Image credit: The Game Awards

The Game Awards 2025 GOTY winner has been revealed! See the full winner list, biggest announcements, and what made this year’s champion stand out.

The Game Awards 2025 has officially wrapped, delivering one of the strongest and most competitive lineups in the event’s history. With major AAA releases, groundbreaking indie titles, and record-breaking player engagement across multiple platforms, this year’s ceremony showcased just how diverse and innovative modern gaming has become.

The Game Awards 2025 – Who Won Game of the Year? Full Recap & All Nominees

But one moment overshadowed all others – the announcement of the Game of the Year 2025 winner.

After intense debate, critical praise, and months of community speculation, the GOTY award went to:

Game of the Year 2025 Winner:

Clair Obscure: Expedition 33

The game dominated critic charts, became a breakout hit on streaming platforms, and captivated players worldwide with its painterly art direction, emotional storytelling, and unique combat system. It stands as one of the most influential releases of the decade and a landmark achievement in French game development.

Below you’ll find a full breakdown of every category, all nominees, and the official winners – along with a comprehensive article summarizing the event.

A Year Defined by Creative Risks

Many of the games nominated this year took bold steps away from established formulas. Instead of relying on sequels or safe design trends, the industry saw a leap in experimental storytelling and hybrid genre design. Titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach pushed narrative boundaries, while games such as Hollow Knight: Silksong and Monster Hunter Wilds continued to evolve beloved franchises with fresh approaches.

Indies, too, made a massive impact. 2025 continued the trend of small teams producing giant hits — Megabonk, Hades II, and Little Nightmares III proved once again that creativity eclipses budget.

Major Highlights From the Show

The Game Awards 2025 wasn’t just about trophies. Fans were treated to:

  • Pragmata – April 24, 2026 | Pre-order Aviable Now also Demo on Steam
  • Solasta II – March 12, 2026
  • Star Wars: Fate of The Old Republic | TBA
  • John Carpenters Toxic Commando – March 12, 2026
  • New Divinity Game – No more information yet
  • 4Loop – J.J Abrams Co-op Game inspired by Left 4 Dead
  • Leon Kennedy as Playable Character in Resident Evil Requiem
  • Exodus – Coming in Early 2027
  • Control Resonant – Coming in 2026
  • Gang of Dragon – Nagoshi Studio | TBA
  • Streat Fighter Movie Adaptation | TBA
  • Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight – New Gameplay Trailer, May 29, 2026
  • Tomb Raider: Catalyst – Coming in 2027
  • Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis – Coming in 2026
  • Orbitalis – Coming in 2026 | Nintendo Switch 2 Co-op
  • Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred – Coming in April 28, 2026
  • Saros – Coming in April 30, 2026
  • NoLaw – TBA
  • Total War: Warhammer 40k – TBA
  • Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve – Coming in 2026
  • Star Wars: Galactic Racer – Coming in 2026
  • Out of Words – Coming in 2026
  • Phantom Blade Zero – Coming in September 9, 2026
  • Megaman Dual Override – Coming in 2027
  • Super Mario Galaxy Movie – Coming in 2026
  • HighGuard – Coming in January 26, 2026 | Free to Plays

TGA has accustomed us to a show full of surprises, emotions, unexpected twists and tons of new announcements for the coming years, but we have to admit that this year’s event was one of the best!

Full List of Categories, Nominees & Winners – The Game Awards 2025

(Winners are bolded)

Game of The Year

  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive)
  • Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (Kojima Productions)
  • Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EDP)
  • Hades II (Supergiant Games)
  • Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
  • Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios)

Best Game Direction

  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive)
  • Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (Kojima Productions)
  • Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions)
  • Hades II (Supergiant Games)
  • Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios)

Best Narrative

  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive)
  • Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (Kojima Productions)
  • Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions)
  • Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios)
  • Silent Hill f (Konami)

Best Art Direction

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

Best Score and Music

  • Christopher Larkin – Hollow Knight: Silksong
  • Darren Korb – Hades II
  • Lorien Testard – Clair Obscure: Expedition 33
  • Toma Otowa – Ghost of Yōtei
  • Woodkid and Ludvig Forssell – Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

Best Audio Design

  • Battlefield 6 (Battlefield Studios)
  • Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive)
  • Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (Kojima Productions)
  • Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions)
  • Silent Hill f (Konami)

Best Performence

  • Ben Starr – Clair Obscure: Expedition 33
  • Charlie Cox – Clair Obscure: Expedition 33
  • Erika Ishii – Ghost of Yōtei
  • Jennifer English – Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 – Maelle
  • Troy Baker – Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Innovation in Accessibility

  • Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Ubisoft)
  • Atomfall (Rebellion)
  • Doom: The Dark Ages (id Software)
  • EA Sports FC 26 (EA Canada)
  • South of Midnight (Compulsion Games)

