Key Takeaways: Nominees for Game of the Year (GOTY) 2025
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive)
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD / Nintendo)
- Hades II (Supergiant Games)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios / Deep Silver)
On December 11, 2025, the flagship video game ceremony returns. Geoff Keighley has revealed the nominations for The Game Awards 2025, and it’s safe to say that this year has been exceptional! From blockbusters to indie gems, from highly anticipated sequels to new IPs, this edition highlights the full diversity of gaming. Here’s a complete overview of the nominees, category by category.
The Race for GOTY 2025: Analysis of the 6 Contenders for the Top Title
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Emerges as the frontrunner with a record 12 nominations. This turn-based RPG, developed by Sandfall Interactive, a thirty-person studio from Montpellier, proves that an indie game can compete with the biggest budgets.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Nominated 8 times, continues Hideo Kojima’s vision with an adventure marked by humanist themes and stunning visuals, powered by the Decima Engine.
Donkey Kong Bananza
Switch 2 exclusive, showcases Nintendo’s expertise with dynamic and inventive platforming. A serious contender, relying on nostalgia and gameplay excellence.
Hades II
(6 nominations) confirms Supergiant Games’ talent. This sequel to the successful roguelike further strengthens the first game’s gameplay and captivates with spectacular art direction.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Nominated 5 times, offers a faster, smoother adventure, led by a new character named Hornet. Despite its challenging difficulty, Team Cherry’s world remains enchanting.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Completes the list with its deeply historical approach. Warhorse Studios delivers an immersive sequel, offering a realistic yet accessible and entertaining vision of the Middle Ages.
Want to compare this list with last year? Take a look at the 2024 GOTY nominations to see how the selection has evolved.
The Complete List of The Game Awards 2025 Nominations, Category by Category
Best Game Direction
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Hades II
- Split Fiction
Clair Obscur shines with its unique mix of turn-based and real-time action. Ghost of Yōtei immerses players in feudal Japan, while Split Fiction continues innovating in narrative co-op gameplay.
Best Narrative
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Silent Hill f
Clair Obscur impresses with its emotional story, while Kingdom Come offers a realistic historical dive. Silent Hill f marks a strong return for the franchise, featuring a compelling narrative and a new heroine.
Best Art Direction
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
Silksong could stand out with its varied and stunning environments, but Clair Obscur also impresses with its Belle Époque-inspired aesthetic.
Best Music and Score
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
Christopher Larkin composes Hollow Knight once again, while Death Stranding 2 relies heavily on French star Woodkid. But Clair Obscur remains the favorite, thanks to Lorien Testard’s unforgettable score.
Best Audio Design
- Battlefield 6
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Silent Hill f
Silent Hill f stands out with its oppressive soundscape. Ghost of Yōtei could also surprise with its meticulously crafted audio immersion.
Best Performance
- Ben Starr (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
- Charlie Cox (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
- Erika Ishii (Ghost of Yōtei)
- Jennifer English (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
- Konatsu Kato (Silent Hill f)
- Troy Baker (Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle)
Clair Obscur dominates this category with 3 actors nominated out of 6! Japanese actress Konatsu Kato is a surprise, being the only non-English-speaking performer recognized, reflecting the authenticity of her role as Hinako.
Innovation in Accessibility
- Assassin's Creed Shadows
- Atomfall
- DOOM: The Dark Ages
- EA Sports FC 26
- South of Midnight
This category highlights initiatives that allow everyone to play, regardless of physical or cognitive abilities.
Games for Impact
- Consume Me
- Despelote
- Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
- South of Midnight
- Wanderstop
This category highlights games with strong messages. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage stands out with its sensitive, personal story, true to the narrative identity of French studio Don’t Nod.
Best Ongoing Game
- Final Fantasy XIV
- Fortnite
- Helldivers II
- Marvel Rivals
- No Man's Sky
In this category rewarding long-term games, No Man’s Sky continues to impress with constant evolution, as does Final Fantasy XIV, still hugely popular over ten years after its release.
Best Community Support
- Baldur's Gate III
- Final Fantasy XIV
- Fortnite
- Helldivers II
- No Man's Sky
Here, communication and listening to players are key. Awarded studios stay closely connected to their community.
Best Independent Game
- Absolum
- Ball x Pit
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
Will Clair Obscur claim this title in addition to GOTY? Absolum by Dotemu also represents France in this prestigious category.
Best Debut Indie
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Despelote
- Dispatch
- Megabonk
Again, Clair Obscur could achieve the historic feat of winning multiple "Best Game" awards alongside GOTY.
Best Mobile Game
- Destiny: Rising
- Persona 5: The Phantom X
- Sonic Rumble
- Umamusume: Pretty Derby
- Wuthering Waves
With ambitious ports like Persona 5, mobile games now play in the big leagues. Competition promises to be fierce!
Best VR/AR Game
- Alien: Rogue Incursion
- Arken Age
- Ghost Town
- Deadpool VR
- The Midnight Walk
This selection reflects the full diversity of VR experiences. From the popularity of Deadpool VR to the originality of The Midnight Walk, there’s something for everyone.
