MapleStory Universe emerged as one of the standout winners of our GAM3 Awards 2025, taking home the coveted Best RPG award. This recognition highlights the game’s engaging world, innovative design, and enduring appeal in a year marked by record engagement, high-profile partnerships, and growing interest in long-term gaming experiences.
Rising Acclaim for MapleStory Universe
Competing against more than 900 nominated games and 62 finalists, MapleStory Universe distinguished itself with its compelling storytelling, immersive gameplay, and ability to captivate both new and longtime fans. The title’s win reflects a broader industry trend toward narrative-driven RPGs that combine strong player agency with expansive, evolving worlds.
Its recognition positions MapleStory Universe as one of the most celebrated releases of 2025, backed by enthusiastic community support and acknowledgment from an expert panel that included leaders from both traditional and blockchain gaming sectors.
A Milestone Year for Gaming
The award was announced during our GAM3 Awards ceremony on November 21 in Manila, which featured a global broadcast highlighting the latest developments in gaming. Key engagement metrics from the event included:
900+ nominated games
700+ nominated creators
62 finalists
80+ jurors
376K+ voters casting 2M+ votes
600K+ livestream views, with 75K peak concurrent viewers
80M+ global impressions
These numbers underscore the strong community and industry interest in titles like MapleStory Universe, which generated significant discussion leading up to the awards.
Rigorous Selection and Industry Recognition
MapleStory Universe’s Best RPG win followed a careful evaluation process, with over 80 jury members (including executives from companies such as Krafton, Konami, Sony, Ubisoft, Google, Amazon, Animoca Brands, Immutable, and Avalanche) casting votes. Jury votes accounted for 90% of the outcome, while community voting contributed 10%, highlighting a broad spectrum of support for the game.
Among the Year’s Most Celebrated Titles
While Off The Grid won Game of the Year and several other genre-specific awards, MapleStory Universe distinguished itself as the top RPG, earning acclaim from both jurors and fans. Its placement alongside winners such as Project O, The Bornless, Pudgy Party, and Sunflower Land illustrates the competitive and diverse landscape of 2025’s gaming scene.
Backed by Expanding Industry Support
Our 2025 GAM3 Awards featured a record prize pool exceeding $7 million, with support from partners such as Forkast, Magic Eden, Hyperplay, Sequence, BGA, Amazon AWS, and AD Gaming, and major backing from OpenSea, Sui, Arbitrum, and Remix. This growing investment contributes to a stronger development environment for top-tier games like MapleStory Universe, enabling long-term stability, infrastructure support, and visibility.
Looking Ahead: Continuing the Adventure
With its Best RPG recognition, MapleStory Universe enters the next phase of its journey with heightened anticipation and visibility. The game’s achievement at our GAM3 Awards 2025 cements its status as a leading RPG to watch, setting expectations for immersive gameplay, evolving worldbuilding, and rich storytelling.
As our GAM3 Awards return in November 2026, MapleStory Universe’s ongoing development and community engagement will likely remain a benchmark for RPG excellence in the gaming world.
