Game Awards 2025: The Biggest Nominees And Our Predictions

The Game Awards have always felt like gaming’s annual pulse check. It’s the night when the industry gathers to celebrate stories that moved players, worlds that pushed boundaries, and artistry that shaped culture. When the Game Awards 2025 nominees were revealed, the conversation instantly shifted. People wanted answers, long-standing questions resurfaced, and a fresh wave of anticipation washed over the community. Suddenly, the spotlight wasn’t just on the games—it was on what they represent.

The nominees this year form a striking snapshot of where the medium stands. They reveal a landscape shaped by experimental storytelling, brave world-building, and an appetite for experiences rooted in identity. Taken together, they show an industry comfortable with risk and increasingly confident in its artistic voice.

Naturally, the announcement also opened the door to a second conversation: predictions. Who carries the most momentum? Which titles possess the narrative depth, emotional resonance, or technical precision that voters tend to reward? This year’s lineup presents a fascinating puzzle, and each nominee offers a clue about the direction the industry is heading. The Game Awards 2025 nominees offer more than a list; they tell a story about ambition and evolution.

Here is our detailed breakdown of the major contenders from the 2025 Game Awards nominees, along with predictions on where the wins may land…

How Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Became the Game Awards 2025 Front-Runner

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has quickly become the title everyone can’t stop talking about. Its painterly aesthetic, richly layered story, and seamless gameplay loop created a moment that critics and players mutually understood as special. That level of harmony is rare, and it’s part of the reason the game dominates categories ranging from Best Art Direction to Game of the Year. It feels like the kind of project that defines a season, not simply participates in it.

The timing also feels right. As the industry shifts back toward narrative-driven experiences, Expedition 33 represents a perfect storm of beauty, emotion, and craft. Our prediction leans toward it winning Best Art Direction, Best Narrative, and even possibly Game of the Year, though its biggest competition may come from more commercially resonant titles.

Why Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Still Has a Fighting Chance

Any year a Final Fantasy title competes, the stakes rise. Rebirth is both a nostalgia juggernaut and a technical marvel, which naturally fuels fan passion. It holds several nominations that highlight its emotional storytelling, polished combat system, and massive cultural footprint. It reminds voters that legacy, when executed well, can still feel new.

The real question is whether nostalgia and legacy can outweigh the wave of fresh innovation coming from newer IPs. If any game can wrestle Game of the Year away from Expedition 33, it’s this one. Still, our bet is that its biggest victory will be in Best RPG, where its world-building and combat refinements shine brightest.

Astro Bot Is the Heartfelt Darling of the Game Awards 2025 Season

Astro Bot is the type of game that wins hearts before it wins trophies. Its joyful spirit, exhilarating platforming, and delightful design make it a contender that critics adore. The charm alone has positioned it in key categories, and its widespread accessibility could give it a surprising edge. It’s the nominee that radiates pure warmth—something voters remember.

There’s also the feel-good factor. Each awards season has a wholesome fan-favorite, and Astro Bot fills that position flawlessly. While it may not clinch Game of the Year, we predict it has a clear path to winning Best Family Game or Best Game Direction, especially given how inventively it uses hardware.

Black Myth: Wukong Carries Cultural Power Into the Competition

Black Myth: Wukong storms into the awards circuit with cultural weight, cinematic flair, and technically impressive combat sequences. Based on Journey to the West, it blends mythology with modern action design, creating a gameplay experience that resonates globally. Its presence feels like a milestone that broadens gaming’s cultural vocabulary.

Its biggest strength is its identity. Games with cultural specificity often break through voter fatigue, and Wukong’s arrival felt like a moment. It stands a strong chance in Best Action Game, with an outside but intriguing possibility of making an upset in Best Direction if voters lean toward bold, risky artistry.

Balatro Proves Indie Games Still Hit the Hardest

There’s always that one indie title that sneaks into major categories and reminds the industry why risk-taking matters. Balatro is that champion for 2025. Its engrossing roguelike deck-builder format captivated players through sheer creativity, becoming a phenomenon that no one saw coming. Its success feels organic, player-driven, and impossible to ignore.

The indie slot at the Game Awards is historically emotional. Players love rooting for the unexpected success story. While Balatro may not grab the top prize, we predict it wins Best Indie Game comfortably. Its momentum, community backing, and design purity make it a clear standout.

