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The full list of nominees for The Game Awards 2025 has been revealed, setting the stage for one of the biggest nights in gaming. While mysterious new game announcements are still tightly under wraps, this year's nominations already have fans debating what deserves to take home the gold next month.
With the ceremony less than a month away, excitement is building. The show is known for world-premiere reveals, but the awards themselves remain a core part of the event. Outlets from around the globe — including XPLog — participate in the nomination and voting process, helping determine the games that make the final shortlist.
The six contenders for Game of the Year are already dominating discussion, with one title looking like an early favourite. Below, you’ll find the full list of nominees across all categories.
Game of the Year 2025 Nominees
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Hades 2
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Clair Obscur leads the pack with an incredible 12 nominations, making it the most-nominated game in Game Awards history. It also competes for Best Independent Game alongside Silksong, Hades 2, Blue Prince, Absolum, and Ball x Pit.
Full List of Categories & Nominees
Best Game Direction
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
- Ghost Of Yōtei
- Hades 2
- 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 Art Direction
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
- Ghost Of Yōtei
- Hades 2
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Score & Music
- Christopher Larkin – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Darren Korb – Hades 2
- Lorien Testard – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Toma Otowa – Ghost Of Yōtei
- Woodkid & Ludvig Forssell – Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Best Audio Design
- Battlefield 6
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
- Ghost Of Yōtei
- Silent Hill f
Best Performance
- Ben Starr – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Charlie Cox – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Erika Ishii – Ghost Of Yōtei
- 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
- Atomfall
- Doom: The Dark Ages
- EA Sports FC 26
- South Of Midnight
Games For Impact
- Consume Me
- Despelote
- Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
- South Of Midnight
- Wanderstop
Best Ongoing Game
- Final Fantasy 14
- Fortnite
- Helldivers 2
- Marvel Rivals
- No Man’s Sky
Best Community Support
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Final Fantasy 14
- Fortnite
- Helldivers 2
- No Man’s Sky
Best Independent Game
- Absolum
- Ball x Pit
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hades 2
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Debut Indie Game
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Despelote
- Dispatch
- Megabonk
Best Mobile Game
- Destiny: Rising
- Persona 5: The Phantom X
- Sonic Rumble
- Umamusume: Pretty Derby
- Wuthering Waves
Best VR/AR
- Alien: Rogue Incursion
- Arken Age
- Ghost Town
- Marvel’s Deadpool VR
- The Midnight Walk
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
- Indiana Jones And The Great Circle
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Split Fiction
Best RPG
- Avowed
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
- The Outer Worlds 2
- Monster Hunter Wilds
Best Fighting Game
- 2XKO
- Capcom Fighting Collection 2
- Fatal Fury: City Of The Wolves
- Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
- Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage
Best Family Game
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Lego Party!
- Lego Voyagers
- Mario Kart World
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
- Split Fiction
Best Sim/Strategy
- The Alters
- Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles
- Jurassic World Evolution 3
- Sid Meier’s Civilization 7
- Tempest Rising
- Two Point Museum
Best Sports/Racing
- EA Sports FC 26
- F1 25
- Mario Kart World
- Rematch
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Best Multiplayer
- Arc Raiders
- Battlefield 6
- Elden Ring Nightreign
- Peak
- Split Fiction
Best Adaptation
- A Minecraft Movie
- Devil May Cry
- The Last of Us: Season 2
- Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
- Until Dawn
Most Anticipated Game
- 007 First Light
- Grand Theft Auto 6
- Marvel’s Wolverine
- Resident Evil Requiem
- The Witcher 4
Content Creator of the Year
- Caedrel
- Kai Cenat
- MoistCr1TiKaL
- Sakura Miko
- The Burnt Peanut
Best Esports Game
- Counter-Strike 2
- Dota 2
- League Of Legends
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- Valorant
Best Esports Athlete
- brawk (Valorant)
- Chovy (League of Legends)
- f0rsakeN (Valorant)
- Kakeru (Street Fighter)
- MenaRD (Street Fighter)
- Zyw0o (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
When Is The Game Awards 2025?
The event will take place on Friday, December 12 at 1am GMT. As always, the show airs in the early hours for UK viewers, but XPLog will be covering all major announcements live as they unfold.
While no reveals have been confirmed yet, fans are already speculating. Fallout TV show cast members are set to appear — likely hinting at a Season 2 trailer — while rumours continue to swirl about a potential Fallout 3 remaster. GTA 6 diehards hope for a third trailer, and Valve enthusiasts are once again whispering about Half-Life 3.
A year has passed since the reveal of Naughty Dog’s new project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 4, so updates could be on the cards.
As always, it’s hard to predict what surprises await. Last year delivered shock sequels to Ōkami and Onimusha, proving that almost anything can happen at The Game Awards.