The Game Awards 2025: Nominees for Game of the Year Announced

The Game Awards has officially announced the nominees for the best video games of 2025, revealing a lineup that reflects one of the most exciting and innovative years in the industry.

As an event dedicated to recognizing and upholding creative and technical excellence across the global gaming landscape, The Game Awards continues to highlight the artistic talent, vision, and craftsmanship that define today’s most influential titles.

The Game of the Year Contenders

This year’s Game of the Year category brings together six standout releases that have each made a significant impact in their own way. The nominees are Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.

These titles showcase a wide spectrum of innovation, from atmospheric narrative adventures and genre-pushing sequels to modern interpretations of classic platformers and deeply immersive indie productions. Their inclusion reflects the diversity and depth of the 2025 gaming scene and the growing expectations of players worldwide.

More Categories Now Available Online

In addition to the Game of the Year award, The Game Awards highlights excellence across numerous other categories. The full list of categories and nominees can be explored on the event’s official website. Among the most notable categories are Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Audio Design, Best Performance, and Innovation in Accessibility.

These distinctions emphasize the collaborative nature of game development, celebrating the creators, performers, musicians, and technical experts whose work brings these digital worlds to life.

When and Where to Watch

The gaming community can look forward to a global live broadcast of The Game Awards on Thursday, December 11, 2025, streaming directly from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Viewers will be able to follow the ceremony in real time, including world premieres, exclusive reveals, musical performances, and the moment when each category’s winner is announced. With such a compelling lineup and growing anticipation, the 2025 edition of The Game Awards is shaping up to be one of the most memorable events in the show’s history.