The Game Awards has officially revealed its list of nominees for 2025. This year’s lineup is one of the strongest in recent years, with a wide mix of new IPs, returning franchises, and highly anticipated sequels. A global jury of more than 150 media publications and creator outlets selected all nominees.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads with an impressive 12 nominations. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yotei follow with eight nominations each. Hades II has secured six nominations, while Hollow Knight: Silksong has five. Split Fiction also performed well with four nominations.
Sony Interactive Entertainment is the most nominated publisher this year, with a total of 19 nominations across its games. Kepler Interactive follows with 13. Electronic Arts and Microsoft are tied with 10 nominations each.
Voting is now live on the official website. Users can vote in all categories using authenticated online voting. Voting ends on December 10 at 6:00 p.m. PT or 9:00 p.m. ET.
The Game Awards 2025 will take place on December 11 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The event will feature awards, world premiere trailers, new game announcements, live performances by The Game Awards Orchestra led by Lorne Balfe, and more surprises.
Here is the complete list of nominees for 2025.
Game of the Year
Recognizing a game that delivers the best overall experience across creative and technical fields.
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Best Game Direction
Awarded for outstanding creative vision and innovation in direction and design.
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yotei
- Hades II
- Split Fiction
Best Narrative
For outstanding storytelling and narrative development.
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yotei
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Silent Hill f
Best Art Direction
For excellence in artistic design and animation.
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yotei
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Score and Music
For exceptional soundtrack, score, or original song.
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yotei
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Audio Design
Recognizing outstanding in game sound and audio design.
- Battlefield 6
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yotei
- Silent Hill f
Best Performance
Awarded for voice acting, motion capture, and performance capture.
- 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
Recognizing features that improve accessibility for more players.
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows
- Atomfall
- DOOM: The Dark Ages
- EA Sports FC 26
- South of Midnight
Games for Impact
For meaningful games with strong social messages.
- Consume Me
- despelote
- Lost Records: Bloom and Rage
- South of Midnight
- Wanderstop
Best Ongoing Game
For outstanding continued development and evolving player experiences.
- Final Fantasy XIV
- Fortnite
- Helldivers II
- Marvel Rivals
- No Man’s Sky
Best Community Support
For transparency, responsiveness, and quality updates.
- Baldur’s Gate III
- Final Fantasy XIV
- Fortnite
- Helldivers II
- No Man’s Sky
Best Independent Game
For creative and technical excellence in indie games.
- Absolum
- BALL x PIT
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Debut Indie Game
For the best first game from a new studio.
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- despelote
- Dispatch
- Megabonk
Best Mobile Game
For the best experience on mobile.
- Destiny: Rising
- Persona 5: The Phantom X
- Sonic Rumble
- Umamusume: Pretty Derby
- Wuthering Waves
Best VR / AR Game
For the best virtual or augmented reality experience.
- Alien: Rogue Incursion
- Arken Age
- Ghost Town
- Marvel’s Deadpool VR
- The Midnight Walk
Best Action Game
For the best combat focused action game.
- Battlefield 6
- DOOM: The Dark Ages
- Hades II
- NINJA GAIDEN 4
- SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance
Best Action / Adventure
For games that combine combat, traversal, and puzzles.
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yotei
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Split Fiction
Best Role-Playing Game
For rich progression systems and character customization.
- Avowed
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Monster Hunter Wilds
- The Outer Worlds 2
Best Fighting Game
For outstanding head to head combat.
- 2XKO
- Capcom Fighting Collection 2
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
- Mortal Kombat: Legacy Collection
- Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage
Best Family Game
For the best family friendly experience.
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- LEGO Party
- LEGO Voyagers
- Mario Kart World
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
- Split Fiction
Best Simulation / Strategy
For real time or turn based strategy and simulation excellence.
- 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
For the best sports or racing experience.
- EA Sports FC 26
- F1 25
- Mario Kart World
- REMATCH
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Best Multiplayer
For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay.
- ARC Raiders
- Battlefield 6
- Elden Ring Nightreign
- PEAK
- Split Fiction
Best Adaptation
For the best adaptation of a game into another entertainment medium.
- A Minecraft Movie
- Devil May Cry
- Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
- The Last of Us Season 2
- Until Dawn
Most Anticipated Game
For the most exciting announced upcoming game.
- 007 First Light
- Grand Theft Auto VI
- Marvel’s Wolverine
- Resident Evil Requiem
- The Witcher IV
Content Creator of the Year
For positive community impact.
- Caedrel
- Kai Cenat
- MoistCr1TiKaL
- Sakura Miko
- The Burnt Peanut
Best eSports Game
For the best overall esports experience.
- Counter-Strike 2
- DOTA 2
- League of Legends
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- VALORANT
Best eSports Athlete
For outstanding player performance and conduct.
- brawk
- Chovy
- f0rsakeN
- Kakeru
- MenaRD
- Zyw0o
Best eSports Team
Recognizing the top esports team.
- Gen.G
- NRG
- Team Falcons
- Team Liquid PH
- Team Vitality
