The Game Awards 2025: Check out all the nominees.

Geoff Keighley, creator and presenter of The Game Awards 2025, announced this Monday (17), the nominees for some of the most important awards in the video game industry, which include awards ranging from best soundtrack to the big game of the year 2025. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 He leads with 12 nominations, while Death Stranding 2 e Ghost of Yotei They appear with 7 each. Hollow Knight: Silksong e hades 2 They also emerge among the titles with real chances at the major awards. Check out below the main nominees in the categories of the Oscars of video games, the TGA.

Best Esports Team

This category recognizes the team that demonstrated the most consistent and impactful performance in the competitive landscape throughout the year. Check out the nominees:

• Gen.G – League of Legends
• NRG – Valorant
• Team Falcons – DOTA 2
• Team Liquid PH – Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
• Team Vitality – Counter-Strike 2

Best Esports Athlete

This award highlights the player who demonstrated the greatest skill, consistency, and influence in the season's competitions. Check out the nominees:

• brawk – Brock Somerhalder (Valorant)
• Chovy – Jeong Ji-hoon (League of Legends)
• f0rsakeN – Jason Susanto (Valorant)
• Kakeru – Kakeru Watanabe (Street Fighter)
• MenaRD – Saul Leonardo (Street Fighter)
• Zyw0o – Mathieu Herbaut (Counter-Strike 2)

Best Esports Game

It recognizes the title that has maintained competitive relevance, continuous support, and an active community. Check out the nominees:

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

Content Creator of the Year

This award honors the creator who broadened their reach and generated significant impact within the gaming community. Check out the nominees:

• Caedrel
• kai cenat
• MoistCr1TiKaL
• Sakura Miko
• The Burnt Peanut

Most Anticipated Game of 2026

It points to the title predicted for 2026 that is generating the most interest among players and the industry. Check out the nominees:

• 007 First Light (IO Interactive)
• Grand Theft Auto VI (Rockstar Games)
• Marvel's Wolverine (Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Resident Evil Requiem (Capcom)
• The Witcher IV (CD Projekt Red)

Better Adaptation

It celebrates the audiovisual production that best translated elements of video games into another format. Check out the nominees:

• A Minecraft Movie (Legendary Pictures/Mojang/Warner Bros)
• Devil May Cry (Studio Mir/Capcom/Netflix)
• The Last of Us: Season 2 (HBO/PlayStation Productions)
• Splinter Cell: Deathwatch (FOST Studio/Ubisoft/Netflix)
• Until Dawn (Screen Gems/PlayStation Productions)

Best Multiplayer

This award recognizes the game that delivered the most engaging group experience, whether competitive or cooperative. Check out the nominees:

• Arc Raiders (Embark Studios)
• Battlefield 6 (Electronic Arts)
• Elden Ring Nightreign (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco Entertainment)
• Peak (Aggro Crab/Landfall)
• Split Fiction (Hazelight/EA)

Best Sports / Racing Game

This award recognizes the title that best represents sports or running experiences. Check out the nominees:

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

Best Simulation/Strategy Game

It emphasizes the game that offered solid systems and strategic planning within the genre. Check out the nominees:

• The Alters (11 Bit Studios)

• FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles (Square Enix)
• Jurassic World Evolution 3 (Frontier Developments)
• Sid Meier's Civilization VII (Firaxis Games/2K)
• Tempest Rising (Slipgate Ironworks/3D Realms)
• Two Point Museum (Two Point Studios/Sega)

Best Family Game

Aimed at making the title accessible to all ages and suitable for shared gaming sessions. Check out the nominees:

• Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
• LEGOParty! (SMG Studio/Fictions)
• LEGO Voyagers (Light Brick Studios/Annapurna Interactive)
• Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Sonic Team/Sega)
• Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios/EA)

Best Fight Game

It highlights the game that has evolved the most in combat mechanics and competitive landscape. Check out the nominees:

• 2XKO (Riot Games)
• Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (Capcom)
• Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (SNK Corporation)
• Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection (Digital Eclipse/Atari)
• Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega)

Best RPG

Focus on the title that best develops progression, choices, and world-building within the genre. Check out the nominees:

• Avowed (Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios)
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios/Deep Silver)
• The Outer Worlds 2 (Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios)
• Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom)

Best Action Game

This award recognizes the game that stood out for its intense pace, combat, and precise controls. Check out the nominees:

• Battlefield 6 (Battlefield Studios/EA)
• Doom: The Dark Ages (id Software/Bethesda Softworks)
• Hades II (Supergiant Games)
• Ninja Gaiden 4 (Platinum Games/Team Ninja/Xbox Game Studios)
• Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (Lizardcube/Sega)

