The Game Awards 2025: A Look at a Deep and Diverse Nominee List
The Game Awards 2025 is shaping up to be a night that covers the full spectrum of gaming. From grand role-playing adventures to tight action titles, plus fresh indies and mobile experiences, this year’s slate is packed. The official lineup gives a snapshot of how rich and varied today’s games have become. Below you’ll find every category and the players in the running.
Top Categories and Their Contenders
Game of the Year
– Clair Obscur Expedition 33
– Death Stranding 2 On the Beach
– Donkey Kong Bananza
– Hades 2
– Hollow Knight Silksong
– Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
Best Game Direction
– Clair Obscur Expedition 33
– Death Stranding 2 On the Beach
– Ghost of Yotei
– Hades 2
– Split Fiction
Best Adaptation
– A Minecraft Movie
– Devil May Cry
– The Last of Us Season 2
– Splinter Cell Deathwatch
– Until Dawn
Best Narrative
– Clair Obscur Expedition 33
– Death Stranding 2 On the Beach
– Ghost of Yotei
– Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
– Silent Hill f
Best Art Direction
– Clair Obscur Expedition 33
– Death Stranding 2 On the Beach
– Ghost of Yotei
– Hades 2
– Hollow Knight Silksong
Best Score & Music
– Hollow Knight Silksong
– Hades 2
– Clair Obscur Expedition 33
– Ghost of Yotei
– Death Stranding 2 On the Beach
Best Audio Design
– Battlefield 6
– Clair Obscur Expedition 33
– Death Stranding 2 On the Beach
– Ghost of Yotei
– Silent Hill f
Best Performance
– Ben Starr
– Charlie Cox
– Erika Ishii
– Jennifer English
– Konatsu Kato
– Troy Baker
Innovation in Accessibility
– Assassin’s Creed Shadows
– Atomfall
– Doom The Dark Ages
– EA Sports FC 26
– South of Midnight
Games for Impact
– Consume Me
– Despelote
– Lost Records Bloom and Rage
– South of Midnight
– Wanderstop
Best Ongoing Game
– Final Fantasy XIV
– Fortnite
– Helldivers 2
– Marvel Rivals
– No Man’s Sky
Best Community Support
– Baldur’s Gate 3
– Final Fantasy XIV
– Fortnite
– Helldivers 2
– No Man’s Sky
Best Independent Game
– Absolum
– Ball x Pit
– Blue Prince
– Clair Obscur Expedition 33
– Hades 2
– Hollow Knight Silksong
Best Debut Indie Game
– Blue Prince
– Clair Obscur Expedition 33
– Despelote
– Dispatch
– Megabonk
Best Mobile Game
– Destiny Rising
– Persona 5 The Phantom X
– Sonic Rumble
– Umamusume Pretty Derby
– Wuthering Waves
Best VR/AR Game
– Alien Rogue Incursion
– Arken Age
– Ghost Town
– Marvel’s Deadpool VR
– The Midnight Walk
Best Action Game
– Battlefield 6
– Doom The Dark Ages
– Hades 2
– Ninja Gaiden 4
– Shinobi Art of Vengeance
Best Action/Adventure Game
– Death Stranding 2 On the Beach
– Ghost of Yotei
– Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
– Hollow Knight Silksong
– Split Fiction
Best RPG
– Avowed
– Clair Obscur Expedition 33
– Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
– The Outer Worlds 2
– Monster Hunter Wilds
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
– Donkey Kong Bananza
– LEGO Party
– LEGO Voyagers
– Mario Kart World
– Sonic Racing CrossWorlds
– Split Fiction
Best Sim/Strategy Game
– The Alters
– Final Fantasy Tactics The Ivalice Chronicles
– Jurassic World Evolution 3
– Sid Meier’s Civilization 7
– Tempest Rising
– Two Point Museum
Best Sports/Racing Game
– EA Sports FC 26
– F1 25
– Mario Kart World
– Rematch
– Sonic Racing CrossWorlds
Best Multiplayer Game
– Arc Raiders
– Battlefield 6
– Elden Ring Nightreign
– Peak
– Split Fiction
Most Anticipated Game
– 007 First Light
– Grand Theft Auto 6
– Marvel’s Wolverine
– Resident Evil Requiem
– The Witcher 4
Content Creator of the Year
– Caedrel
– Kai Cenat
– MoistCr1TiKaL
– Sakura Miko
– The Burnt Peanut
Best Esports Game
– Counter-Strike 2
– Dota 2
– League of Legends
– Mobile Legends Bang Bang
– Valorant
Best Esports Athlete
– brawk
– Chovy
– f0rsakeN
– Kakeru
– MenaRD
– Zyw0o
Best Esports Team
– Gen.G
– NRG
– Team Falcons
– Team Liquid PH
– Team Vitality
Players Voice
Nominees to follow
Game Changer Award
Revealed at the event
What this slate means for players and studios
With such a wide mix of titles, the competition feels personal for many studio teams. Big publishers sit beside nimble indie houses, and that blend shows how varied the craft can be. Fans can expect a night that moves from story beats to bold visuals, and from tight gameplay to new ways to play together online.
The ceremony will crown winners in each category during the show, giving studios a chance to celebrate and fans a moment to cheer. The lineup mirrors a year when many studios pushed for stronger stories, more striking art, and music that sticks. It also highlights how mobile and VR experiences have grown into serious parts of the scene, not just add-ons.
As always, the event promises moments that spark debate and delight. Expect surprise wins, heartfelt speeches, and a few nods to the games that quietly shaped the year. The night should feel like a snapshot of where games stand today—bridging bold ideas with solid design and broad appeal.
Developers, players, and publishers alike will tune in to see who takes home the top prizes. The winners will land during the broadcast, ready to spark conversation and set the tone for the year ahead. It’s a night that celebrates how far games have come and where they might go next.
For fans, this is a chance to revisit favorites and discover hidden gems. For creators, it serves as a public stamp of approval and a sign of what audiences value most. Either way, The Game Awards 2025 is shaping up to be a memorable showcase of the art and craft of modern games.
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