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.
Credit: Kojima Productions
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.
Support authors and subscribe to content
This is premium stuff. Subscribe to read the entire article.