Best Action and Adventure Game

Evaluate the title that effectively combined exploration, combat, and narrative. Check out the nominees:

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (MachineGames/Bethesda Softworks)
• Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
• Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios/EA)

Best VR/AR Game

This highlights the game that best utilized virtual or augmented reality features to create new forms of interaction. Check out the nominees:

• Alien: Rogue Incursion (Survios)
• Arken Age (VitruviusVR)
• Ghost Town (Fireproof Games)
• Marvel's Deadpool VR (Twisted Pixel Games/Oculus Studios)
• The Midnight Walk (MoonHood/Fast Travel Games)

Best Mobile Game

This award recognizes the smartphone-developed title that excelled in gameplay and accessibility. Check out the nominees:

• Destiny: Rising (NetEase Games)
• Persona 5: The Phantom X (Black Wings Game Studio/Sega)
• Sonic Rumble (Rovio Entertainment/Sega)
• Umamusume: Pretty Derby (Cygames Inc.)
• Wuthering Waves (Kuro Games)

Best Indie Debut

It highlights the first title from a studio that demonstrated its own identity and mastery of the fundamentals of development. Check out the nominees:

• Blue Prince (Dogubomb/Raw Fury)
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
• Despelote (Julián Cordero/Sebastián Valbuena/Panic)
• Dispatch (AdHoc Studio)
• Megabonk (Vedinad)

Best Independent Game

It recognizes independent productions that stood out for their creativity, execution, and impact on the audience. Check out the nominees:

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

Better Community Support

It recognizes games that maintain active communication, consistent support, and direct engagement with their players. Check out the nominees:

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

Best Ongoing Game

This award recognizes titles released in previous years that continue to receive updates, improvements, and new content. Check out the nominees:

• Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)
• Fortnite (Epic Games)
• Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Marvel Rivals (NetEase Games)
• No Man's Sky (Hello Games)

Games for Impact Award

Designed for games that address sensitive and relevant themes, expanding discussions that go beyond mere entertainment. Check out the nominees:

• Consume Me (Jenny Jiao Hsia/AP Thomson/Hexacutable)
• Despelote (Julián Cordero/Sebastián Valbuena/Panic)
• Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Don't Nod Montreal/Don't Nod)
• South of Midnight (Compulsion Games/Xbox Game Studios)
• Wanderstop (Ivy Road/Annapurna Interactive)

Innovation in Accessibility Award

It focuses on productions that implement features designed to facilitate access for people with different types of disabilities. Check out the nominees:

• Assassin's Creed Shadows (Ubisoft)
• Atomfall (Rebellion)
• Doom: The Dark Ages (id Software/Bethesda Softworks)
• EA Sports FC 26 (EA Canada/EA Romania/EA)
• South of Midnight (Compulsion Games/Xbox Game Studios)

Best Performance/Action

It celebrates the work of actors and actresses who brought characters to life through memorable performances. Check out the nominees:

• Ben Starr (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
• Charlie Cox (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
• Erika Ishii (Ghost of Yōtei)
• Jennifer English (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
• Konatsu Kato (Silent Hill f)
• Troy Baker (Indiana Jones and the Big Circle)

Best Audio Design

It recognizes the use of sound effects and mixing that directly contribute to player immersion. Check out the nominees:

• Battlefield 6 (Battlefield Studios/EA)
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Silent Hill f (NeoBards Entertainment/KONAMI)

Best Soundtrack

While an orchestra will be responsible for what is likely to be an incredible performance, the Best Soundtrack category will be presented at the ceremony. This award highlights musical compositions that elevate the narrative, atmosphere, and identity of the games. Check out the nominees:

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

Best Art Direction

It recognizes the visual style, aesthetic choices, and artistic coherence of each project. Check out the nominees:

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

Best Narrative

It highlights stories that feature solid construction, well-developed characters, and good dramatic direction. Check out the nominees:

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
• Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios/Deep Silver)
• Silent Hill f (NeoBards Entertainment/KONAMI)

Best Direction

This award recognizes outstanding creative vision and innovation in the direction and design of a game. Check out the nominees:

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

Best Game of the Year

Finally, the grand prize of the night. The famous GOTY (Game of the Year) This award recognizes the title that best represents the body of work in 2025, combining impact, quality, and cultural relevance. Check out the nominees for tonight's grand prize:

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

Besides the nominees, the TGA is responsible every year for new game announcements that will impact the gaming industry in the coming years. But what about you, which of these nominees? The Game Awards Who will be cheering you on during the event, and what announcements are you hoping to see?

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Text revised by Alexandre Marques in 18 / 11 / 2025.

Source: The Game Awards.