It is Game Awards time again, and Geoff is hosting the nominee anouncements today at 7pm
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And the Nominees are…
‘The Game Awards’ 2025 Award Categories
‘Death Stranding 2: On the Beach’ (2025) | Image: Kojima Productions
Game of the Year
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Donkey Kong Bananza, Nintendo
- Hades II, Supergiant Games
- Hollow Knight: Silksong, Team Cherry
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Warhorse Studios/Deep Silver
Best Game Direction
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Ghost of Yotei, Sucker Punch Production/Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Hades II, Supergiant Games
- Split Fiction, Hazelight Studios/EA
Best Narrative
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Ghost of Yotei, Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Warhorse Studios/Deep Silver
- Silent Hill F, NeoBards Entertainment/Konami
‘Hollow Knight Silksong’ | Image: Team Cherry
Best Art Direction
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Ghost of Yotei, Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Hades II, Supergiant Games
- Hollow Knight: Silksong, Team Cherry
Best Score & Music
- Christopher Larkin, Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Darren Korb, Hades II
- Lorien Testard, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Toma Otowa, Ghost of Yotei
- Woodkid and Ludvig Forssel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Best Audio Design
- Battlefield 6, Battlefield Studios/EA
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Ghost of Yotei, Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Silent Hill F, NeoBards Entertainment/Konami
Ghost of Yotei | Image: Sucker Punch Productions
Best Performance
- Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Charlie Cox, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Erika Ishii, Ghost of Yotei
- Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Konatsu Kato, Silent Hill F
- Troy Baker, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Innovation in Accessibility
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft
- Atomfall, Rebellion
- Doom: The Dark Ages, id Software/Bethesda Softworks
- EA Sports FC 26, EA Canada/EA Romania/EA
- South of Midnight, Compulsion Games/Xbox Game Studios
Games for Impact
- Consume Me, Jenny Jiao Hsia/AP Thomson/Hexacutable
- Despelote, Julian Cordero/Sebastian Valbuena/Panic
- Lost Records: Blood & Rage, Don’t Nod Montreal/Don’t Nod
- South of Midnight, Compulsion Games/Xbox Game Studios
- Wanderstop, Ivy Road/Annapurna Interactive
No Man’s Sky | Image: Hello Games
Best Ongoing
- Final Fantasy XIV, Square Enix
- Fortnite, Epic Games
- Helldivers 2, Arrowhead Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Marvel Rivals, NetEase Games
- No Man’s Sky, Hello Games
Best Community Support
- Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios
- Final Fantasy XIV, Square Enix
- Fortnite, Epic Games
- Helldivers 2, Arrowhead Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
- No Man’s Sky, Hello Games
Best Independent Game
- Absolum, Guard Crush Games/Supamonks/Dotemu
- Ball X Pit, Kenny Sun/Devolver Digital
- Blue Price, Dogubomb/Raw Fury
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive
- Hades II, Supergiant Games
- Hollow Knight: Silksong, Team Cherry
Best Debut Indie Game
- Blue Price, Dogubomb/Raw Fury
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive
- Despelote, Julian Cordero/Sebastian Valbuena/Panic
- Dispatch, AdHoc Studio
- Megabonk, Vedinad
Best Mobile Game
- Destiny: Rising, NetEase Games
- Persona 5: The Phantom X, Black Wings Game Studios/Sega
- Sonic Rumble, Ravio Entertainment/Sega
- Umamusume: Pretty Derby, Cygames Inc.
- Wuthering Waves, Kuro Games
Best VR / AR Game
- Alien: Rogue Incursion, Survios
- Arken Age, VitruviusVR
- Ghost Town, Fireproof Games
- Marvel’s Deadpool VR, Twisted Pixel Games/Oculus Studios
- The Midnight Walk, MoonHood/Fast Travel Games
Doom: The Dark Ages | Image: ID Software
Best Action Game
- Battlefield 6, Battlefield Studios/EA
- Doom: The Dark Ages, id Software/Bethesda Softworks
- Hades II, Supergiant Games
- Ninja Gaiden 4, Platinum Games/Team Ninja/Xbox Game Studios
- Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Lizardcube/Sega
Best Action / Adventure
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Ghost of Yotei, Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Hollow Knight: Silksong, Team Cherry
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, MachineGames/Bethesda Softworks
- Split Fiction, Hazelight Studios/EA
Best RPG
- Avowed, Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Warhorse Studios/Deep SIlver
- Monster Hunter Wilds, Capcom
- The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios
Best Fighting
- 2XKO, Riot Games
- Capcom Fighting Collection 2, Capcom
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, SNK Corporation
- Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, Digital Eclipse/Atari
- Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega
Donkey Kong Bonanza | Image: Nintendo
Best Family
- Donkey Kong Bananza, Nintendo
- Lego Party!, SMG Studios/Fictions
- Lego Voyagers, Light Brick Studios/Annapurna Interactive
- Mario Kart World, Nintendo
- Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, Sonic Team/Sega
- Split Fiction, Hazelight Studios/EA
Best Sim/Strategy
- Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, Square Enix
- Jurassic World Evolution 3, Frontier Developments
- Sid Meier’s Civilisation VII, Firaxis Games/2K
- Tempest Rising, Slipgate Ironworks/3D Realms
- The Alters, 11 Bit Studios
- Two Point Museum, Two Point Studios/Sega
Best Sports/Racing
- EA Sports FC 26, EA Canada/EA Romania/EA
- F1 25, Codemasters/EA
- Mario Kart World, Nintendo
- Rematch, Sloclap/Kepler Interactive
- Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, Sonic Team/Sega
‘Elden Ring: Nightreign’ | Image: FromSoftware Inc.