Best Action Game
- Battlefield 6
- DOOM: The Dark Ages
- Hades II
- Ninja Gaiden 4
- Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Ninja Gaiden 4 makes a strong comeback in this ultra-competitive category. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance also represents France in this action-packed selection.
Best Adventure Game
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle
- Split Fiction
In this category, which highlights exploration and discovery, Indiana Jones proves that classic franchises can still innovate, with modern gameplay that respects the series.
Best RPG
- Avowed
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Monster Hunter Wilds
- The Outer Worlds 2
This highly competitive category represents the favorite genre of GreedFall II: The Dying World, Nacon and Spiders’ narrative RPG. Monster Hunter Wilds will have to compete against Clair Obscur.
Best Fighting Game
- 2XKO
- Capcom Fighting Collection 2
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
- Mortal Kombat: Legacy Collection
- Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage
The FGC community eagerly awaited these titles, where victory comes down to input precision. To perfect your technique, check out our guide on Street Fighter 6 arcade sticks.
Best Family Game
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- LEGO Party
- LEGO Voyagers
- Mario Kart World
- Sonic Racing CrossWorlds
- Split Fiction
Nintendo places two titles in this category with Donkey Kong and Mario Kart World, exclusive to its new Switch 2 console.
Best Sim/Strategy Game
- The Alters
- FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles
- Jurassic World Evolution 3
- Sid Meier's Civilization VII
- Tempest Rising
- Two Point Museum
Civilization VII continues to dominate the genre with its addictive gameplay system. But other titles surprised this year, like the colorful Two Point Museum or the intriguing The Alters.
Best Sports/Racing Game
- EA Sports FC 26
- F1 25
- Mario Kart World
- Rematch
- Sonic Racing CrossWorlds
A highly technical category where equipment really makes a difference. To feel every vibration and enjoy an authentic driving experience, a Direct Drive sim racing setup is essential!
Best Multiplayer Game
- ARC Raiders
- Battlefield 6
- Elden Ring Nightreign
- PEAK
- Split Fiction
Arc Raiders achieved spectacular success with over 4 million copies sold in a few weeks. Elden Ring Nightreign marks FromSoftware’s surprising entry into cooperative multiplayer.
Best Adaptation
- Minecraft
- Devil May Cry
- Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
- The Last of Us
- Until Dawn
Video game adaptations have never been of higher quality, and competition in this category is fierce.
Most Anticipated Game
- 007 First Light
- GTA 6
- Marvel's Wolverine
- Resident Evil Requiem
- The Witcher IV
GTA 6 logically dominates this category after years of teasing and near-religious anticipation. The Witcher IV marks CD Projekt RED’s major return after the massive success of the third installment and could also shine here.
Content Creator of the Year
- Caedrel
- Kai Cenat
- Moistcr1tikal
- Sakura Miko
- The Burn Peanut
Caedrel, a League of Legends personality and former pro player, represents the European esports scene with his sharp analysis. Twitch star Kai Cenat is also in the running.
Best Esports Game
- Counter-Strike 2
- DOTA 2
- League of Legends
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- VALORANT
League of Legends continues to dominate globally, with record audiences exceeding 100 million viewers at the Worlds finals, and increasingly spectacular competitions.
Best Esports Athlete
- brawk (NRG - VALORANT)
- Chovy (Gen.G - League of Legends)
- F0rsakeN (Paper Rex - VALORANT)
- Kakeru (Street Fighter)
- MenaRD (Street Fighter)
- ZywOo (Team Vitality - Counter-Strike 2)
ZywOo, the French AWPer from Team Vitality, proudly represents France in this prestigious category.
Best Esports Team
- Gen.G (League of Legends)
- NRG (VALORANT)
- Team Falcons (DOTA 2)
- Team Liquid PH (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang)
- Team Vitality (Counter-Strike 2)
Team Vitality proudly represents France with its CS2 roster, which dominated the European scene in 2025.
To fully enjoy the awarded titles, prepare your setup with the right equipment. Whether you play with PS5 controllers or PC controllers, Nacon helps you get the best experience possible.
Big Absences and Surprises of the 2025 Nominations
Ghost of Yōtei is among the major GOTY snubs despite 8 nominations. Indiana Jones faces the same fate, even with Troy Baker’s praised performance.
Similarly, Josef Fares, who won GOTY in 2021 with It Takes Two, sees his Split Fiction collect 4 nominations but not the most prestigious one.
Monster Hunter Wilds, the commercial hit of the year, only gets one nomination, in the RPG category, facing Clair Obscur.
France shines this year:
- Clair Obscur dominates with 13 nominations
- Absolum shines in the indie category
- Lost Records is nominated in Games for Impact
- Shinobi stands out in action games
On the Nacon side, Hell is Us, Rogue Factor’s action-adventure game, does not appear on the lists despite its qualities and innovative approach to adventure games. Competition was fierce in 2025, and the ceremony always leaves some disappointed!
How to Vote and When to Watch the Ceremony
Public voting is open until December 10, 2025, on the official website. Your vote counts for 10% of the final result—don’t hesitate to support your favorites!
The ceremony will take place on December 11, 2025, starting at 2 AM (French time). You can watch it for free on YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, X, or Amazon Prime Video.
For more details, check our full article on the Game Awards 2025.
