Clair Obscur and PlayStation leads The Game Awards 2025 nominations

The nominees for The Game Awards 2025 have been revealed.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 [30 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/clair-obscur-expedition-33/”>Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is up for 12 awards, making it the most nominated game in the awards’ history, followed by PlayStation [11,250 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/platforms/playstation/”>PlayStation titles Death Stranding [287 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/death-stranding/”>Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yotei [40 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/ghost-of-yotei/”>Ghost of Yotei with eight nominations each, and Hades 2 [19 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/hades-2/”>Hades 2 with six.

Sony Interactive Entertainment [4,366 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/sony/”>Sony Interactive Entertainment is The Game Awards [421 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/events/the-game-awards/”>The Game Awards’ most nominated publisher in 2024 with 19 nominations, followed by Kepler Interactive [28 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/kepler-interactive/”>Kepler Interactive with 13 nominations, and Xbox Game Studios (Microsoft) [3,695 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/microsoft/”>Microsoft and Electronic Arts [1,844 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/electronic-arts/”>Electronic Arts with 10 each.

The nominees for Game of the Year are Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ( Sandfall Interactive [19 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/sandfall-interactive/”>Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive),  Death Stranding 2: On The Beach [45 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/death-stranding-2-on-the-beach/”>Death Stranding 2: On The Beach ( Kojima Productions [214 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/kojima-productions/”>Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment),  Donkey Kong Bananza [49 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/super-mario-games/donkey-kong-bananza/”>Donkey Kong Bananza ( Nintendo EPD [433 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/nintendo/nintendo-epd/”>Nintendo EPD/ Nintendo [5,792 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/platforms/nintendo/”>Nintendo), Hades II ( Supergiant Games [24 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/supergiant-games/”>Supergiant Games),  Hollow Knight: Silksong [29 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/hollow-knight-silksong/”>Hollow Knight: Silksong ( Team Cherry [21 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/team-cherry/”>Team Cherry), and  Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 [28 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/kingdom-come-deliverance-2/”>Kingdom Come: Deliverance II ( Warhorse Studios [27 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/warhorse-studios/”>Warhorse Studios/ Deep Silver [176 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/koch-media/deep-silver/”>Deep Silver).

The nominees were announced by host and producer  Geoff Keighley [228 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/people/geoff-keighley/”>Geoff Keighley during a live stream on Monday, and were chosen by a voting jury of media publications, including this website, VGC.

There are 27 awards up for grabs in total (see the full list of nominees below), with the winners set to be determined by a blended vote between the voting jury (90%) and public fan voting (10%).

From today until December 10 at 6 pm PT, fans can vote for their winners in all categories via online voting on www.thegameawards.com.

The Game Awards will stream live from its traditional venue of the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday, December 11, 2025.

The Game Awards 2025 Nominations

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 EPD/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 Yōtei ( Sucker Punch Productions [117 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/sony/sucker-punch-productions/”>Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Hades II (Supergiant Games)
• Split Fiction [32 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/split-fiction/”>Split Fiction ( Hazelight [45 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/hazelight/”>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 Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios/Deep Silver)
• Silent Hill (series) [216 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/silent-hill-series/”>Silent Hill f ( NeoBards Entertainment [6 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/neobards-entertainment/”>NeoBards Entertainment/ Konami [430 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/konami/”>KONAMI)

BEST ART DIRECTION

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
• Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Hades II (Supergiant Games)
• Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)

BEST SCORE AND MUSIC, LEVELED UP BY SPOTIFY

• Christopher Larkin [18 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/people/christopher-larkin/”>Christopher Larkin, Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Darren Korb, Hades II
• Lorien Testard, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Toma Otowa, Ghost of Yōtei
• Woodkid and Ludvig Forssell [135 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/people/ludvig-forssell/”>Ludvig Forssell, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

BEST AUDIO DESIGN

• Battlefield 2042 [228 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/battlefield-2042/”>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 Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Silent Hill f (NeoBards Entertainment/KONAMI)

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 [317 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/people/troy-baker/”>Troy Baker, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle [86 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle/”>Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

