The prestigious Golden Joystick Awards 2025 is shaping up for an epic showdown, with two highly anticipated indie sequels, Hollow Knight: Silk song and Hades II, emerging as the frontrunners for the coveted Game of the Year title.
This year's ceremony promises to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, pitting the beautifully hand-drawn, insectoid world of Team Cherry's Silk song against the mythologically-charged, rogue-like action of Supergiant Games' Hades II. Both titles have captured the imagination of players and critics alike, generating immense hype long before their official release.
A Clash of Titans
The nomination sets the stage for a fascinating battle between two distinct pillars of the indie development scene. Hollow Knight: Silk song aims to build upon the near-perfect foundation of its predecessor, promising a vast new kingdom to explore. Meanwhile, Hades II seeks to replicate the explosive success of the original, which itself was a previous Golden Joystick winner, lauded for its revolutionary narrative design and addictive gameplay loop.
What This Means for Gamers
For the gaming community, this head-to-head contest is a win-win scenario. The prominence of these two titles highlights a continued and powerful trend: indie games are not just competing with but often surpassing their AAA counterparts in innovation and player acclaim. The ultimate winner will be decided by a global vote from the players themselves, giving the community direct power to crown this year's champion.
The full list of nominees across all categories will be revealed in the coming weeks, with the awards ceremony scheduled for later this year. All eyes will be on which of these two gaming giants will claim the golden joystick and secure their place in video game history.
