December is fast approaching, which means the Oscars of the gaming industry, Geoff Keighley’s annual blockbuster event, The Game Awards, is almost here. The nominations for this year’s categories have just been announced, and the leading titles come as no surprise.
2025, by and large, has been a huge year for gaming, and The Game Awards is a nice summary of the blend of AAA studio-made titles and indie releases that have dominated the downloads and charts throughout the year.
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2025’s most-recognised game in terms of nominations is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, leading with an impressive (and well-deserved) 12 nominations, and the runner-ups on the nomination podium are tied with seven nominations each: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghosts of Yōtei.
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Following this announcement, voting from both the Game Awards Jury and the community will determine the winners, which will be announced live alongside reveals and new looks at upcoming games from 11:30 am AEST on Friday, December 12.
More information about The Game Awards can be found here.
Game of the Year
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Donkey Kong Bananza
Hades 2
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
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 and Music
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Hades 2
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Audio Design
Battlefield 6
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Silent Hill f
Best Performance
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Jennifer English
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Ben Starr
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Charlie Cox
Ghost of Yōtei – Erika Ishii
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – Troy Baker
Silent Hill f – Konatsu Kato
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 and Rage
South of Midnight
Wanderstop
Best Ongoing
Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail
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 Game
Alien: Rogue Incursion
Arken Age
Deadpool VR
Ghost Town
The Midnight Walk
Best Action Game
Battlefield 6
Doom: The Dark Ages
Hades 2
Ninja Gaiden 4
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Best Action/Adventure Game
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Split Fiction
Best RPG Game
Avowed
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Monster Hunter Wilds
The Outer Worlds 2
Best Fighting Game
2XKO
Capcom Fighting Collection 2
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
Virtua Fighter 5 REVO
Best Family Game
Donkey Kong Bananza
Lego Party
Lego Voyagers
Mario Kart World
Sonic Racing Crossworlds
Split Fiction
Best Sim/Strategy Game
Civilization 7
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
Jurassic World Evolution 3
The Alters
Tempest Rising
Two Point Museum
Best Sports/Racing Game
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
Splinter Cell Deathwatch
The Last of Us season 2
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
Chovy
Forsaken
Kakeru
Menard
Zywoo
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)
