2025 has seen an incredible number of fantastic video game releases. Between highly anticipated indie games that became massive hits, stunning open-world games, and titles that show Nintendo at its best, 2025’s Game of the Year competitions are shaping up to be a bloodbath.
The Game Awards nominations aren’t far off, and while six games will be nominated for the coveted GOTY award, there are plenty of contenders. In fact, speculating about which games could be 2025’s Game of the Year makes it clear that some of this year’s releases could be considered masterpieces. At the end of the day, only one game can win, but gamers are the real winners.
Incredible Games Like Indiana Jones and Blue Prince Could Be Forgotten
Indy in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle hasn’t looked this good in years. Image via Bethesda Softworks
Even though Indiana Jones and the Great Circle came out in 2024, it was released in December, so it technically qualifies for a nomination at The Game Awards. The game’s late-year release kept it from getting the recognition it deserved, so it would be great to see it get its flowers. MachineGames captures the tone of Indiana Jones perfectly, and Troy Baker delivered some of his best work yet as Indy. In fact, he’s a frontrunner for Performance of the Year.
The Great Circle definitely deserves awards, but the timing of its release could be an issue. More recent games will be fresh in people’s minds as they decide on nominations, and many people may forget that it qualifies for a nomination at all. At this point, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a dark horse GOTY candidate that has the potential to surprise everyone.
Another amazing game that might struggle to get recognition is Blue Prince, which came out in April. Not only is Blue Prince one of the best puzzle games of this year, but it’s arguably one of the greatest puzzle games ever, and in any other year, it would easily be a Game of the Year Contender. However, due to the sheer number of critically acclaimed 2025 games, it often gets lost in the shuffle and might wind up being recognized as one of the year’s best indie games instead.
Split Fiction Is the Best Co-Op Game of 2025
The Sci-Fi World in Split FictionImage via Hazelight Studios
Hazelight Studios made one of the most fun co-op games ever, It Takes Two, so it was no surprise that their latest co-op game, Split Fiction, instantly became a Game of the Year contender when it released. In fact, Split Fiction got announced at the Game Awards last year, so it would be fitting to see it make a return.
Split Fiction is definitely a crowd-pleaser, and both critics and audiences loved the way it shifted between different genres and styles of gameplay. What might get in the way of a nomination is the release date. Since Split Fiction came out in March, it might not be at the top of people’s minds when they’re making GOTY nominations. That said, it’s an incredibly energizing game that people will be playing for a long time, so it might still be in the running.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Could Make the Cut
BlacksmithingImage via Warhorse Studios
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a hugely popular game, with over 4 million copies sold so far. It’s an open-world game with tons of freedom, and the people who enjoyed it really loved it, so there are plenty of people who will fight for the game to game to get a nomination. KCD II’s superb storytelling and incredibly immersive role-playing make it a phenomenal sequel and one of the best games of the year.
Like other great games that are on the cusp of getting nominated, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II arrived earlier this year, in February. If it fails to get a nod, that will probably be the reason why, but it still has a great chance of getting nominated in another category, like Best Role-Playing Game.
PlayStation Exclusives Like Ghost of Yotei Might Get GOTY Nominations
Mount YoteiImage via Sucker Punch Productions
PlayStation exclusives have historically fared well at The Game Awards, with Astro Bot taking last year’s crown. This year, Ghost of Yotei is the most likely nominee. Sucker Punch Productions’ gorgeous open-world is jaw-dropping and managed to improve on the already stunning Ghost of Tsushima. It also features one of the best performances of the year, