The Game Awards Predictions 2025: Our Top Picks

The Game Awards 2025 is poised to be one of the premier gaming events this year. There are hundreds of games released on multiple platforms, ranging from AAA blockbusters and indie sensations, and the competition is tight.

This year, we are outlining the predictions for every category, including the Game of the Year award. We have taken into account trends and hype from players, the reception from gaming media, and the overall impact to come to our own conclusion as to which games appear to have the best chance of winning. Here are our GOTY Predictions 2025.

The Game Awards Predictions 2025

The award winners this year will be diverse both in quality and cultural relevance. With the rise of indie games featuring high-quality narratives and, simultaneously, the extreme popularity of esports and online gaming, there should be a healthy battle this year, with over 30 categories set to be revealed on 20th December 2025.

We have considered both influences on the gaming industry, whether it be gameplay, technology, or cultural storytelling, alongside all the players over the last few years, when predicting and assessing games this year. Before checking out the GOTY Predictions 2025, consider going through The Game Awards Nominees 2025.

Best Adaptation

The whole world recognises games that have been adapted into other forms of media, including films, series, or interactive experiences, on any platform.

Nominees are: A Minecraft Movie, The Last of Us: Season 2, etc.

The Last of Us: Season 2

The Last of Us: Season 2 wins here for me for its strong continuation of an engaging story and rich character arc development. It's a standout adaptation of a game largely due to its global viewership, critical acclaim, and widespread acceptance.

Content Creator of the Year

This award honours the creator who made the largest contribution through streaming, video work, and community support.

Nominees: Kai Cenat, Caedril, The Burnt Peanut, and more.

Kai Cenat

This choice actually needs no explanation. This content creator has won multiple awards at the world stage for consecutive years, such as the Streamer of the Year award. So, the Content Creator of the Year award is not far.

Best Esports Team

This award goes to the gaming team, which has dominated its respective competitive gaming field.

Nominees: Team Falcons, NRG, Sentinels.

Team Falcons (Dota 2)

Chosen based on their underdog victory in TI 2025. They had differential strategies and plays in key moments.

Best Esports Athlete

It recognises individual achievements as players.

Nominees: Brock “brawk” Somerhalder, Hiko, Doublelift, etc.

Brock “brawk” Somerhalder

Brawk was a top individual performer at Valorant Champions, consistently competing with skill under the pressure of high-stakes matches.

Best Esports Title

It recognises games that have become a staple in the competitive scenes.

Nominees: League of Legends, Valorant, Dota 2, and more.

League of Legends

In our opinion, League of Legends remains the king of competitive gaming, with its international presence, a structured competitive environment, and fan engagement in 2025.

Games for Impact

This category selects games that create a positive social impact.

Nominees: Consume Me, Sea of Solitude 2, Assembl, etc.

Consume Me

Consume Me addresses mental health and body image through honourable storytelling, narrative and theme, design and outcomes. It creates real emotional impact without relying on excessive or overwhelming game mechanics. It could also be one of the more controversial The Game Awards Predictions 2025.

Best Multiplayer Game

This award acknowledges games for strong co-op or competitive play.

Nominees: ARC Raiders, Battlefield 6, and more.

ARC Raiders

Arc Raiders has become popular overnight due to its cooperative mechanics and has gained players quickly. Its polish and replayability will give it a competitive edge this year.

Best Sim/Strategy Game

It recognises games focused on strategy or simulation.

Nominees: Final Fantasy Tactics: Ivalice Chronicles, Civilization VII, Two Point Museum, and more.

Final Fantasy Tactics: Ivalice Chronicles

Its tactical depth, variety of scenarios, and redesigned visuals allow it to appeal to both fans nostalgic of the past and newcomers to Strategy titles alike.

Best Sports/Racing Game

This award recognises sports or racing game titles.

Nominees: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, FIFA 26, Mario Kart World, and more.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

We selected CrossWorlds from the nominees as our winner due to its track design, skill-based mechanics, and competitive balance in its game, which ultimately provides both fun and technical mastery in every race.

Best Family Game

This award honours family games for everyone, including children.

Nominees: Donkey Kong Bananza, LEGO Party!, etc.

Donkey Kong Bananza

We chose Donkey Kong Bananza because of its interactive controls, colourful levels, and ability to play with your relatives in a multiplayer experience. Family games really need to balance accessibility with a level of challenge, and Donkey Kong Bananza strikes that balance well!

Best Fighting Game

This category rewards fighting games with competitive combat emphasis.

Nominees: Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, Capcom Fighting Collection 2, 2XKO, and more.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection takes first place this year due to its polished balance, large fighter pool, and Rage Arts system for both casual and competitive players. And after all, it's Mortal Kombat.

Best Role-Playing Game (RPG)

It recognises games with character development and narratives.

Nominees: Avowed, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, The Outer Worlds 2, and more.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

We chose this game because we believe it embodies the best characteristics an RPG can offer, such as branching narratives, depth through skill progression, and player-driven choices for distinct experiences. It is the best RPG this year, in our opinion.

Best Action/Adventure Game

It recognises exploration and engaging narratives.

Nominees: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ghost of Yotei, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and more.

Ghost of Yotei

Ghost of Yotei is definitely going to win for me as the best action-adventure game. The game has everything - visuals, a new protagonist, a new story, and most importantly, polished combat mechanics.

