The Game Awards 2025, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, celebrated the very best in the gaming industry.
Hosted once again by Geoff Keighley, the event brought together developers, publishers, actors, and fans from across the globe to recognise the creative and technical excellence in video games.
From surprise reveals to anticipated victories, the night was filled with emotional speeches, compelling trailers, and standout performances.
One title in particular, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, dominated the evening with a remarkable number of wins, including Game of the Year.
This article covers the full list of winners across every major category, along with insights into why these games stood out in 2025.
Overview of The Game Awards 2025
The Game Awards 2025 took place at the prestigious Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Hosted by Geoff Keighley, the event served as a global celebration of gaming achievements, recognising creative excellence and technical innovation across genres and platforms.
With fans tuning in from around the world, it also provided a platform for world premieres, updates on upcoming titles, and industry commentary.
One of the standout aspects of the night was the dominance of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which walked away with numerous high-profile wins.
Game of the Year 2025 Winner and Nominees
The most coveted category at the Game Awards each year is Game of the Year. This award is presented to the title that delivers the absolute best experience across all areas of game development.
Game of the Year Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
This title earned critical acclaim for its imaginative world, layered storytelling, and emotionally engaging characters. It was praised for pushing boundaries in both design and gameplay.
Other nominees included:
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Best Game Direction
Best Game Direction recognises outstanding creative vision and innovation in game development.
The judges look at how effectively a title realises its design goals while offering a fresh approach to storytelling or mechanics.
Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
The game’s unique blend of surreal fantasy, detailed level design, and emotionally charged narrative sequences helped it stand out in this category.
Its use of interactive cinematics and seamless scene transitions elevated the overall user experience.
Other finalists:
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Hades II
- Split Fiction
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Best Narrative
Storytelling in games continues to grow in depth and sophistication. The Best Narrative award is given to the game with the most compelling and well-executed storyline.
Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
The game’s emotionally complex characters and nonlinear narrative structure set it apart. It uses environmental storytelling and dialogue to slowly reveal the backstory of its world and protagonists.
Additional nominees:
- Silent Hill f
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Best Art Direction
Visual creativity is a cornerstone of immersive gaming. The Best Art Direction category celebrates games that demonstrate outstanding visual presentation and artistic innovation.
Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
With its blend of painterly textures, stylised environments, and dynamic lighting, the game was consistently praised for its unique visual identity.
Other contenders:
- Hades II
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Ghost of Yōtei
Score and Audio Categories
The categories for Best Score and Music and Best Audio Design highlight a game’s use of sound to deepen the player’s connection to the world and enhance gameplay immersion.
Best Score and Music Winner: Lorien Testard for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Best Audio Design Winner: Battlefield 6
Audio was a major talking point in 2025. While Clair Obscur was praised for its emotionally driven musical motifs, Battlefield 6 was recognised for its realistic combat sounds and environmental cues.
Here’s a comparison of music and audio winners:
| Category | Winner | Notable Nominees |
| Best Score and Music | Lorien Testard – Expedition 33 | Darren Korb (Hades II), Christopher Larkin (Silksong) |
| Best Audio Design | Battlefield 6 | Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yōtei |
Best Performance
Performance in video games involves voice acting, motion capture, and character embodiment. This award honours the performer who brought a character to life most effectively.
Winner: Jennifer English – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Her portrayal was marked by emotional intensity and nuanced delivery. She played a pivotal role in shaping the player’s emotional journey through the game.
Other performances recognised:
- Erika Ishii – Ghost of Yōtei
- Charlie Cox – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Konatsu Kato – Silent Hill f
- Troy Baker – Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Innovation in Accessibility
Accessibility in games ensures that players of all abilities can engage with content meaningfully. This award acknowledges titles that implement inclusive design features.
Winner: Doom: The Dark Ages
The game incorporated adaptive control schemes, text-to-speech, and comprehensive colour blindness options. These features were praised for being deeply integrated into the core game, rather than added as an afterthought.
Best Independent and Debut Indie Game
Indie games often push the creative envelope by experimenting with gameplay and narrative structure. In 2025, two standout indie titles took home awards.
- Best Independent Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Debut Indie Game: Blue Prince
Clair Obscur achieved the rare feat of being both an indie and Game of the Year winner. Blue Prince impressed with its unique art style and deeply atmospheric storytelling.
Genre-Specific Winners
The Game Awards also honours excellence within specific genres. Each category reflects innovation and mastery within its gameplay type.
| Genre | Winner |
| Best Action Game | Hades II |
| Best Action/Adventure | Hollow Knight: Silksong |
| Best RPG | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
| Best Sim/Strategy | Final Fantasy Tactics – Ivalice Chronicles |
| Best Family Game | Donkey Kong Bananza |
| Best Multiplayer Game | Arc Raiders |
Each winner offered significant contributions to its genre, with enhanced mechanics, rich lore, and refined player experiences.