INNOVATION IN ACCESSIBILITY

GAMES FOR IMPACT

• Consume Me (Jenny Jiao Hsia/AP Thomson/Hexacutable)
  Despelote (Julián Cordero/Sebastián Valbuena/ Panic [68 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/panic/”>Panic)
• Lost Records: Bloom & Rage [9 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/lost-records-bloom-rage/”>Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Don’t Nod Montreal/Don’t Nod)
• South of Midnight (Compulsion Games/Xbox Game Studios)
• Wanderstop (Ivy Road/ Annapurna Interactive [108 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/annapurna-interactive/”>Annapurna Interactive)

BEST ONGOING

BEST COMMUNITY SUPPORT

• Baldur’s Gate 3 [130 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/baldurs-gate-3/”>Baldur’s Gate 3 ( Larian Studios [99 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/larian-studios/”>Larian Studios)
• Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)
• Fortnite (Epic Games)
• Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• No Man’s Sky (Hello Games)

BEST INDEPENDENT GAME

• Absolum (Guard Crush Games/Supamonks/ Dotemu [21 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/dotemu/”>Dotemu)
• Ball x Pit (Kenny Sun/ Devolver Digital [98 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/devolver-digital/”>Devolver Digital)
  Blue Prince (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 Prince (Dogubomb/Raw Fury)
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
• Despelote (Julián Cordero/Sebastián Valbuena/Panic)
• Dispatch (AdHoc Studio)
• Megabonk (Vedinad)

BEST Mobile [1,197 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/platforms/mobile/”>MOBILE GAME

BEST VR/AR

• Alien: Rogue Incursion (Survios)
• Arken Age (VitruviusVR)
• Ghost Town (Fireproof Games)
• Marvel’s Deadpool VR (Twisted Pixel Games/ Oculus VR [106 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/facebook/oculus-vr/”>Oculus Studios)
• The Midnight Walk (MoonHood/Fast Travel Games)

BEST ACTION

BEST ACTION/ADVENTURE

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
  Indiana Jones and the Great Circle ( MachineGames [100 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/zenimax-media/machinegames/”>MachineGames/Bethesda Softworks)
• Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
• Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios/EA)

BEST RPG

BEST FIGHTING

BEST FAMILY

• Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
• LEGO Party! (SMG Studio/Fictions)
• LEGO Voyagers (Light Brick Studios/Annapurna Interactive)
• Mario Kart World [124 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/super-mario-games/mario-kart-world/”>Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds [22 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/sonic-racing-crossworlds/”>Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Sonic Team/Sega)
• Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios/EA)

BEST SIM/STRATEGY

BEST SPORTS/RACING

• EA Sports FC 26 (EA Canada/EA Romania/EA)
• F1 25 ( Codemasters [128 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/codemasters/”>Codemasters/EA)
• Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
• Rematch ( Sloclap [10 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/sloclap/”>Sloclap/Kepler Interactive)
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Sonic Team/Sega)

BEST MULTIPLAYER

BEST ADAPTATION

• A Minecraft [319 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/minecraft/”>Minecraft Movie (Legendary Pictures/ Mojang [101 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/microsoft/mojang/”>Mojang/ Warner Bros. Games [610 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/warner-bros-games/”>Warner Bros)
• Devil May Cry (Studio Mir/Capcom/ Netflix [364 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/netflix/”>Netflix)
• The Last of Us: Season 2 (HBO/PlayStation Productions)
• Splinter Cell (series) [80 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/splinter-cell-series/”>Splinter Cell: Deathwatch (FOST Studio/Ubisoft/Netflix)
• Until Dawn (Screen Gems/PlayStation Productions)

MOST ANTICIPATED GAME

CONTENT CREATOR OF THE YEAR

• Caedrel
• Kai Cenat
  MoistCr1TiKaL
• Sakura Miko
• The Burnt Peanut

BEST ESPORTS GAME

BEST ESPORTS ATHLETE

• brawk – Brock Somerhalder (Valorant)
• Chovy – Jeong Ji-hoon (League of Legends)
• f0rsakeN – Jason Susanto (Valorant)
• Kakeru – Kakeru Watanabe ( Street Fighter V [254 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/street-fighter-v/”>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 PlayStation Vita [218 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/platforms/playstation/vita/”>Vitality – Counter-Strike 2