Best Action Game

This award is presented to the game with the best fast-paced gameplay.

Nominees: Battlefield 6, Doom: The Dark Ages, Ninja Gaiden 4, and more.

Battlefield 6

The Battlefield franchise has come back with a bang after the disasters of Battlefield 2042. The campaign is brilliant, and with the standalone free battle royale experience, this is my pick for 2025.

Best VR/AR Game

The winner receives recognition for virtual or augmented reality experiences.

Nominees: Alien: Rogue Incusion, Marvel's Deadpool VR, Arken Age, etc.

Alien: Rogue Incusion

Immersive controls and an interactive environment create a VR experience that is much more than a visual novelty.

Best Community Support

Recognition for ongoing engagement from the developer.

Nominees: Baldur's Gate 3, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, No Man's Sky, and more.

No Man's Sky

No Man's Sky came back from the grave with a huge update, thanks to the community feedback, and even a bigger thanks to Hello Games for listening to the input. Weekly updates, along with bug fixes and engaging communication styles, were there too.

Best Mobile Game

It recognises the best of the mobile platform.

Nominees: Destiny Rising, Genshin Mobile, Wuthering Waves, etc.

Wuthering Waves

Undoubtedly, Wuthering Waves, because fans have absolutely loved its gacha mechanics.

Best Debut Indie Game

It awards the best game from a studio in their first release.

Nominees: Clair Obscur Expedition 33, Megabonk, Blue Prince, and more.

Clair Obscur Expedition 33

It seems Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is everywhere, and yes, it can win everywhere, including in this category.

Best Independent Game

This award recognises standout indie games.

Nominees: Clair Obscur Expedition 33, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Blue Prince.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

In terms of art, narrative, and gameplay, this is a game that is greater than the sum of its parts, which is something we value in indie titles. Clair Obscur Expedition 33 might also have a chance, but as it might win the previous category, this one is for Hollow Knight: Silksong.

Best Ongoing Game

It recognises live-service games and continuously updated titles.

Nominees: Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, Fortnite, Marvel Rivals, and more.

Marvel Rivals

There is no doubt that Marvel Rivals is going to win this year, as it managed to stay unique and popular despite belonging to this utterly saturated genre of gaming.

Innovation in Accessibility

Honouring games that enhance accessibility for players with differing needs. Nominees: Assassin’s EA Sports FC 26, Doom: The Dark Ages, and more.

South of Midnight

Fully playable for a broad audience, offering customisable controls, an adaptive degree of difficulty, as well as audio and visual assistance.

Best Performance in a Game

Honouring excellence in in-game acting.

Nominees: Charlie Cox - Clair Obscur 33, Konatsu Kato - Sileny Hill f, Ava Chen - Starborn Chronicles.

Konatsu Kato - Sileny Hill f

Real-life emotion, precision in motion-capture performance, and a clearly important depth to voice acting, all of which are inside a horror game like Silent Hill. That's why she is going to be the winner of the Best Performance in a Game this year, in my opinion.

Best Audio Design

This award is to recognise excellence in gaming audio design.

Nominees: Silent Hill f, Ghost of Yotei, Clair Obscur Expedition 33, and more.

Silent Hill f

Just what Sileny Hill f exactly needed: dynamic sound cues, ambient layers, and cryptic feedback - had it all.

Best Score & Music

Music for games is awarded for outstanding original work.

Nominees: Hollow Knight: Silksong, Toma Otowa - Ghost of Yotei, and more.

Toma Otowa - Ghost of Yotei

The adaptive background music takes both emotional and gameplay moments to a whole new level. Not only that, the soothing Japanese score sets the tone for Atsu's journey.

Best Art Direction

It recognises excellence in visual design.

Nominees: Clair Obscur Expedition 33, GGhost of Yotei, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and more.

Ghost of Yotei

Ghost of Yotei features a stunning, immersive world with steady visual cohesion, biome variation, and dramatic lighting effects in the course of Mount Yotei.

Best Narrative

It awards excellence in storytelling.

Nominees: Clair Obscur Expedition 33, Ghost of Yotei, Silent Hill f, and more.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

This game features complex characters, chooses plot paths, and resonates emotionally to stand out in the storytelling category. Not only that, it features numerous endings based on your choices.

Best Game Direction

It honours the overall vision and execution.

Nominees: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, and more.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

We chose this because Death Stranding 2: On The Beach's story, gameplay, art, and everything are harmonised, demonstrating a thoughtful and masterful creative vision.

Most Anticipated Game

It chooses the game which fans are waiting for the most.

Nominees: GTA 6, The Witcher IV, 007 First Light.

GTA 6

This might be the easiest Game of the Year prediction 2025. Fans have been waiting for The Witcher instalment for a long time. A new Marvel game is also going to be a great treat. But hey! We all know what we are waiting for the most right now.

Game of the Year

Now comes the ultimate one of the Game Awards Predictions 2025. The highest honour for the most exemplary overall game.

Nominees: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades II, Kingdom Come II: Deliverance, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Outstanding new mechanics, a compelling narrative, art and technical polish all come together to create a defining game for 2025. Not only that, this game also struck an astonishing number of nominations this year, which speaks volumes for the game.

These are all our The Game Awards Predictions 2025. You can also check out the all-time GOTY winners list on our website.