Golden Joystick Awards 2025: Shortlist Goes Live With Big Names Aiding the Vote
The 43rd Golden Joystick Awards has released its 2025 shortlist. Voting is now live, powered by MSI as the voting partner. The deadline lands at 5pm PDT, 8pm EDT, or midnight GMT on Friday, October 31, 2025.
A World of Votes and a Star-Studded Night in London
These awards pull in a global crowd, with players from around the world choosing the winners. Often called the People’s Gaming Awards, the event drew more than 12 million votes last year across over 20 categories. The winning names will be shown in a glamorous ceremony in central London and streamed to viewers worldwide on November 20, 2025.
Categories, Noms, and the Front-Runners
This year, there are 21 voting categories, including Console Game of the Year and PC Game of the Year. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from Kepler Interactive and Sandfall Interactive leads with six nods, a haul that includes Studio of the Year. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ghost of Yōtei, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II each grab four nominations. Indie hits Hollow Knight: Silksong, Sword of the Sea, and PEAK also rack up multiple nominations.
Important Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
Fans should note that the Ultimate Game of the Year shortlist isn’t shown until Monday, November 3. Voting in that top category opens the same day. A new set of winners will be announced at the awards night, along with other surprise honors.
Sample Nominations Across Major Categories
Best Storytelling
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- SILENT HILL f
- Blue Prince
- Mafia: The Old Country
- Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
- The Hundred Line – Last Defense Academy
Best Multiplayer Game
- Battlefield 6
- PEAK
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN
- Split Fiction
- Mario Kart World
- REMATCH
Best Visual Design
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- The Midnight Walk
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Sword of the Sea
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Best Indie Game
- Blue Prince
- Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
- Wanderstop
- Skin Deep
- despelote
- Herdling
- Abiotic Factor
- Baby Steps
- Caves of Qud
- Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
Best Indie Game – Self Published
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Hades II
- Sword of the Sea
- PEAK
- Keep Driving
- Spilled!
- Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders
- DELTARUNE
- Promise Mascot Agency
- Consume Me
More Highlights From the Nomination List
Still Playing Award – PC and Console
- Minecraft
- Dead by Daylight
- HELLDIVERS 2
- NARAKA: BLADEPOINT
- Satisfactory
- Call of Duty: Warzone
- Marvel Rivals
- Fortnite
- Apex Legends
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege X
- GTA Online
- Warframe
Still Playing Award – Mobile
- Call of Duty: Mobile
- Pokémon GO
- Subway Surfers
- Clash Royale
- Honkai: Star Rail
- Genshin Impact
- Zenless Zone Zero
- Roblox
- Free Fire
- PUBG MOBILE
Best Remake / Remaster
- METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
- Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
- The Talos Principle: Reawakened
- Gears of War: Reloaded
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4
Studio of the Year and Key Expansions
Studio of the Year contenders include Team Cherry, Sandfall Interactive, Aggro Crab and Landfall, Bloober Team, Sloclap, and Rebellion. The Best Game Expansion field features Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants, Lies of P: Overture, No Man’s Sky: Voyagers, Atomfall Story Expansion Pack: The Red Strain, Assassin’s Creed Shadows – Claws of Awaji, and Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest.
Sound, Music, and Cast Categories
Best Audio Design lists Ghost of Yōtei, Battlefield 6, Donkey Kong Bananza, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Two Point Museum, and Cronos: The New Dawn. Best Soundtrack features Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South of Midnight, SILENT HILL f, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream, DELTARUNE, and Sword of the Sea. Lead and Supporting Performer awards go to a range of actors across the nominated games.
Hardware, Adaptations, and Trailers on Deck
PC Game of the Year includes Hollow Knight: Silksong, The Alters, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, PEAK, Abiotic Factor, and Dune: Awakening. Console Game of the Year offers Donkey Kong Bananza, Monster Hunter Wilds, Ghost of Yōtei, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, and Mario Kart World. Best Early Access Game features Grounded 2, Schedule I, 9 Kings, R.E.P.O., skate., and White Knuckle. Best Gaming Hardware points to Switch 2, Switch 2 Pro Controller, WD_BLACK SN8100 SSD, Elgato Facecam 4K, Razer Blade 16, and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D. Best Game Adaptation covers Devil May Cry (Netflix), Arcane Season 2 (Netflix), The Last of Us Season 2 (HBO), A Minecraft Movie (Warner Bros.), Secret Level (Prime Video), and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Paramount).
Who Selects the Winners?
A panel of journalists from outlets like GamesRadar, PCGamer, FGS, Edge, and Retro Gamer, plus Future’s network of writers, will pick extra winners. The final honors will be handed out during the live ceremony.
Where to Learn More
For full details, visit Golden Joystick Awards 2025 and follow the event on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
The 43rd Golden Joystick Awards shortlist and voting is now LIVE. Voting runs through October 31, 2025. Follow Enduins for more on winners and nominees.
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