Amidst various delays, price hikes and other controversies, one crucial point about 2025 has proved easy to overlook: the sheer number of high-quality video games that have been released. Between long-awaited sequels and brand-new IPs, this year has offered everything from groundbreaking visuals to robust, innovative gameplay mechanics, and with the 2025 Game Awards just around the corner, it’s perhaps harder than its ever been to choose a clear winner.
Geoff Keighley’s annual extravaganza gets bigger and bolder with each iteration, and this year’s awards on 11 December will be no exception. While there will be plenty of awards on the night, as well as reveals of new and upcoming games, the most coveted prize of all is the 2025 Game of the Year winner. Historically, the winner is chosen from a shortlist of six games, with Team Asobi’s Astro Bot deservedly picking up the gong last year. 2025’s shortlist has finally been revealed, and below, I’ve broken down the six candidates, taking a look at the pros and cons of each, as well as how likely I think they are to win at this year’s Game Awards.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
As far as maiden titles go, developer Sandfall Interactive set an outrageously high bar with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which was released back in April 2025. The French studio’s take on a modern, turn-based RPG which introduced a brand-new IP quickly won plaudits from both critics and fans alike, with many agreeing it was an absolute breath of fresh air for the genre. Combining turn-based combat with real-time elements resulted in fast, fluid, intuitive battles and a combat system that was quickly praised for its low barrier of entry but high skill ceiling.
Initially playing as Gustave and Maelle, players are tasked with setting off on an expedition to slay The Paintress, an entity that wipes out entire waves of the population depending on their age. The game’s take on Belle Epoque France sees players traverse a vast world with a weird and wonderful array of creatures to slay and NPCs to meet.
With a unique visual style and a stellar soundtrack, the fact that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was not made by one of the major, well-established studios makes it all the more impressive. Those with a love of turn-based RPGs will find loads to enjoy with this one. The game should find itself well in the hunt for the top prize at the Game Awards, and is certainly among the favourites.
Chances of Winning: Very Likely
Donkey Kong Bananza
Nobody does 3D platformers quite like Nintendo. This statement is just as true today as it was when Super Mario 64 was first released back in 1996. Despite rivals, such as PlayStation’s aforementioned Astro Bot, proving that the gap in quality is nowhere near as big as it was before, Nintendo still stands tall as the master of this particular craft. With the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 in June, many expected an accompanying new mainline 3D Mario game to follow. In an unexpected twist though, another of Nintendo’s mascots took centre stage instead: Donkey Kong. Bananza is the titular ape’s first 3D adventure since Donkey Kong 64, and its safe to say that things have evolved significantly since the often-misunderstood N64 classic.
Instead of being just another colorful 3D collectathon, Donkey Kong Bananza turned out to be something different entirely, with the bulk of the game’s levels, from the terrain itself, to structures big and small, entirely breakable. Players take control of the powerful ape as he makes his way through multiple layers on a journey to the planet’s core, meeting friends and enemies new and old along the way.
His powerful fists are able to smash through pretty much anything, a gameplay mechanic which at first feels like a novelty but quickly evolves into something deeper. This creativity allows for some innovative ways to solve the game’s plentiful puzzles, and grants a level of freedom that could well remind players of the recent Legend of Zelda titles Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. While these elements alone may have seen Bananza win the award in plenty of years gone by, Nintendo’s best game since those aforementioned Zelda titles faces incredibly stiff competition at the Game Awards in this jam-packed year, meaning it is by no means a certainty to win.
Chances of Winning: Possible
Hollow Knight: Silksong
For several years, it was debated whether the elusive Hollow Knight: Silksong even really existed. Year after year, its absence from the public eye became a bigger and bigger internet meme, with the franchise’s huge fan base growing increasingly more impatient and bewildered. Developer Team Cherry has never been one to bend to the will of consumer demand, though, and when it was finally properly unveiled in August, with a release date of just weeks later, it generated exactly the type of hype you’d expect. On the flip side, what followed with its actual release was probably unexpected even for the game’s biggest fans.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Hollow Knight: Silksong actually broke the internet when the game finally released. The PS, Xbox, Nintendo and Steam stores all came grinding to a halt under the weight of the overwhelming demand. How many games can we say have ever done that before? That gives you a general idea of just how much this game was able to generate buzz. Importantly, the critical reviews backed up the sales figures, with almost everyone in agreement that Silksong was able to successfully iterate on all of the components that make Hollow Knight one of the best Metroidvanias ever. With improved traversal mechanics, a huge map full of secrets and optional content, and memorable, challenging boss fights, Silksong stands proudly next to the likes of Assassin’s Creed 2, Red Dead: Redemption 2 and Mass Effect 2 as one of the greatest sequels ever made. Some discourse among fans and critics around the game being perceived to be ‘too difficult’ in parts is the only thing that may stop it from taking the top prize home on the night.
Chances of Winning: Likely
Death Stranding 2
Whenever Hideo Kojima is at the helm, its a certainty that the game will generate plenty of interest. The visionary behind the Metal Gear Solid series is one of the most unique video game developers ever, and whether you love or hate his games, his refusal to conform to normality is admirable. Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding certainly divided opinion when it was initially released 6 years ago for the PS4. Some described it as nothing more than a glorified walking sim, whereas others lauded it for its creativity and unusual mechanics that saw players having to balance parcels while traversing long distances. With high production values, a stellar cast including the likes of Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen and Lea Seydoux, and a narrative which spans the length of an alternate, apocalyptic version of the United States, Death Stranding made enough of an impression for Kojima to push on with plans for a sequel- and 6 years later it finally burst onto the scene to huge critical acclaim, so much so that it finds itself in the running for the top prize at the Game Awards.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach sees the cast reprise their roles in an even bigger, more expansive game that builds on the original’s sometimes rough-round-the-edges ideas to create a more refined experience. Visually, the game pushes the PS5’s graphical capabilities to heights rarely seen before, and the narrative contains all of Kojima’s signature bombast. That being said, if you weren’t a fan of the first game, chances are the sequel won’t win you over. Of the 6 games up for the award, Death Stranding 2 is probably not a frontrunner, although that says more about the calibre of the opposition than Kojima’s latest game itself.
Chances of Winning: Possible
Hades 2
Supergiant Games already tasted success at the Game Awards when its isometric action-packed roguelike Hades was voted Best Indie Game and Best Action Game in 2020. It was also nominated for Game of the Year, no small feat considering the size of its competition which included the likes of Ghost of Tsushima and the eventual winner, The Last of Us Part 2. Not content with this glory, though, the San Francisco-based developer is back with Hades 2, a sequel which was in early access from 2024 before fully releasing in September this year. This time, players play as Melinoe (the sister of Hades‘ protagonist Zagreus) as she battles to escape the underworld and take on the Titan of Time.
Hades was praised for its build variety, fast-paced combat, and sharp visual design, and Hades 2 has doubled-down on all 3 of these elements. An increased number of abilities, boons, and weapons, ensure that players are given even more freedom to approach the game however they like. The game itself is also larger than its predecessor, with much more content on offer to keep gamers busy.
Even during Hades 2‘s prolonged period in early access, fans and critics agreed that it was a step up from the first game, and the full release has only cemented this thought process. It will face off against some incredibly tough adversaries on the night, but Supergiant Games has already proved it can hang with more esteemed company, and it fully deserves its place on the list.
Chances of Winning: Possible
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
In an age where the games industry faces multiple layoffs and studio closures, taking risks can be catastrophic. For Warhorse Studios, though, playing it safe has simply never been an option. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is what can best be described as a groundbreakingly realistic open-world RPG set during a medieval civil war. With unprecedented levels of realism, players are tasked with stepping into the shoes of Henry of Skalitz, a knight, who, following events in the first game, finds himself caught up in events much bigger than he. When trying to best describe the game, ‘choice’ is the defining word. Players are given the choice to follow the main story or simply ignore it. Want to become a blacksmith and live a quiet life away from the action? No problem. Want to live life as a thief, robbing villages in the dead of night and avoiding the authorities? Go for it. The level of choice at the player’s fingertips is staggering.
Of course, with this degree of choice comes a huge suite of mechanics and systems for players to learn. Those who didn’t play the first game, which, while rough-round-the-edges, still earned plaudits for its innovation, will be starting from scratch here. And make no mistake, the learning curve is steep. For players that persist, though, they will find themselves immersed in one of the most impressive open-worlds ever created. The possibilities for Henry are almost endless. Dialogue options are realistic and varied, and can take Henry’s adventures in multiple directions depending on how the player wants to play the game.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a slap in the face for those developers who continuously churn out the same games year after year, and its place on this list is no fluke. That being said, many gamers will likely find it TOO realistic. It can take upwards of 30 mins to prep Henry for a specific quest with the right armor and food supplies, only for the player to be ambushed on their way to the next objective, meaning they have to start the whole process again. Some will inevitably find this whole process tedious at times. Given its relatively small target audience, these niche elements could prove costly for Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 at the Game Awards.
Chances of Winning: Unlikely
The Game Awards Predictions Verdict
It’s an intriguing race this year, and all 6 games will feel they deserve to bring the award home. While personally, DK Bananza would be my pick, its very difficult to look past Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It feels like the most likely winner given the reaction to the game’s initial release as well as its lasting impact and discourse throughout the year.
