Game Awards 2025: Nominees, Trends & What to Expect

Introduction

The Game Awards — created and hosted by journalist Geoff Keighley — have become the most-watched video game awards show in the world. Held each December in Los Angeles, the event celebrates outstanding achievements across the industry. The Game Awards 2025, taking place at the iconic Peacock Theater, continue the tradition of honoring creativity, innovation, and standout titles across dozens of categories.

Much like the earlier Spike Video Game Awards, the show now blends reveals, world premieres, and community celebration. This year’s nominations include returning classics, surprise indies, collaborations between different studio names, and major franchises like Final Fantasy, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Virtua Fighter making waves again.

Key Nomination Highlights at the Game Awards 2025

Record-breaking nominations

The headline of the year is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which secured 12 nominations, the highest ever in the event’s history. Its nomination spread includes Best Narrative, Best Game Direction, Best RPG, and Game of the Year. Its sweeping presence reflects how even a first game from a different studio name can reshape the conversation.

Game of the Year contenders

The full list of GOTY contenders for 2025 includes both AAA blockbusters and standout indie titles:

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Donkey Kong Bananza
• Hades II
• Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

From Breath of the Wild-influenced design philosophies to cinematic storytelling, this lineup showcases the breadth of modern game development.

Major franchise presence

Several long-running franchises appear throughout the nomination categories, including:

• Monster Hunter Wilds (Best RPG, Best Art Direction)
• Final Fantasy XIV (Ongoing Game, Best Community Support)
• Devil May Cry (Best Action Game)
• Indiana Jones (Best Action-Adventure Game)
• Mario Kart World (Best Family Game)
• A new Splinter Cell entry making its first time appearance in years

Their presence shows how legacy brands continue to evolve with new downloadable content, seasonal content, and modern design approaches.

The Rise of Indie Games at the Game Awards 2025

Indie games gaining serious ground

This year continues the momentum seen in recent seasons: indies are now competing directly with blockbusters. Titles in categories like Best Debut Indie Game, Debut Indie Game, and Best Debut Indie highlight the strength of new creative voices.

Breakout candidates include:

• Blue Prince (multiple nominations)
• Hades II (hybrid indie-AAA success)
• Hollow Knight: Silksong (a long-awaited sequel)

Why this shift matters

Indies appearing in the biggest categories — even GOTY — show that innovation, emotional narrative, and experimental systems matter as much as large budgets. For many players, it means more discoveries, more artistic risks, and more variety in the video game landscape.

A spotlight on debut games

The Best Debut Indie Game category is especially competitive this year, representing studios releasing their first game for the first time at a global scale. These titles help shape future trends, often influencing AAA development for years to come.

What to Expect at the Game Awards 2025 Event

Ceremony details

The Game Awards 2025 take place December 11 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, featuring live performances, new trailers, and world premieres. Geoff Keighley has already teased surprise appearances and several major game reveals from franchises like The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Splinter Cell.

Trends to watch at the Game Awards

• Franchise rebirths – Possible announcements for Zelda or a new Virtua Fighter installment.
• Indie dominance – Multiple indie titles hitting GOTY conversations.
• Platform flexibility – Cross-play, cloud platforms, and subscription visibility.
• Community influence – Players’ Voice voting influencing momentum.
• Seasonal content – Live-service games emphasizing ongoing updates, expansions, and collaborative events.

Why the Game Awards matter

The Game Awards act as a snapshot of the industry’s direction. They highlight artistic achievements, technological leaps, and trends across platforms. For studios and publishers, it’s a global showcase — and for players, it’s the perfect moment to discover new favorites through trailers, demos, and links from the official website.

FAQ – Game Awards 2025

How can I watch The Game Awards live online?

You can watch The Game Awards 2025 live through the show’s official YouTube and Twitch channels, as well as through regional broadcast partners and embedded streams on the official website. The ceremony is streamed for free in 4K and typically includes pre-show coverage featuring exclusive reveals, interviews, and early award presentations.

Can I follow The Game Awards updates on social media?

Yes. The Game Awards provides real-time updates on Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and even via Discord announcements. Host Geoff Keighley also posts behind-the-scenes teases, voting updates, and world-premiere hints across his own social channels, making them reliable sources for breaking news.

What categories are included in The Game Awards 2025?

The Game Awards 2025 features dozens of categories, including Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Debut Indie Game, Best RPG, Best Action, Best Ongoing Game, Best Esports Game, Best Performance, Best Indie Game, Games for Impact, Best Family Game, Best Art Direction, Best Score & Music, and more. Additional technical and genre-specific awards round out the show’s full list.

How do developers qualify their games for The Game Awards?

To qualify, games must be released within the eligibility window set by The Game Awards, usually covering the 12 months leading up to the event. Developers submit their titles through the official jury submission portal, after which a panel of global media outlets plays, reviews, and nominates games based on quality, innovation, creativity, and impact.

Where can I find the full list of winners for The Game Awards 2025?

The complete list of winners will be posted on TheGameAwards.com immediately after the ceremony. Major gaming outlets such as IGN, GameSpot, Polygon, and the show’s official YouTube channel will also publish updated lists, winner breakdowns, and highlight videos. Social media recaps are posted throughout the night as categories are announced.

Has the official Game Awards website been experiencing issues lately?

Some users have reported brief loading delays around nomination week and during peak voting hours, likely due to heavy traffic. This typically occurs when fan voting opens or major announcements are released. Refreshing the page or accessing the site during off-peak hours generally resolves the issue.

What is The Indie Game Awards and how is it different from The Game Awards?

The Indie Game Awards is a separate showcase dedicated exclusively to independent titles and new studios, often highlighting experimental mechanics and creative storytelling. While The Game Awards includes categories for Best Indie and Best Debut Indie Game, the Indie Game Awards focuses entirely on indie creators, giving them a standalone platform beyond the larger, industry-wide Game Awards ceremony.