Mobile, VR and Adaptation Awards
Gaming platforms have expanded beyond traditional consoles and PCs. Mobile and VR categories reflect this shift, while adaptations celebrate media based on game franchises.
- Best Mobile Game: Umamusume: Pretty Derby
- Best VR/AR Game: The Midnight Walk
- Best Adaptation: The Last of Us: Season 2
These wins showcase the industry’s ability to evolve and adapt across formats. The Last of Us: Season 2 was especially noted for remaining faithful to its source material while offering fresh cinematic storytelling.
Community-Focused Categories
Community engagement and ongoing support have become vital to the success of modern games. This year’s winners were notable for consistent updates and strong developer-player communication.
- Best Ongoing Game: No Man’s Sky
- Best Community Support: Baldur’s Gate 3
No Man’s Sky continued its multi-year redemption arc with robust expansions. Meanwhile, Baldur’s Gate 3 was recognised for listening to player feedback and rapidly iterating on user experience.
eSports and Content Creator Recognition
The competitive gaming scene was also celebrated, with recognition going to games, teams, players, and creators who defined the eSports landscape in 2025.
- Best eSports Game: Counter-Strike 2
- Best eSports Athlete: Chovy (Jeong Ji-Hoon)
- Best eSports Team: Team Vitality
- Content Creator of the Year: MoistCr1TiKaL
These winners reflect the growing impact of eSports globally, as well as the influence of content creators in shaping gaming culture.
Most Anticipated Game of 2026
Winner: Grand Theft Auto VI
This highly awaited title captured the imagination of players everywhere. Its brief teaser was enough to generate massive discussion, confirming Rockstar Games’ ability to build anticipation like no other developer.
Other nominees included:
- Marvel’s Wolverine
- The Witcher IV
- Resident Evil Requiem
- 007 First Light
Full Table: All Game Awards 2025 Winners by Category
| Category | Winner |
| Game of the Year | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
| Best Game Direction | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
| Best Narrative | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
| Best Art Direction | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
| Best Score & Music | Lorien Testard – Expedition 33 |
| Best Audio Design | Battlefield 6 |
| Best Performance | Jennifer English – Expedition 33 |
| Innovation in Accessibility | Doom: The Dark Ages |
| Best Indie Game | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
| Best Debut Indie Game | Blue Prince |
| Best Mobile Game | Umamusume: Pretty Derby |
| Best VR/AR Game | The Midnight Walk |
| Best Action Game | Hades II |
| Best Action/Adventure | Hollow Knight: Silksong |
| Best RPG | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
| Best Family Game | Donkey Kong Bananza |
| Best Sim/Strategy Game | Final Fantasy Tactics |
| Best Multiplayer | Arc Raiders |
| Best Adaptation | The Last of Us: Season 2 |
| Best Ongoing Game | No Man’s Sky |
| Best Community Support | Baldur’s Gate 3 |
| Best eSports Game | Counter-Strike 2 |
| Best eSports Athlete | Chovy |
| Best eSports Team | Team Vitality |
| Content Creator of the Year | MoistCr1TiKaL |
| Most Anticipated Game | Grand Theft Auto VI |
Final Thoughts
The Game Awards 2025 highlighted a maturing industry that continues to blend artistic ambition with technological innovation. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s dominance indicates a growing appreciation for rich storytelling and artistic design.
Meanwhile, wins in accessibility, community support, and diverse game formats suggest a more inclusive and forward-thinking future for gaming.
With GTA VI and other highly anticipated titles on the horizon, 2026 promises to continue this trajectory of bold innovation and immersive experiences.
FAQs
What game won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won Game of the Year for its outstanding storytelling, gameplay, and artistic vision.
Which game won the most awards at The Game Awards 2025?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 secured multiple major awards including Game of the Year, Best Direction, Narrative, and Art Direction.
What was the best indie game of 2025?
The Best Independent Game award went to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Blue Prince won Best Debut Indie Game.
Who won Best Performance at The Game Awards 2025?
Jennifer English won for her role in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, praised for her emotional depth and authenticity.
What game was awarded Best Audio Design in 2025?
Battlefield 6 won Best Audio Design for its immersive and realistic soundscapes.
Which game is the most anticipated for 2026?
Grand Theft Auto VI was voted Most Anticipated Game of 2026.
What was the best adaptation of a game in 2025?
The Last of Us: Season 2 took home the award for Best Adaptation.
