That’s another “wrap” on The Game Awards for this year as Geoff Keighley and his team gave us a look at what gaming has in store for us next year and beyond. We already got a rundown of every ad… Game Awards announcement, but now let’s recap who actually won those, oh so, heavy game award trophies.
As usual, the Game Awards took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on December 11th, and the main show will stream live starting at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, TikTok and more including starting in 2025 on the Prime Video streaming service. Last year, Astro Bot swept at The Game Awards 2024 as the Sony exclusive took home awards across four categories, including the coveted Game of the Year award.
Even though it’s another year of The Game Awards, unlike other years, the show has gotten some deserved bad press leading up to the show, including the event’s ticket price controversy for developers, media, and fans. The major one from Alyssa Mercante via The Guardian, who reported that members of The Game Awards’ currently on hiatus Future Class programme, which highlighted the game industry’s “bright, bold and inclusive future,” felt neglected by Geoff Keignley and his team.
Game producer and 2020 class member Dianna Lora said that the Future Class “were effectively props” as while Keighley was chumming it up in a party room with game industry figures and influencers, the Future Class were conducting a meeting at Starbucks that official leadership didn’t show up for until it was basically over. The current and last Future Class were notable for looking to Geoff Keighley to use his Game Awards platform to highlight a fresh, at the time, injustice.
That being for the Geoff, live during the Game Awards to acknowledge Israel’s (still currently ongoing) genocide against Palestinians in Gaza at the Game Awards 2023, in an open letter co-signed by more than 3,000 of their industry peers. That obviously didn’t happen as Geoff Keighley and his team was silent in doing the bare minimum of even just acknowledging the open letter with The Game Awards host later stating the reason he never responded to it was due to “because that’s my show and nobody gets to tell me how I should use my platform,” according to Younès Rabii on Bluesky.
Below we have listed each of the 29 categories, its nominees and most importantly, the winners from the 2025 edition of The Game Awards presented by Geoff Keighley. The recipients of each specific Game Awards winner will be bolded, so check it out to find out who won this year.
Game of the Year
Description: Recognizing a game that delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields.
- Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive)
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD / Nintendo)
- Hades II (Supergiant Games)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
- Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 (Warhorse Studios / Deep Silver)
Best Game Direction
Description: Awarded for outstanding creative vision and innovation in game direction and design.
- Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive)
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Hades II (Supergiant Games)
- Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios / EA)
Best Narrative
Description: For outstanding storytelling and narrative development in a game.
- Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive)
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (Warhorse Studios / Deep Silver)
- Silent Hill f (NeoBards Entertainment / Konami)
Best Performance
Description: Awarded to an individual for voice-over acting, motion and/or performance capture.
- Ben Starr (Played Verso in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
- Charlie Cox (Played Gustav in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
- Erika Ishii (Played Atsu in Ghost of Yōtei)
- Winner: Jennifer English (Played Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
- Konatsu Kato (Played Hinako Shimizu in Silent Hill f)
- Troy Baker (Played Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle)
Best Score and Music
Description: For outstanding music, inclusive of score, original song and/or licensed soundtrack.
- Christopher Larkin – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Darren Korb – Hades II
- Winner: Lorien Testard – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Toma Otowa – Ghost of Yōtei
- Woodkid and Ludvig Forssell – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Best Art Direction
Description: For outstanding creative and/or technical achievement in artistic design and animation
- Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive)
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Hades II (Supergiant Games)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
Best Audio Design
Description: Recognizing the best in-game audio and sound design.
- Winner: Battlefield 6 (Battlefield Studios / EA)
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive)
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Silent Hill f (NeoBards Entertainment / Konami)
Innovation in Accessibility
Description: Recognizing software and/or hardware that is pushing the medium forward by adding features, technology and content to help games be played and enjoyed by an even wider audience.
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Ubisoft Québec / Ubisoft)
- Atomfall (Rebellion)
- Winner: DOOM: The Dark Ages (id Software / Bethesda Softworks)
- EA Sports FC 26 (EA Vancouver / EA Romania / EA)
- South of Midnight (Compulsion Games / Xbox Game Studios)
Best Independent Game
Description: For outstanding creative and technical achievement in a game made outside the traditional publisher system.
- Absolum (Guard Crush Games / Supamonks / Dotemu)
- Ball x Pit (Kenny Sun / Devolver Digital)
- Blue Prince (Dogubomb / Raw Fury)
- Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive)
- Hades II (Supergiant Games)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
Best Debut Indie Game
Description: For the best debut game created by a new independent studio.
- Blue Prince (Dogubomb / Raw Fury)
- Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive)
- Despelote (Julián Cordero / Sebastián Valbuena / Panic)
- Dispatch (AdHoc Studio)
Games for Impact
Description: For a thought-provoking game with a pro-social meaning or message.
- Consume Me (Jenny Jiao Hsia / AP Thomson / Hexacutable)
- Despelote (Julián Cordero / Sebastián Valbuena / Panic)
- Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Don’t Nod Montreal / Don’t Nod)
- Winner: South of Midnight (Compulsion Games / Xbox Game Studios) — coming to PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 in Spring 2025
- Wanderstop (Ivy Road / Annapurna Interactive)
Best Action Game
Description: For the best game in the action genre focused primarily on combat.
- Battlefield 6 (Battlefield Studios / EA)
- Doom: The Dark Ages (id Software / Bethesda Softworks)
- Winner: Hades II (Supergiant Games)
- Ninja Gaiden 4 (Platinum Games / Team Ninja / Xbox Game Studios)
- Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (Lizardcube / SEGA)
Best Action / Adventure Game
Description: For the best action / adventure game, combining combat with traversal and puzzle solving.
