It’s that time of year! Whilst we’re working on our own Game of the Year stuff here, the rest of the gaming world is moving on it too. With arguably the biggest of them all being The Game Awards 2025.
Following yesterday’s major announcement, here is the complete list of nominees for The Game Awards.
The event, which streams live on Thursday, December 11, 2025, is led by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 with 12 nominations, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yōtei with 8 nominations each.
It seems that we really need to get into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33!
Game of the Year
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive)
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions)
- Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD)
- Hades II (Supergiant Games)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios)
Core Creative Categories
Best Game Direction
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Hades II
- Split Fiction
Best Narrative
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Silent Hill f
Best Art Direction
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Score and Music
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Audio Design
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Silent Hill f
Best Performance
- Ben Starr (Lucien) – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Charlie Cox (???) – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Erika Ishii (Aiko) – Ghost of Yōtei
- Jennifer English (Arsène) – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Konatsu Katu (???) – Silent Hill f
- Troy Baker (Indiana Jones) – Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Genre & Specific Categories
Best Action Game
- DOOM: The Dark Ages
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Marvel’s Wolverine
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Best Action/Adventure Game
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Star Wars Outlaws
Best RPG
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Monster Hunter Wilds
- Visions of Mana
Best Fighting Game
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
- Mortal Kombat 2
- Project L
- Tekken 8: Season 2
Best Family Game
- Astro Bot
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- LEGO Horizon Adventures
- Mario & Luigi: Brothership
Best Sim/Strategy Game
- Age of Mythology: Retold
- Civilization VII
- Frostpunk 2
- Manor Lords
Best Sports/Racing Game
- EA Sports FC 26
- F1 25
- Forza Motorsport (Year 2)
- Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown
Best Multiplayer
- Concord
- Marathon
- Split Fiction
- Tekken 8: Season 2
- XDefiant
Indie & Impact Categories
Best Independent Game
- Absolum
- Ball x Pit
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Debut Indie Game
- Absolum
- Ball x Pit
- Blue Prince
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Split Fiction
Games for Impact
- Absolum
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Kind WAYS
- The War To End All Wars
- We Are OFK (Season 2)
Ongoing & Community Categories
Best Ongoing Game
- Apex Legends
- Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail
- Fortnite
- Genshin Impact
- Helldivers 2
Best Community Support
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Final Fantasy XIV Online
- Helldivers 2
- Manor Lords
- No Man’s Sky
Most Anticipated Game
- 007 First Light
- Grand Theft Auto VI
- Marvel’s Wolverine
- Resident Evil Requiem
- The Witcher IV
Best Adaptation
- Arcane (Season 2)
- Fallout (Season 2)
- Like a Dragon: Yakuza (Series)
- The Last of Us (Season 2)
- Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft
Best VR/AR Game
- Alien: Rogue Incursion
- Metro Awakening VR
- The Lab 2: Beyond the Portal
(Note: Esports and Content Creator categories are typically announced separately and closer to the show date.)