The Game Awards 2025 Sees Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Lead Packed Game of the Year Nominees

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 shatters records with 12 nominations—including Game of the Year—at The Game Awards 2025, leading a powerhouse lineup alongside Death Stranding 2, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II in what promises to be gaming’s most epic showdown yet!

The Game Awards

The Game Awards, often dubbed the “Oscars of gaming,” kicked off its 2025 edition with a highly anticipated nominees announcement livestream on Monday, November 17. Hosted by Geoff Keighley, the reveal showcased a stellar lineup of titles from across the industry, with independent games stealing the spotlight in the coveted Game of the Year (GOTY) category.

Game of the Year Nominees: Indies Take Center Stage

This year’s six GOTY contenders perfectly blend blockbuster sequels with breakout indie triumphs, aligning closely with pre-event predictions from outlets like Polygon and Forbes. The full list is:

Game	Developer/Publisher	Notable Highlights
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33	Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive	Record 12 nominations across 10 categories; French indie RPG with turn-based combat and emotional storytelling.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach	Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment	7-8 nominations; Hideo Kojima’s sci-fi epic praised for narrative and direction.
Donkey Kong Bananza	Nintendo EPD/Nintendo	Nintendo’s platformer surprise; also up for Best Family Game.
Hades II	Supergiant Games	Sequel to an all-time roguelike classic; 6 nominations including Best Independent Game.
Hollow Knight: Silksong	Team Cherry	Long-awaited Metroidvania sequel; 5 nominations, strong in art and music.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II	Warhorse Studios/Deep Silver	Immersive medieval RPG; early 2025 frontrunner with strong narrative nods.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the undisputed frontrunner, securing a history-making 12 nominations—the most ever in The Game Awards’ 11-year history. This includes sweeps in Best RPG, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score & Music, and three Best Performance nods for Ben Starr, Charlie Cox, and Jennifer English. Developed by a small team of about 30 in Montpellier, France, its blend of JRPG mechanics, parry-focused combat, and profound storytelling has captivated critics and players alike.

Death Stranding 2 and PlayStation exclusive Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony) tied for second with 7-8 nominations each, dominating categories like Best Game Direction and Best Audio Design. Sony leads publishers with 19 total nods.

A Banner Year for Indies and Surprises

The nominees underscore 2025’s indie renaissance, with three GOTY slots going to smaller studios—a rarity in a year packed with AAA heavyweights. Hades II builds on its predecessor’s legacy as a roguelike masterpiece, while Hollow Knight: Silksong delivers on years of hype with its intricate world and challenging gameplay.

Snubs sparked debate: Ghost of Yōtei missed GOTY despite strong showings elsewhere (e.g., Best Narrative), and multiplayer hits like Split Fiction and Arc Raiders were overlooked for the top prize. X (formerly Twitter) lit up with reactions, from celebrations of indie dominance [post:73] to calls for more variety [post:81].

Voting and the Big Show

A global jury of over 100 media outlets selected nominees, with final winners determined by 90% jury + 10% fan vote. Fans can vote now for GOTY and all categories at thegameawards.com until December 10 (Players’ Voice nominees drop December 1).

The ceremony streams live December 11 from LA’s Peacock Theater (5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET) on YouTube, Twitch, and Amazon Prime Video—expect world premieres, orchestral performances, and the GOTY medley.

2025’s nominees reflect a golden era for gaming: innovative indies challenging AAA titans, with Clair Obscur poised to make history. Who takes home GOTY? Tune in December 11 to find out.