Games for Impact

  • Consume Me (Jenny Jiao Hsia)
  • Despelote (Julian Cordero)
  • Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Don’t Nod Montreal)
  • South of Midnight (Compulsion Games)
  • Wanderstop (Ivy Road)

Best Ongoing

  • Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)
  • Fortninte (Epic Games)
  • Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios)
  • Marvel Rivals (NetEase Games)
  • No Man’s Sky (Hello Games)

Best Community Support

  • Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
  • Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)
  • Fortnite (Epic Games)
  • Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios)
  • No Man’s Sky (Hello Games)

Best Independent Game

  • Absolum (Guard Crush Games)
  • Ball x Pit (Kenny Sun)
  • Blue Prince (Dogubomb)
  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive)
  • Hades II (Supergiant Games)
  • Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)

Best Debut Indie Game

  • Blue Prince (Dogubomb)
  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive)
  • Despelote (Julian Cordero)
  • Dispatch (AdHoc Studio)

Best Mobile Game

  • Destiny: Rising (NetEase Games)
  • Persona 5: The Phantom X (Sega)
  • Sonic Rumble (Sega)
  • Umamusume: Pretty Derby (Cygames Inc.)
  • Wuthering Waves (Kuro Games)

Best VR/AR

  • Alien: Rouge Incursion (Survios)
  • Arken Age (VitruviusVR)
  • Ghost Town (Fireproof Games)
  • Marvel’s Deadpool VR (Twisted Pixel Games)
  • The Midnight Walk (MoonHood)

Best Action Game

  • Battlefield 6 (Battlefield Studios)
  • Doom: The Dark Ages (id Software)
  • Hades II (Supergiants Games)
  • Ninja Gaiden 4 (Platinum Games/Team Ninja)
  • Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (Lizardcube)

Best Action/Adventure

  • Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (Kojima Productions)
  • Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions)
  • Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
  • Indiana Jones and The Great Circle (MachineGames)
  • Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios)

Best RPG

  • Avowed (Obsidian Entertainment)
  • Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive)
  • Kingdome Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios)
  • Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom)
  • The Outer Worlds 2 (Obsidian Entertainment)

Best Fighting

  • 2XKO (Riot Games)
  • Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (Capcom)
  • Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (SNK Corporation)
  • Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection (Atari)
  • Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage (RGG Studio/Sega)

Best Family

  • Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD)
  • Lego Party! (SMG Studios)
  • Lego Voyagers (Light Brick Studios)
  • Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD)
  • Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Sega)
  • Split Fiction (Hazelight Stidios)

Best Sim/Strategy

  • Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles (Square Enix)
  • Jurassic World Evolution 3 (Frontier Developments)
  • Sid Meier’s Civilization VII (Firaxis Games)
  • Tempest Rising (Splitgate Ironworks)
  • The Alters (11 Bits Studios)
  • Two Point Museum (Two Point Studios)

Best Sports/Racing

  • EA Sports FC 26 (EA Canada)
  • F1 25 (Codemasters)
  • Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD)
  • Rematch (Sloclap)
  • Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (RGG Studio/Sega)

Best Multiplayer

  • ARC Raiders (Embark Studios)
  • Battlefield 6 (Battlefield Studios)
  • Elden Ring: Nightreign (FormSoftware)
  • PEAK (Aggro Crab/Landfall)
  • Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios)

Best Adaptation

  • A Minecraft Movie (Warner Bros)
  • Devil May Cry (Netflix)
  • Splinter Cell: Deathwatch (Netflix)
  • The Last of Us: Season 2 (HBO)
  • Until Dawn (PlayStation Productions)

Most Anticipated Game

  • 007 First Light (IO Interactive)
  • Grand Theft Auto VI (Rockstar Games)
  • Marvel’s Wolverine (Insomniac Games)
  • Resident Evil Requiem (Capcom)
  • The Witcher IV (CD Project Red)

Content Creator of the Year

  • Caedrel
  • Kai Cenat
  • MoistCr1tikal
  • Sakura Miko
  • The Burnt Peanut

Best Esports Game

  • Counter-Strike 2 (Valve)
  • Dota 2 (Valve)
  • League of Legends (Riot Games)
  • Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (Moonton)
  • Valorant (Riot Games)

Best Esports Athlete

  • Brawn (Valorant)
  • Chovy (League of Legends)
  • F0rsaken (Valorant)
  • Kakeru (Street Fighter)
  • Menard (Street Fighter)
  • Zyw0o (Counter-Strike 2)

Best Esports Team

  • GEN.G (League of Legends)
  • NRG (Valorant)
  • Team Falons (Dota 2)
  • Team Liquid PH (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang)
  • Team Vitality (Counter-Strike 2)