The Game Awards 2025 Game of the Year Race: A Closer Look at the Title Everyone Wants

This is the big one. The category that shapes legacies and sets gaming trends for years. The nominees represent different philosophies: art-first storytelling, nostalgia revival, wholesome charm, indie spirit, and technical brute force. Each brings something distinct to the table, which makes this year especially compelling.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 holds the strongest narrative momentum. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth carries emotional gravity. Astro Bot brings charm. Black Myth: Wukong arrives with cultural resonance. Balatro represents indie ingenuity. All these angles matter, but one stands out.

Our prediction remains firm: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the most likely Game of the Year winner, based on industry buzz, critic alignment, and how deeply it has permeated conversations.

Still, upsets aren’t impossible. Awards history has taught us that heart, timing, and public buzz can flip a category on its head.

See the full nominee list for the 2025 Game Awards

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 Art Direction

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Death Stranding 2 On the Beach
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Hades 2
• Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best Audio Design

• Battlefield 6
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Silent Hill f 

Best Game Direction

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Hades 2
• Split Fiction

Best Multiplayer

• Arc Raiders
• Battlefield 6
• Elden Ring: Nightreign
• Peak
• Split Fiction

Best Narrative

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
• Silent Hill f 

Best Performance

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Jennifer English
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Ben Starr
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Charlie Cox
• Ghost of Yōtei – Erika Ishii
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – Troy Baker
• Silent Hill f – Konatsu Kato

Best Score & Music

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Hades 2
• Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best Action

• 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 Yōtei
• Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
• Split Fiction

Best Family Game

• Donkey Kong Bananza
• Lego Party
• Lego Voyagers
• Mario Kart World
• Sonic Racing Crossworlds
• Split Fiction

Best Fighting Game

• 2XKO
• Capcom Fighting Collection 2
• Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
• Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
• Virtua Fighter 5 REVO

Best Independent Game

• Absolum
• Ball X Pit
• Blue Prince
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Hades 2
• Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best Mobile Game

• Destiny Rising
• Persona 5: The Phantom X
• Sonic Rumble
• Umamusume: Pretty Derby
• Wuthering Waves

Best Ongoing Game

• Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail
• Fortnite
• Helldivers 2
• Marvel Rivals
• No Man’s Sky

Best RPG

• Avowed
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
• Monster Hunter Wilds
• The Outer Worlds 2

Best Sports/Racing Game

• EA Sports FC 26
• F1 25
• Mario Kart World
• Rematch
• Sonic Racing Crossworlds

Best Strategy/Sim Game

• Civilization 7
• Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
• Jurassic World Evolution 3
• The Alters
• Tempest Rising
• Two Point Museum

Best VR/AR Game

• Alien: Rogue Incursion
• Arken Age
• Deadpool VR
• Ghost Town
• The Midnight Walk

Best Adaptation

• A Minecraft Movie
• Devil May Cry
• Splinter Cell Deathwatch
• The Last of Us season 2
• Until Dawn

• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Final Fantasy 14
• Fortnite
• Helldivers 2
• No Man’s Sky

Debut Indie Game

• Blue Prince
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Despelote
• Dispatch
• Megabonk

Games for Impact

• Consume Me
• Despelote
• Lost Records: Bloom and Rage
• South of Midnight
• Wanderstop

Best Esports Game

• Counter-Strike 2
• Dota 2
• League of Legends
• Mobile Legends Bang Bang
• Valorant

Best Esports Athlete

• Brawk
• Chovy
• Forsaken
• Kakeru
• Menard
• Zywoo

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)

Content Creator of the Year

• Caedrel
• Kai Cenat
• MoistCr1tikal
• Sakura Miko
• The Burnt Peanut

Most Anticipated Game

• 007 First Light
• Grand Theft Auto 6
• Marvel’s Wolverine
• Resident Evil Requiem
• The Witcher 4

The Game Awards 2025 will light up Los Angeles on December 11 as the industry gathers at the Peacock Theater to celebrate this year’s standout titles and the creators behind them. The show will feature world premieres, fresh reveals, and musical moments that keep fans glued to their screens. Viewers can watch the ceremony live on Amazon Prime Video between 8 pm ET and 11 pm ET, at no extra cost for Prime members. 

Featured image: Game Science 

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