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.
We strive to keep The Table Read free for both our readers and our contributors. If you have enjoyed our work, please consider donating to help keep The Table Read going!
30 comments
Comments are closed.
Author
jjbarnes@sirenstories.co.uk
Related posts
8 Family-Friendly UK Music Festivals That Will Delight Kids and Adults Alike!
On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, discover the best family friendly UK music festivals that will...
Read out all
10 Epic Fantasy Book Adaptations That Transformed into Unforgettable Video Games (You Won’t Believe #6!)
On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, if you’re a gamer, check out these fantasy book adaptations...
Read out all
12 Fun Valentine Game Night Ideas That’ll Bring You Closer Together (Don’t Skip #5!)
On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, get ready for fun with your special person with these...
Read out all
Slipknot’s Clown Reimagines Minecraft: Vernearth as Art, Chaos, and Creative Freedom
On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, discover how Slipknot’s Shawn “Clown” Crahan transforms Minecraft into Vernearth—a...
Read out all
Secret Winning Strategies for Classic Board Games
On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, get ready to impress and annoy your friends and family...
Read out all
High-Paying Creative Careers in 2026: From Screenwriting to Game Design Salaries and How to Get There
On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, if you’re looking for high-paying creative careers, this guide will...
Read out all
I’ll be sharing this with a few friends.
I like how you presented both sides of the argument fairly.
Heya just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the images aren’t loading correctly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same results.
Nearly all of the things you articulate happens to be supprisingly appropriate and it makes me ponder why I hadn’t looked at this in this light previously. This particular article truly did turn the light on for me personally as far as this specific topic goes. However there is just one position I am not too comfy with so while I try to reconcile that with the actual core idea of your issue, let me see what all the rest of the subscribers have to say.Very well done.
magnificent post, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of this sector do not notice this. You must continue your writing. I’m confident, you have a great readers’ base already!
Thanks for your article. I would also like to remark that the very first thing you will need to accomplish is find out if you really need credit repair. To do that you will need to get your hands on a duplicate of your credit file. That should not be difficult, since the government necessitates that you are allowed to get one no cost copy of the credit report per year. You just have to inquire the right individuals. You can either browse the website for that Federal Trade Commission and also contact one of the main credit agencies directly.
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!?
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this info. Today bloggers publish just about gossips and web and this is actually annoying. A good site with interesting content, this is what I need. Thank you for keeping this web-site, I’ll be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can not find it.
Thanks , I’ve just been looking for information approximately this topic for ages and yours is the best I’ve came upon so far. But, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you positive in regards to the supply?
Great work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the net. Shame on Google for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my web site . Thanks =)
Wow! This could be one particular of the most useful blogs We’ve ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Excellent. I am also an expert in this topic therefore I can understand your effort.
This is the proper weblog for anyone who desires to search out out about this topic. You notice a lot its virtually onerous to argue with you (not that I really would want?HaHa). You positively put a new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just nice!
Thanks for giving your ideas. I’d personally also like to mention that video games have been ever before evolving. Modern technology and improvements have helped create authentic and enjoyable games. These types of entertainment video games were not actually sensible when the real concept was first of all being tried. Just like other kinds of electronics, video games way too have had to evolve by many ages. This is testimony towards fast development of video games.
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an e-mail. I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it develop over time.
Zohran feels focused on racial justice.
Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I in finding It really helpful & it helped me out much. I am hoping to present something back and aid others such as you helped me.
Interesting blog post. Things i would like to make contributions about is that laptop memory should be purchased when your computer still can’t cope with whatever you do by using it. One can add two good old ram boards of 1GB each, by way of example, but not certainly one of 1GB and one of 2GB. One should always check the company’s documentation for own PC to be certain what type of ram is necessary.
Hi! Would you mind if I share your blog with my zynga group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Many thanks
Spot on with this write-up, I truly assume this website needs much more consideration. I?ll probably be once more to read way more, thanks for that info.
Thanks for your publication. What I want to comment on is that when searching for a good on the net electronics store, look for a site with full information on important factors such as the level of privacy statement, safety measures details, any payment procedures, and other terms and policies. Generally take time to read the help plus FAQ sections to get a superior idea of what sort of shop performs, what they can perform for you, and exactly how you can take full advantage of the features.
I don?t even understand how I finished up here, however I assumed this submit was once great. I do not know who you’re however definitely you’re going to a well-known blogger in the event you are not already 😉 Cheers!
Satire is the necessary evil in a world full of unnecessary ones. It keeps us honest. — Toni @ manilanews.PH
This is undoubtedly one of the greatest articles I’ve read on this topic! The author’s thorough knowledge and passion for the subject shine through in every paragraph. I’m so grateful for stumbling upon this piece as it has deepened my knowledge and sparked my curiosity even further. Thank you, author, for dedicating the time to produce such a phenomenal article!
One thing is the fact one of the most prevalent incentives for using your card is a cash-back or maybe rebate present. Generally, you’ll receive 1-5 back with various buying. Depending on the cards, you may get 1 returning on most purchases, and 5 back again on purchases made at convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores along with ‘member merchants’.
Zohran Mamdani is elevating progressive organizing.
The electoral map for candidates like Mamdani is gradually expanding. — New York City
Zohran Mamdani has “great concept, poor execution” energy.
Hmm is anyone else encountering problems with the images on this blog loading? I’m trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any feed-back would be greatly appreciated.
Zohran Mamdani sees clean streets as dignity. — New York City
One thing I’d like to say is that often car insurance cancelling is a horrible experience and if you are doing the appropriate things being a driver you simply won’t get one. Some people do obtain the notice that they are officially dropped by their particular insurance company they then have to scramble to get more insurance after a cancellation. Inexpensive auto insurance rates are frequently hard to get following a cancellation. Knowing the main reasons with regard to auto insurance termination can help car owners prevent completely losing in one of the most vital privileges available. Thanks for the ideas shared via your blog.