The Game Awards 2025 Nominees Are Here – And It's a Bloodbath for Game of the Year

The gaming world's biggest night just got its official lineup, and wow – 2025 has been an absolute monster year. Nominees for The Game Awards 2025 dropped yesterday via Geoff Keighley's livestream, and they're stacked with indie darlings, Kojima weirdness, and Nintendo chaos. The ceremony hits the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on December 11, 2025, streaming live on YouTube, Twitch, and Prime Video for the first time. Voting's open now at thegameawards.com – fans get a say in Game of the Year (10% of the final tally), so get clicking before December 10.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the undisputed frontrunner, snagging a record-breaking 12 nominations across 10 categories – the most in TGA history. This French turn-based RPG masterpiece is everywhere: Game of the Year, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, you name it. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yōtei trail with 8 each, while Hades II (6) and Hollow Knight: Silksong (5) prove indies are ruling 2025.

Game of the Year Nominees: The Ultimate Showdown

This is where it all comes down – six titans battling for glory. Half are indies, which screams "2025 was the year of the underdog." Here's the full TGA 2025 Game of the Year nominees:

Game of the Year 2025 Nominees – My Ranking & Quick Thoughts

1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33  The absolute monster with 12 nominations. Turn-based combat that feels like a rhythm game, jaw-dropping art, and a story that actually made grown adults cry on stream. This is my winner and it’s not even close.
2. Hades II Supergiant somehow made the first one look like a demo. Melinoë is a better protagonist than Zagreus (fight me), the writing is sharper, and the replay loop is pure dopamine.
3. Hollow Knight: Silksong We waited a decade and Team Cherry delivered. Hornet feels incredible to control, the new kingdoms are breathtaking, and that soundtrack… yeah, it’s still peak.
4. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Kojima being Kojima. If you loved the first one’s weirdness, this is next-level. If you hated it… well, you’re still gonna watch the cutscenes on YouTube.
5. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II The most immersive medieval life sim ever made. Every fight feels like it could be your last, and the attention to historical detail is insane.
6. Donkey Kong Bananza The only “pure fun” nominee in the list. Smashing everything as a raging gorilla on Switch 2 is hilarious and chaotic, but let’s be real — it’s winning Best Family Game, not GOTY.

Standout Categories: Quick Hits

• Best Performance: Ben Starr, Charlie Cox, Jennifer English (all from Expedition 33!), Erika Ishii (Ghost of Yōtei), Konatsu Kato, Troy Baker (Indiana Jones). Voice acting's on fire.
• Best Ongoing Game: Final Fantasy XIV, Fortnite, Helldivers 2, Marvel Rivals, No Man’s Sky. Live service kings.
• Best Mobile Game: Destiny Rising, Persona 5: The Phantom X, Sonic Rumble, Wuthering Waves. Gacha and battle royales dominate.
• Best Multiplayer: Arc Raiders, Battlefield 6, Elden Ring: Nightreign, Peak, Split Fiction. Co-op chaos alert.
• Best Family Game: Donkey Kong Bananza, LEGO Party, LEGO Voyagers, Mario Kart World, Sonic Racing Crossworlds, Split Fiction. Kid-friendly bangers.
• Most Anticipated Game: GTA 6, Marvel’s Wolverine, The Witcher 4. 2026 hype train incoming.

Sony leads publishers with 19 noms, but Kepler Interactive (backing Expedition 33) is right behind at 13.

My Take: Who's Sweeping and Who's Overhyped?

2025's nominees scream quality – no filler here. My Game of the Year pick? Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It's fresh, innovative, and that emotional gut-punch narrative with parry-based combat? Chef's kiss. It'll sweep Best RPG, Art Direction, and probably GOTY. Hades II and Silksong are close seconds for their replayability, but Expedition 33 feels generational.

Overhyped or undeserving? Donkey Kong Bananza edges in on GOTY hype, but it's more "Best Family Game" material. Fun as hell for smashing caves with Pauline, but against these narrative beasts? Nah. Solid nominee, just not top-tier.

What about you? Who's your TGA 2025 Game of the Year lock? Drop your predictions below – and vote now before the indies take over!