Best Multiplayer
- ARC Raiders, Embark Studios
- Battlefield 6, EA
- Elden Ring Nightreign, FromSoftware/Bandai Namco Entertainment
- PEAK, Aggro Crab/Landfall
- Split Fiction, Hazelight Studios/EA
Best Adaptation
- A Minecraft Movie, Legendary Pictures/Mojang/Warner Bros
- Devil May Cry, Studio Mir/Capcom/Netflix
- Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, FOST Studio/Ubisoft/Netflix
- The Last of Us: Season 2, HBO/PlayStation Productions
- Until Dawn, Screen Gems/PlayStation Productions
Lucia & Jason in Grand Theft Auto VI | Image: Rockstar
Most Anticipated Game
- 007 First Light, IO Interactive
- Grand Theft Auto VI, Rockstar Games
- Marvel’s Wolverine, Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Resident Evil Requiem, Capcom
- The Witcher IV, CD Projekt Red
Content Creator of the Year
- Caedrel
- Kai Cenat
- Moistcr1tikal
- Sakura Miko
- The Burnt Peanut
Best eSports Game
- Counter-Strike 2, Valve
- DOTA 2, Valve
- League fo Legends, Riot
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Moonton
- Valorant, Riot
Best eSports Athlete
- Brawk – Brock Somerhalder, Valorant
- Chovy – Jeong Ji-Hoon, League of Legends
- F0rsaken – Jason Susanto, Valorant
- Kakeru – Kakeru Watanabe, Street Fighter
- Menard – Saul Leonardo, Street Fighter
- Zyw0o – Mathieu Herbaut, Counter-Strike 2
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
Source: Here’s Every Game Nominated for ‘The Game Awards’ 2025 | Man of Many
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Expedition 33 is most likely going to win most awards. Personally since its about the only game I played that was released this year, Hades 2 wins game of the year hands down for me.
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Overachiever… 
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For me both Clair Obscur and Silksong are my personal games of the year. I’d put Clair Obscur as #1 because of the originality of the gameplay, characters and story blew me away. I did feel that the open world aspect of Act 3 diluted the gripping nature of the story a little bit, but wow what an experience that still remains with me.
I knew Sillksong was going to be great, but man did Team Cherry exceed expectations. The difficulty does mean it’s not going to be everyone’s personal favourite, but for those who love the genre, it is the pinnacle.
I have yet to play Hades 2 and based on the first game I know I’ll enjoy and sink many hours into it. But even if I did play it, I doubt it would be able to knock the over two off their pedestals.
As an aside - this has been Game Pass’s best year by a landslide, pity Microsoft has spoiled that wonderful achievement with the crazy price increases. I’d gladly be without another COD release if it meant keeping the subscription prices in check.
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I am just jealous 
Thanks for detailing everything!
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I hope Ninja Gaiden 4 wins best action game. It is just that good, and it’s so rare that games like this get released.
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CONTROVERSY! SKANDAAL!
Megabonk’s solo dev withdraws from the “Best Debut Indie Game” category as he has made other games under different studio names…
Now people are pointing to other games in the category, questioning their eligibility. Clair Obscur’s dev has millions in funding, Dispatch devs were working at TellTale games etc etc. So what qualifies a game as “indie” and when is it a “debut” game? Is it debut for the studio or the devs or what?
https://www.escapistmagazine.com/news-game-awards-2025-megabonk-withdrawl/
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Yeah… my favourite game in that category, Dispatch, is also from a studio of very experienced hands (ex-Telltale people), as you point out.
But it’s the only category they’ve been nominated in and I hope they win something because it’s some of the best character work / writing I’ve seen in a game in years.
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I guess it’s about the “spirit” of the definition, versus the dictionary one.
If you have a supergroup composed of well known musicians and they release a new album, it would be their debut. It’s also not a given that it would just work, and it should still be recognised if it does.
Different form of media I guess, but still. Also, it’s surely normal for devs to move from studios and start new ones?
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