The Game Awards 2025 wrapped up on December 11, closing out one of the busiest years in gaming with a ceremony packed with announcements, performances, and industry recognition. The show continued its focus on major releases, live-service titles, indie standouts, and evolving areas such as esports, mobile gaming, and accessibility. Across the event, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stood out as the night’s most awarded title, taking home nine wins including Game of the Year and setting a new record for the show.
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A Dominant Night for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
This year’s ceremony was defined by the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The game’s strong presence across narrative, direction, art, and performance categories positioned it as one of the breakout hits of 2025. Its recognition extended into independent and debut categories as well, showing broad appeal across both the mainstream and indie spaces. While several anticipated releases made strong showings, none matched the consistent placements earned by the title throughout the night.
Strong Performances Across Major Genres
Beyond the top categories, the awards showcased a wide range of genre representation. Hollow Knight: Silksong earned attention with its win in Best Action/Adventure, while Hades II took home Best Action Game. Long-running franchises remained relevant with wins like Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles in the Sim/Strategy category, and Donkey Kong Bananza securing Best Family Game. Multiplayer and live-service titles also maintained their presence, highlighted by ARC Raiders winning Best Multiplayer and No Man’s Sky taking Best Ongoing Game.
Expanding Recognition for Accessibility, Adaptations, and Emerging Platforms
The ceremony continued its emphasis on categories that reflect the industry’s broader direction. Doom: The Dark Ages won Innovation in Accessibility, acknowledging efforts to reduce barriers for players. In adaptation, The Last of Us Season 2 secured the top spot, reinforcing the growing connection between games and mainstream entertainment. VR, mobile, and esports categories further illustrated the shifting landscape, with The Midnight Walk, Umamusume Pretty Derby, and Counter-Strike 2 leading their respective fields.
Full Breakdown of Winners
The Game Awards 2025 delivered a comprehensive set of results across dozens of categories. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won Game of the Year and dominated in direction, narrative, and art. Battlefield 6 secured Best Audio Design, while Jennifer English won Best Performance for her role in Clair Obscur. Indie representation remained strong through titles like Blue Prince and Despelote, and esports categories highlighted Team Vitality and athlete Chovy. On the anticipation front, Grand Theft Auto VI was named the Most Anticipated Game, maintaining its position as one of the most discussed projects in the industry.
A Reflection of a Changing Industry
As the industry grows across platforms and genres, The Game Awards 2025 offered a clear picture of current trends. High-profile AAA projects still carry weight, but independent development, accessibility improvements, adaptation success, and evolving categories like VR and esports continue shaping the future of gaming. The strong presence of narrative-driven titles and visually distinctive games suggests that artistic ambition remains a key factor for both players and critics.
Game of the Year
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Donkey Kong Bananza
Hades II
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Best Game Direction
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Hades II
Split Fiction
Best Narrative
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Silent Hill f
Best Art Direction
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Hades II
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Score & Music
Christopher Larkin – Hollow Knight: Silksong
Darren Korb – Hades II
Lorien Testard – Clair Obscur: Expédition 33 – WINNER
Toma Otowa – Ghost of Yōtei
Woodkid & Ludvig Forssell – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Best Audio Design
Battlefield 6 – WINNER
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Silent Hill f
Best Performance
Ben Starr as Verso – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Charlie Cox as Gustave – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Erika Ishii as Atsu – Ghost of Yōtei
Jennifer English as Maelle – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER
Konatsu Kato as Shimizu Hinako – Silent Hill f
Troy Baker as Indiana Jones – Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Best Independent Game
Absolum
Ball x Pit
Blue Prince
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER
Hades II
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Best Debut Indie Game
Blue Prince
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER
Despelote
Dispatch
Games for Impact
Consume Me
Despelote
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
South of Midnight – WINNER
Wanderstop
Best Action Game
Battlefield 6
Doom: The Dark Ages
Hades II – WINNER
Ninja Gaiden 4
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Best Action/Adventure Game
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Hollow Knight: Silksong – WINNER
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Split Fiction
Best Role-Playing Game
Avowed
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – WINNER
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Monster Hunter Wilds
The Outer Worlds 2
Best Sim/Strategy Game
The Alters
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles – WINNER
Jurassic World Evolution 3
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
Tempest Rising
Two Point Museum
Best Fighting Game
2XKO
Capcom Fighting Collection 2
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves – WINNER
Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage
Best Family Game
Donkey Kong Bananza – WINNER
Lego Party!
Lego Voyagers
Mario Kart World
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Split Fiction
Best Sports/Racing Game
EA Sports FC 26
F1 25
Mario Kart World – WINNER
Rematch
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Best Multiplayer
ARC Raiders – WINNER
Battlefield 6
Elden Ring Nightreign
Peak
Split Fiction
Best Ongoing Game
Final Fantasy XIV
Fortnite
Helldivers 2
Marvel Rivals
No Man’s Sky – WINNER
Best Community Support
Baldur’s Gate 3 – WINNER
Final Fantasy XIV
Fortnite
Helldivers 2
No Man’s Sky
Best VR/AR Game
Alien: Rogue Incursion
Arken Age
Ghost Town
Marvel’s Deadpool VR
The Midnight Walk – WINNER
Best Mobile Game
Destiny Rising
Persona 5: The Phantom X
Sonic Rumble
Umamusume Pretty Derby – WINNER
Wuthering Waves
Innovation in Accessibility
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Atomfall
Doom: The Dark Ages – WINNER
EA Sports FC 25
South of Midnight
Best Adaptation
A Minecraft Movie
Devil May Cry
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
The Last of Us Season 2 – WINNER
Until Dawn
Best Esports Game
Counter-Strike 2 – WINNER
Dota 2
League of Legends
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Valorant
Best Esports Athlete
Brawk
Chovy – WINNER
Forsaken
Kakeru
Menard
Zywoo
Best Esports Team
Gen.G (League of Legends)
NRG (Valorant)
Team Falcons (Dota 2)
Team Liquid PH (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang)
Team Vitality (Counter-Strike 2) – WINNER
Content Creator of the Year
Caedrel
Kai Cenat
MoistCr1TiKaL – WINNER
Sakura Miko
The Burnt Peanut
Most Anticipated Game
007 First Light
Grand Theft Auto VI – WINNER
Marvel’s Wolverine
Resident Evil Requiem
The Witcher IV
Player’s Voice
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Wuthering Waves – WINNER
Genshin Impact
Dispatch
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won Game of the Year, along with multiple other categories.
Which game won the most awards in 2025?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 received nine awards, becoming the most awarded game in the show’s history.
What won Best Action Game at the event?
Hades II won Best Action Game.
Which title won Best Action/Adventure?
Hollow Knight: Silksong won Best Action/Adventure.
Who won Best Performance at The Game Awards 2025?
Jennifer English won for her role as Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
What game won Most Anticipated Game for 2025 and beyond?
Grand Theft Auto VI was awarded Most Anticipated Game.
Did any web3 games win awards this year?
No web3 titles received awards in the 2025 lineup.
Which game won Best Ongoing Game?
No Man’s Sky won Best Ongoing Game.
Who won Best Esports Game?
Counter-Strike 2 won Best Esports Game.
Where can players watch The Game Awards 2025?
The ceremony was streamed across major platforms, including YouTube, Twitch, and other official streaming partners.
