On Monday, November 17th, Geoff Keighley announced the 2025 Game of The Year Awards nominees. It’s been an exciting year in the gaming world, and this year’s roster is jam packed with notable titles, though (as usual) not without controversy.
Your nominees for GAME OF THE YEAR at #TheGameAwards 2025 on Thursday, December 11. pic.twitter.com/VQTXMfNHOQ
— The Game Awards (@thegameawards) November 17, 2025
One of the most widely beloved titles is the independent game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, with many fans arguing that it’s destined to win multiple awards at the ceremony. Conversely, highly contentious titles like Ghost of Yotei and Assassin’s Creed: Shadows are both absent from the GOTY list.
The following is a list of the top contenders for this year’s Game of the Year award.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Loved by many and hated by few, Expedition 33 is already regarded by many fans as this year’s greatest release. It managed to sell 5 million copies worldwide in just five months and has received 12 nominations for The Game Awards.
A screenshot from the trailer to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – YouTube, IGN
Due to the game’s immense success, Sandfall Entertainment began working on a huge content drop as a thank-you gift to fans. The studio says this update will include a new environment for players to explore, as well as additional late-game bosses.
Along with GOTY, it has also earned nominations for Best Art Direction, Audio Design, Game Direction, Narrative, Score and Music, and Best RPG. Actors Charlie Cox, Jennifer English, and Ben Starr have all landed nominations for Best Performance.
Additinally, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sits among the nominees for Best Debut Indie Game and Best Independent Game, though some disagree with this categorization. Regardless, this title holds the potential to win more awards than any other throughout The Game Awards history.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Crafted by celebrity director Hideo Kojima with Kojima Productions, Death Stranding 2 has more than left its mark on the gaming world.
An image from Death Stranding 2 – Sony
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The director reportedly began writing the game before 2020, but, inspired by the global lockdowns, he rewrote portions the story in order to reflect the turbulent era. Following the game’s release, many users humorously noted that their explore pages were flooded with Death Stranding and Kojima memes. A notable portion of these were dedicated to the notorious birthday easter egg cutscene.
The game has received near-perfect scores across numerous platforms, along with an impressive seven nominations for the 2025 Game Awards. These include Best Art Direction, Audio Design, Game Direction, Narrative, Score and Music, and Best Action/Adventure.
Donkey Kong Bananza
Praised for its surprising depth of gameplay and challenging late-game content, Donkey Kong Bananza stands as an anomaly within Nintendo’s library of titles.
A promotional image for Donkey Kong Bananza – Nintendo
If it were to win, this would become Nintendo’s first GOTY winner which doesn’t include Mario or Link. This nomination brings Astro Bot to mind, which shocked gamers everywhere when it won Game of the Year in 2024.
Donkey Kong Bananza has also secured a nomination for Best Family Game.
Hades II
The second indie game in this roster, Hades II has been deemed a perfect sequel, with players describing it as being “like the first game, but better in every way.” From its vivid art style to its fresh, snappy gameplay, it has received near-universal praise from critics and players alike.
An Image from Hades II – Nintendo
Beyond Game of the Year, Hades II stands as a strong and deserving contender for numerous awards. It has received nominations for Best Art Direction, Game Direction, Score and Music, Action, and Best Independent Game.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Much like Hades, Hollow Knight: Silksong stands as a monument to the power of independent creativity.
An image from Hollow Knight Silksong – Nintendo
Eight years after the release of its predecessor, this became one of the most anticipated releases of the year-and it didn’t fail to deliver. Players have lauded the game for its satisfyingly intense and challenging gameplay, earning the privilege to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best Soulslike titles.
Hollow Knight: Silksong boasts additional nominations for Best Art Direction, Score and Music, Action/Adventure, and Best Independent Game.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II saunters onto this list as one of the most hotly debated releases of the year. However, in spite of its many controversies, the game’s immersive visuals and open-world mechanics have secured it a spot on this lineup.
A screenshot from Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (2024), Warhorse Studios
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II has also picked up nominations Best Narrative and RPG. Critics have stated that they view this game winning GOTY as the worst possible outcome. Some, however, have jokingly compared certain gameplay elements to real-world struggles, earning the title of Best RPG.
With such a highly competitive roster, this year marks itself as an exciting moment for The Game Awards.
What are your thoughts on The Game Awards and these Game of the Year nominees? Are there any titles that stand out to you? Sound off in the comments below and let us know!
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As Baldurs Gate 3 this is just karma for telling us for almost 25 years that these types of games (turnbased combat + cinematic storytelling) wouldn’t sell.
Looking forward to Star Wars Zero Company (Star Wars Setting + XCOM formula). I expect it to blow up, too.
Mainly because of Permadeath thing. Because it’s not very mainstream but very successful in its niche. Can’t wait to see what happens when it breaks into the mainstream through Star Wars setting.
This is one of the better lists I’ve seen in many years of these awards. I have a quibble with Kingdom Come claiming to be accurate but having large chunks that are clearly DEI inserts. Not to mention the gay romance option with the under age noble. That’s just sick.
Lol they’ve made Kingdom Cum Deliverance 2 gay to get nominated for GotY and then Expedition 33 is released in the same year. Never give in to the woke mob, you can only lose.
I don’t care about the Doritos Pope’s nominations. I’ve played none of these games and I’m happy for it.