Game of the Year nominations out: Here are the games that made the list

The Game Awards has revealed its full list of nominees for 2025, and this year’s Game of the Year category has surprised everyone for one major reason. Three of the six GOTY contenders are indie titles, marking one of the strongest years ever for independent studios on a global stage. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong all earned nominations alongside heavyweight AAA releases.

The announcement was made during a livestream on Monday, where host Geoff Keighley confirmed the final six GOTY candidates: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades 2, Hollow Knight: Silksong and Kingdom Come Deliverance 2.

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Clair Obscur dominates with the highest number of nominations

Among all nominees this year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands out as the most recognised title of 2025. It has secured an impressive 12 nominations across 10 categories, ranging from Best Art Direction and Best Score to Best Performance.

Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yōtei also made a strong showing, each earning nominations in seven categories. The lineup aligns closely with early industry predictions, many of which placed Clair Obscur, Hades 2 and Silksong as the strongest contenders throughout the year.

Voting is now open for fans worldwide

With nominations finalised, both jury voting and fan voting have begun. The international jury will determine winners across major categories such as Best Narrative, Best RPG and Best Action, while fans can cast their votes for Game of the Year until 10 December through The Game Awards’ official platforms.

The ceremony will stream live on Thursday, 11 December at 7:30 p.m. EST (6:00 AM IST), and as always, millions of viewers are expected to tune in for world premieres, announcements and celebrity appearances.

Full list of nominations for The Game Awards 2025

Here is the full list of nominations for this year’s The Game Awards 2025

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
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
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

Community Support
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
NRG
Team Falcons
Team Liquid PH
Team Vitality

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

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