The Game Awards Nominees 2025: Full List of Every Category and Contender

The biggest night in gaming is nearly upon us. Each year, The Game Awards showcases the best of the best in esports, content creation, and beyond. The organisers award individuals, game developers and titles for their overall impact on the gaming community.

Similarly, nominees of The Game Awards 2025 have now been announced. This article will provide a complete breakdown of The Game Awards Nominees 2025. We will also be covering all of the major award categories from Game of the Year, and genre-specific awards, to esports, indie games and more.

The Game Awards Nominees 2025

Launched by host, producer, and creative mind, Geoff Keighley, The Game Awards has become the premier celebration of video games and interactive entertainment. The Game Awards nominations announcement was slated for today, November 17, 2025.

This year's nominees are broader than ever: AAA games, indie games, esports, creators, accessibility innovations and community support. The nominees reflect the diversity of the industry, not only in AAA titles but also in creators, teams and technologies that are shaping new paths in gaming and entertainment. We also recently covered the top five Game of the Year predictions, which you can check out on our official website.

Below are the categories featured in The Game Awards Nominees 2025 list. Check if your favourite title this year made it.

Best Adaptation

This category honours games that are adapted from established IPs, or that significantly reimagine a franchise for a new medium. It is one of the major categories on The Game Awards Nominees 2025 list.

Content Creator of the Year

This award recognises individual creators across streaming, videos and other content who have had a major impact this year. It is widely regarded as another top category in The Game Awards Nominees 2025 list.

Best Esports Team

Awarded to the team that achieved the greatest success and impact in competitive play this year.

Best Esports Athlete

Honouring the individual player who dominated their scene through performance, leadership or influence.

Best Esports Game

This category recognises the competitive title that was most prominent, influential or high-performing over the year. Top games like Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2 and League of Legends are likely to make The Game Awards 2025 Nominees list for this category.

Games for Impact

A unique category where games are recognised for their emotional value and influence.

Best Multiplayer Game

Arguably, the most anticipated award this year, fans will be excited to see both Battlefield 6 and Arc Raiders make The Game Awards Nominees 2025 list for this category.

Best Sim/Strategy Game

This award goes to the simulation or strategy game that stood above the rest.

Best Sports/Racing Game

Recognising the top sports or racing title of the year.

Best Family Game

A category aimed at titles suitable for all ages and family-friendly play.

Best Fighting Game

For the fighting genre, this award honours the top competitor-ready title.

Best Role-Playing Game (RPG)

Another genre-heavy and popular category, where the top role-playing game will be awarded.

Best Action/Adventure Game

Action-adventure games have always been a staple in the gaming industry, and so in this award ceremony as well.

Best Action Game

Honouring the best purely action-oriented title of the year.

Best VR/AR Game

This category highlights innovation in virtual reality or augmented reality experiences.

Best Community Support

Recognising games that maintained excellent ongoing support, updates and community engagement.

Best Mobile Game

Celebrating the strongest mobile game release or service of the year.

Best Debut Indie Game

Honouring the best first-time effort by an independent studio.

Best Independent Game

This category recognises the best indie game overall (beyond debut).

Best Ongoing Game

A category for live-service titles that have delivered exceptional updates and experiences.

Innovation in Accessibility

Recognising titles that make gaming more accessible to players with disabilities or different needs.

Best Performance

Awarded to the individual performance (voice actor or motion-capture) that stood out this year.

Best Audio Design

Music and sound elevate the gaming experience to a whole new level, and that's why this category exists.

Best Score & Music

Honouring the game whose musical score and soundtracks made the greatest impact.

Best Art Direction

This category celebrates visual style, world design and creative artistry.

Best Narrative

Recognising the strongest storytelling, writing and character development in games.

Best Game Direction

Awarded to the game with outstanding vision, leadership and execution as a whole. Death Stranding 2 could make the list of The Game Awards 2025 Nominees for this category.

Most Anticipated Game

Yes this Game Awards is all about 2025, but that doesn't mean it won't look beyond it. Here are the nominees for the Most Anticipated Games (already announced):

Game of the Year

The crown-jewel award of the night. The most prestigious title across all categories. We could see some shockers make the list of nominees of The Game Awards 2025, once again alongside hot picks such as Ghost of Yotei and Clair Obscure Expedition 33.

The Game Awards nominees in 2025 provide an exciting glimpse into a year in gaming that has packed in innovation, storytelling, esports wins and community interaction. No matter if you're hoping for a mega-AAA title, an indie breakout game, or your favourite streamer-creator, there is definitely something on the nominees list for everyone.