The gaming world's most anticipated awards ceremony has officially revealed its contenders, with The Game Awards 2025 nominees being announced to widespread excitement and speculation across the industry.
Organiser and host Geoff Keighley unveiled the full list of nominations on November 17, setting the stage for what promises to be a fiercely competitive ceremony scheduled for December 12 at 1am GMT.
Game of the Year Contenders
Six titles have secured nominations for the prestigious Game of the Year award, representing some of the most critically acclaimed releases of the past twelve months. The elite group includes:
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Hades 2
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Industry insiders suggest there appears to be one clear frontrunner, though the final outcome remains uncertain until voting concludes.
Record-Breaking Nominations
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has achieved what no other game in the history of The Game Awards has managed, securing an unprecedented twelve nominations across multiple categories. This remarkable achievement establishes the Sandfall Interactive title as the most nominated game in the ceremony's history.
The selection process involved dozens of international media outlets, including Metro's GameCentral, who contributed to creating the final shortlist before the ultimate winners are revealed during the live December ceremony.
Category Highlights and Surprises
Beyond the main award, several intriguing narratives have emerged from the nomination lists. Clair Obscur, Silksong, and Hades 2 have all secured nominations in the Best Independent Game category, potentially overshadowing other contenders including Blue Prince, Absolum, and Ball x Pit.
The Best Narrative category features an interesting mix of expected heavyweights and surprise inclusions, with Silent Hill f joining established franchises in recognition of its storytelling achievements.
Meanwhile, the Most Anticipated Game category has generated significant discussion, featuring titles that have captured gamers' imaginations for years, including Grand Theft Auto 6 and The Witcher 4.
What to Expect from the Ceremony
While the awards themselves take centre stage, The Game Awards tradition of major game announcements continues to generate excitement. Though specific reveals remain tightly under wraps, confirmed appearances include the cast of Amazon's Fallout TV show, suggesting potential updates about the series' second season or rumoured Fallout 3 remaster.
Speculation among gaming communities points to possible updates for Naughty Dog's Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 4, both having maintained radio silence since their initial reveals approximately one year ago.
The recent announcement of the Steam Machine has also reignited hopes among Half-Life fans for a potential series revival, though such a major reveal might be reserved for a separate publisher event.
As with previous years, the ceremony promises to blend celebration of gaming achievements with tantalising glimpses into the medium's future, maintaining its position as one of the industry's most-watched annual events.