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (MachineGames / Bethesda Softworks)
- Winner: Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
- Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios / EA)
Best RPG
Description: For the best game designed with rich player character customization and progression, including massively multiplayer experiences.
- Avowed (Obsidian Entertainment / Xbox Game Studios)
- Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive)
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (Warhorse Studios / Deep Silver)
- The Outer Worlds 2 (Obsidian Entertainment / Xbox Game Studios)
- Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom)
Best Family Game
Description: For the best game appropriate for family play, irrespective of genre or platform.
- Winner: Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD / Nintendo)
- LEGO Party! (SMG Studio / Fictions)
- LEGO Voyagers (Light Brick Studios / Annapurna Interactive)
- Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD / Nintendo)
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Sonic Team / SEGA)
- Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios / EA)
Best Multiplayer
Description: For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences, irrespective of game genre or platform.
- Winner: ARC Raiders (Embark Studios)
- Battlefield 6 (EA)
- Elden Ring Nightreign (FromSoftware / Bandai Namco Entertainment)
- Peak (Aggro Crab / Landfall)
- Split Fiction (Hazelight / EA)
Best Fighting Game
Description: For the best game designed primarily around head-to-head combat.
- 2XKO (Riot Games)
- Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (Capcom)
- Winner: Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (SNK)
- Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection (Digital Eclipse / Atari)
- Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio / SEGA)
Best Sports / Racing
Description: For the best traditional and non-traditional sports and racing game.
- EA Sports FC 26 (EA Canada/EA Romania/EA)
- F1 25 (Codemasters/EA)
- Winner: Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
- Rematch (Sloclap/Kepler Interactive)
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Sonic Team/Sega)
Best Sim / Strategy Game
Description: Best game focused on real-time or turn-based simulation or strategy gameplay, irrespective of platform.
- Winner: Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles (Square Enix)
- Jurassic World Evolution 3 (Frontier Developments)
- Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 (Firaxis Games / 2K)
- Tempest Rising (Slipgate Ironworks / 3D Realms)
- The Alters (11 Bit Studios)
- Two Point Museum (Two Point Studios / Sega)
Best Ongoing Game
Description: Awarded to a game for outstanding development of ongoing content that evolves the player experience over time.
- Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)
- Fortnite (Epic Games)
- Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Marvel Rivals (NetEase Games)
- Winner: No Man’s Sky (Hello Games)
Best Community Support
Description: Recognizing a game for outstanding community support, transparency and responsiveness, inclusive of social media activity and game updates / patches.
- Winner: Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
- Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)
- Fortnite (Epic Games)
- Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- No Man’s Sky (Hello Games)
Best VR/AR Game
Description: For the best game experience playable in virtual or augmented reality, irrespective of platform.
- Alien: Rogue Incursion (Survios)
- Arken Age (VitruviusVR)
- Ghost Town (Fireproof Games)
- Marvel’s Deadpool VR (Twisted Pixel Games / Oculus Studios)
- Winner: The Midnight Walk (MoonHood / Fast Travel Games)
Best Mobile Game
Description: For the best game playable on a mobile device.
- Destiny: Rising (NetEase Games)
- Persona 5: The Phantom X (Black Wings Game Studio / Atlus / SEGA)
- Sonic Rumble (Rovio Entertainment / SEGA)
- Winner: Umamusume: Pretty Derby (Cygames)
- Wuthering Waves (Kuro Games)
Player’s Voice
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive)
- Dispatch (AdHoc Studio)
- Genshin Impact (miHoYo / HoYoverse)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
- Winner: Wuthering Waves (Kuro Games)
Best Adaptation
Description: Recognizing outstanding creative work that faithfully and authentically adapts a video game to another entertainment medium
- A Minecraft Movie (Mojang Studios / Legendary Pictures / Warner Bros.)
- Devil May Cry (Studio Mir / Capcom / Netflix)
- Winner: The Last of Us Season 2 (PlayStation Productions / HBO)
- Splinter Cell: Deathwatch (FOST Studio / Ubisoft / Netflix)
- Until Dawn (Screen Gems / PlayStation Productions / Sony Pictures)
Most Anticipated Game
Description: Recognizing an announced game that has demonstrably illustrated potential to push the gaming medium forward.
- 007 First Light (IO Interactive)
- Winner: Grand Theft Auto VI (Rockstar Games)
- Marvel’s Wolverine (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Resident Evil Requiem (Capcom)
- The Witcher 4 (CD Projekt Red)
Content Creator of the Year
Description: For a streamer or content creator who has made an important and positive impact on the community in 2025.
- Caedrel
- Kai Cenat
- Winner: MoistCr1TiKaL
- Sakura Miko
- The Burnt Peanut
Best Esports Game
Description: For the game that has delivered the best overall esports experience to players (inclusive of tournaments, community support and content updates), irrespective of genre or platform.
- Winner: Counter-Strike 2 (Valve)
- DOTA 2 (Valve)
- League of Legends (Riot)
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (Moonton)
- Valorant (Riot)
Best Esports Athlete
Description: The esports athlete judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2025, irrespective of game.
- brawk – Brock Somerhalder (Valorant)
- Winner: Chovy – Jeong Ji-hoon (League of Legends)
- f0rsakeN – Jason Susanto (Valorant)
- Kakeru – Kakeru Watanabe (Street Fighter)
- MenaRD – Saul Leonardo (Street Fighter)
- Zyw0o – Mathieu Herbaut (Counter-Strike 2)
Best Esports Team
Description: Recognizing a specific esports team (not the full organization) judged the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2025.
- Gen.G – League of Legends
- NRG – Valorant
- Team Falcons – DOTA 2
- Team Liquid PH – Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- Winner: Team Vitality – Counter-Strike 2
