Why You Should Care About The Game Awards 2025
Predictions for Game of the Year 2025 Winner
Snubs and Surprises in The Game Awards Nominations
Intro
As the gaming world gears up for one of the biggest nights of the year, **The Game Awards 2025** is just around the corner. Set to take place on December 11, 2025, at the iconic Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, this annual celebration—often dubbed the “Oscars of gaming”—promises a mix of prestigious awards, jaw-dropping world premieres, musical performances, and surprises hosted by Geoff Keighley. With nominations freshly announced on November 17, 2025, excitement is at an all-time high for **Game of the Year nominees 2025**, fan voting, and the crowning of the ultimate **GOTY 2025**.This year’s lineup reflects an incredible 2025 in gaming, blending blockbuster sequels, indie darlings, and long-awaited follow-ups. Whether you’re searching for **The Game Awards nominations**, details on **Game Awards voting**, or predictions for **Game of the Year 2025**, we’ve got you covered in this comprehensive breakdown.
What Are The Game Awards?For the uninitiated
**The Game Awards** (often stylized as #The game awards or @the game awards on social media) is more than just an award show—it’s a global event that honors excellence in video games while showcasing what’s next for the industry. Launched in 2014 by Geoff Keighley, it has grown into a must-watch spectacle, drawing millions of viewers with announcements like new trailers, release dates, and even full game reveals.The 2025 edition marks the 11th anniversary, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most competitive yet. Winners are decided by a blend of jury votes (90% from over 150 media outlets and influencers) and public fan votes (10%). That means your voice matters—especially in categories like **Players’ Voice** and influencing the overall **Game of the Year**.
The Game Awards 2025 Date, Time, and How to Watch mark your calendars:
The Game Awards 2025 streams live on Thursday, December 11, starting at 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET. You can tune in on YouTube, Twitch, Twitter/X, or for the first time, Amazon Prime Video. Expect a three-hour show packed with orchestral performances, celebrity guests, and those hype-inducing trailers.
How Does Game Awards Voting Work in 2025?
**Game Awards voting** is open now and runs until December 10 at 6 PM PT. Head to the official site(thegameawards.com/vote) log in with your account
(options include Google, Discord, or others), and cast your ballots across all categories. Fan
votes directly decide the **Players’ Voice** award and contribute 10% to most others, including the big **GOTY**.Pro tip: Vote daily if you want to boost your favorites—some platforms allow it! With heated debates already raging over **GOTY nominees 2025*every vote counts.
Game of the Year Nominees 2025:
The Elite Six the crown jewel of **The Game Awards*is always **Game of the Year** (GOTY), and the 2025 slate is stacked with masterpieces. Here are the six **Game of the Year nominees 2025**:1. **Clair Obscur: Expedition 33** (Sandfall Interactive) – The breakout star, racking up a record-breaking 12 nominations overall. This turn-based RPG with stunning French-inspired art and real-time parry mechanics has critics calling it a modern classic.2. **Death Stranding 2: On the Beach** (Kojima Productions / Sony) – Hideo Kojima’s mind-bending sequel expands on walking sims, social strands, and celebrity cameos. It’s nominated in narrative-heavy categories and screams auteur vision.3. **Donkey Kong Bananza** (Nintendo) – A wild, chaotic platformer revival that’s pure Nintendo joy. Expect it to shine in family-friendly and action categories.4. **Hades II** (Supergiant Games) – The roguelike phenomenon’s sequel builds on the original’s perfection with deeper mythology, improved combat, and Melinoë as a badass protagonist. **Hades 2** has been a fan favorite all year, dominating early access hype before its full release.5. **Hollow Knight: Silksong** (Team Cherry) – After years of anticipation, Silksong finally arrived and delivered Metroidvania magic. Hornet’s adventure is poetic, challenging, and visually breathtaking.6. **Kingdom Come: Deliverance II** (Warhorse Studios) – A gritty, realistic medieval RPG that immerses players in historical Bohemia. Its controversial developer aside, the game’s depth and ambition earned it a spot.This list highlights 2025’s diversity: three indies (Clair Obscur, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong) made the cut—a new record—proving small teams can compete with AAA giants.## Why Hades 2 Deserves Your GOTY VoteAmong the **GOTY nominees 2025**, **Hades 2** stands out as a potential upset winner. Supergiant Games took everything beloved about the 2020 original—tight roguelike loops, godly banter, and emotional storytelling—and elevated it. Playing as Zagreus’ sister Melinoë, you battle through the Underworld with new weapons, boons, and a hub world that’s alive with character development.Critics praise its accessibility tweaks, gorgeous art, and soundtrack that slaps harder than Chronos’ scythe. If you’re into addictive gameplay that respects your time, **Hades 2** is the one to back in **The Game Awards voting**. It’s not just a sequel; it’s evolution.## Other Key Categories and Notable NominationsBeyond **Game of the Year**, here are highlights from **The Game Awards 2025 nominees**:- **Best Narrative**: Heavy hitters like Death Stranding 2 and Clair Obscur dominate.- **Best Art Direction**: Clair Obscur, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Ghost of Yōtei (a big nominee despite missing GOTY).- **Best Indie**: A fierce battle with Hades II and Silksong leading the pack.- **Best Performance**: Multiple nods for Clair Obscur’s cast, including big names like Ben Starr and Jennifer English.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads with 12 noms, making history as the most-nominated game ever. Sony tops publishers with 19 nods, but indies are stealing the spotlight.
Snubs and Surprises in The Game Awards
Nominations No year is without controversy. Ghost of Yōtei earned strong nods but missed **GOTY**, likely due to tough competition. Other potential snubs include rising stars in multiplayer or VR categories. Still, the jury nailed a balanced list representing 2025’s banner year.
Predictions for Game of the Year 2025
Winner it’s anyone’s game,
but Clair Obscura’s nomination dominance makes it the front runner. That said, don’t sleep
on **Hades 2**—its universal acclaim and fan passion could sway the 10% public vote. Hollow Knight: Silk song has cult appeal, while Death Stranding 2 appeals to narrative lovers.My bold prediction: If indies sweep, **Hades Ii** takes home **GOTY 2025**. It’s polished, innovative, and endlessly replayable.
Why You Should Care About The Game Awards 2025 Whether you’re a casual player or hardcore gamer,
**The Game Awards** celebrates what makes this medium special: creativity, community, and escapism. From **Game Awards 2025 nominees** to the live reveals, it’s a night that shapes conversations for months.Get involved—vote now at thegameawards.com, follow #The game awards, and join the debate on who deserves **Game of the Year**. Will it be the artistic triumph of Clair Obscure, the mythic depths of Hades 2, or something else? December 11 can’t come soon enough.
