Game of the Year (GOTY) is the biggest award in gaming, presented annually at The Game Awards, the industry’s most-watched celebration of developers, creators, and standout titles. Curated by a global jury of major media outlets and voted on partly by fans, the GOTY crown represents the game that defined the year in quality, innovation, and impact. The 2025 winners will be revealed live on December 11 during The Game Awards ceremony — streamed worldwide to millions of players tuning in to see which title takes home the industry’s highest honor.
The shortlist for The Game Awards 2025 has officially dropped, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting years yet. With six standout titles vying for the top spot, the competition is fierce — and the buzz is real.
The Contenders
Here are the games nominated for Game of the Year (GOTY 2025):
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — A French RPG from Sandfall Interactive receiving historic nods.
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach — Hideo Kojima’s return hits again.
- Donkey Kong Bananza — Nintendo brings its own contender to the table.
- Hades II — The indie sequel everyone expected… and then some.
- Hollow Knight: Silksong — A long-awaited follow-up that stunned critics.
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II — Historic realism meets ambitious storytelling.
Stands Out’s
- Depth of choice — From indie gems (Hades II) to major studio hits (Death Stranding 2), the list covers a wide spectrum.
- Cultural impact — Clair Obscur is already making waves as potentially the most nominated game in the event’s history.
- Surprises & snubs — While the list is strong, some big names didn’t make it this time, which only fuels debate.
We’re witnessing a strong year for gaming — where art meets ambition, indie meets blockbuster, and expectation meets execution. Any of these six could walk away with the crown — and likely will, in one form or another.
Keep your fingers crossed, place your bets, and get ready for what happens when the curtain falls on December 11.
