The Game Awards 2025 has officially revealed its full list of nominees, marking another huge year for the global gaming community as Geoff Keighley opens the voting period for players around the world. Fans across Southeast Asia can now take part by casting their votes alongside more than 150 media outlets internationally who form this year’s judging panel.

The biggest category, Game of the Year, features a surprising and refreshing split with three indie contenders and three major publisher titles. The nominees are Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades II, Hollow Knight Silksong and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. This marks one of the most balanced GOTY lineups the awards have seen so far. Meanwhile, Silent Hill f has become a favorite among SEA fans, earning three nominations including Best Narrative, Best Audio Design and Best Performance. This year is also the first time NeoBards Entertainment enters the final shortlist at The Game Awards.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads the entire event with twelve nominations, followed by Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei tied with eight. Split Fiction, a title many expected to compete for top honors, still secures four nominations. Below is the complete list of nominees for The Game Awards 2025 as announced.

The Game Awards 2025 Nominees

Game of the Year

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
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
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Hades II
Split Fiction

Best Narrative

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Silent Hill f

Best Art Direction

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Hades II
Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best Score and Music

Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hades II
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Ghost of Yōtei
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Best Audio Design

Battlefield 6
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Silent Hill f

Best Adaption

A Minecraft Movie
Devil May Cry
The Last of Us: Season 2
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
Until Dawn

Best Performance

Ben Starr from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Charlie Cox from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Erika Ishii from Ghost of Yōtei
Jennifer English from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Konatsu Kato from Silent Hill f
Troy Baker from Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Games for Impact Best Social Implication Game

Consume Me
Despelote
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
South of Midnight
Wanderstop

Best Ongoing

Final Fantasy XIV
Fortnite
Helldivers 2
Marvel Rivals
No Man’s Sky

Best Community Support

Baldur’s Gate 3
Final Fantasy XIV
Fortnite
Helldivers 2
No Man’s Sky

Back on The Game Awards stage with Helldivers 2

Innovation in Accessibility

Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Atomfall
Doom: The Dark Ages
EA Sports FC 26
South of Midnight

Best Indie

Absolum
Ball x Pit
Blue Prince
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Hades II
Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best Debut Indie Game

Blue Prince
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Despelote
Dispatch
Megabonk

Best Mobile Game

Destiny: Rising
Persona 5: The Phantom X
Sonic Rumble
Umamusume: Pretty Derby
Wuthering Waves

Best VR/AR Virtual Reality / Simulated Reality Game Award

Alien: Rogue Incursion
Arken Age
Ghost Town
Marvel’s Deadpool VR
The Midnight Walk

Best Action Game

Battlefield 6
Doom: The Dark Ages
Hades II
Ninja Gaiden 4
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Best Action / Adventure Best Action-Adventure Game

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Ghost of Yōtei
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Split Fiction

Best Role Playing

Avowed
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
The Outer Worlds 2
Monster Hunter Wilds

Best Fighting

2XKO
Capcom Fighting Collection 2
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage

Best Family

Donkey Kong Bananza
LEGO Party!
LEGO Voyagers
Mario Kart World
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Split Fiction

Best Simulation / Strategy

The Alters
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles
Jurassic World Evolution 3
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
Tempest Rising
Two Point Museum

Best Sports / Racing

EA Sports FC 26
F1 25
Mario Kart World
Rematch
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

Best Multiplayer

Arc Raiders
Battlefield 6
Elden Ring Nightreign
Peak
Split Fiction

Best Adaptation

A Minecraft Movie
Devil May Cry
The Last of Us: Season 2
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
Until Dawn

Most Anticipated Game

007 First Light
Grand Theft Auto VI
Marvel’s Wolverine
Resident Evil Requiem
The Witcher IV

Content Creator of the Year, Best Content Creator of the Year

Caedrel
Kai Cenat
MoistCr1TiKaL
Sakura Miko
The Burnt Peanut

Best Esports Game

Counter-Strike 2
DOTA 2
League of Legends
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Valorant

Best Esports Athlete

brawk
Chovy
f0rsakeN
Kakeru
MenaRD
Zyw0o

Best Esports Team

Gen.G from League of Legends
, NRG from Valorant
Team Falcons, from DOTA 2,
Team Liquid PH from Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Team Vitality from Counter-Strike 2

Vote: Click Here

The Game Awards 2025 will take place on December 12 at 7:30 AM Philippine time. This year is especially notable for SEA fans because ThisIsGame Thailand has been selected as one of the official voting outlets alongside Online Station and GamingDose. The team will continue to follow all updates to ensure fans receive the latest developments as the awards draw closer.

THIS IS OUR SAY

The Game Awards 2025 lineup is one of the strongest in years, balancing indie brilliance and blockbuster power. With SEA fans more involved than ever, this year’s ceremony is shaping up to be unforgettable.