Tempest Rising

• Two Point Museum

Best Sports/Racing Game:

Best Multiplayer Game:

• ARC Raiders

• Battlefield 6

• Elden Ring Nightreign

• PEAK

• Split Fiction

Best Game Direction:

Best Narrative:

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

• Ghost of Yotei

• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

• Silent Hill f

Best Art Direction:

Best Score and Music:

Best Audio Design:

Best Performance:

• Benn Star in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Charlie Cox in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Erika Ishii in Ghost of Yotei

• Jennifer English in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

• Konatsu Kato in Silent Hill f

• Troy Baker in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Innovation in Accessibility:

Games for Impact:

Best Ongoing Game:

• Final Fantasy XIV

• Fortnite

• Helldivers II

• Marvel Rivals

• No Man’s Sky

Best Community Support:

• Baldur’s Gate III

• Final Fantasy XIV

• Fortnite

• Helldivers II

• No Man’s Sky

Best Game Adaptation:

Most-Anticipated Game:

• 007 First Light

• Grand Theft Auto VI

• Marvel’s Wolverine

• Resident Evil Requiem

• The Witcher IV

Content Creator of the Year:

• Caedrel

• Kai Cenat

• MoistCr1TiKaL

• Sakura Miko

• The Burnt Peanut

Best eSports Game:

Best eSports Athlete:

• brawk – Brock Somerhalder (VALORANT)

• Chovy – Jeong Ji-hoon (League of Legends)

• f0rsakeN – Jason Susanto (VALORANT)

• Kakeru – Kakeru Watanabe (Street Fighter)

• MenaRD – Saul Leonardo (Street Fighter)

• Zyw0o – Mathieu Herbaut (Counter-Strike 2)

Best eSports Team: