The nomination list for The Game Awards 2025 has been recently released. Among all nominees, the role-playing game (RPG) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands out as the biggest favorite, securing a record-breaking 12 nominations.
I. Nomination Overview
The table below compiles the most high-profile awards of this year’s ceremony and their nominated games, allowing you to get a quick overview:
Award Category | Nominated Games/Works |
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 Yotei, Hades II, Split Fiction |
Best Independent Game | Absolum, Ball x Pit, Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong |
Best Ongoing Game | Final Fantasy XIV, Fortnite, Helldivers 2, Marvel Rivals, No Man’s Sky |
Best Adaptation | A Minecraft Movie, Devil May Cry (adaptation), The Last of Us Season 2, Splinter Cell Deathwatch, Until Dawn (adaptation) |
II. Highlights of This Year’s Nominations
This year’s TGA features several notable highlights:
● The 12 nominations received by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 surpass those of any previous game, making it the most-nominated title in a single TGA ceremony in history. It competes in multiple key categories, including Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Narrative, Art Direction, and Score/Music.
● Sony Interactive Entertainment leads the pack with a total of 19 nominations, driven primarily by Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yotei. Other companies such as Kepler Interactive (publisher of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33) and EA (Electronic Arts) have also earned a significant number of nominations.
● Independent games have delivered a strong performance this year. Beyond Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hades II has secured 6 nominations, and Hollow Knight: Silksong has obtained 5 nominations—testament to the undeniable strength of independent games.
III. How to Participate and Watch
The winners will be determined jointly by a global media jury (accounting for 90% of the weight) and public votes (accounting for 10% of the weight).
● Public Voting: Players can vote for their favorite games via the official TGA website by 6:00 PM Pacific Time (PT) on December 10, 2025.
● Watching the Ceremony: The awards ceremony will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on December 11, 2025, and streamed live for free on major streaming platforms. In addition to announcing the winners, the event will feature world premiere trailers for upcoming games and live musical performances.
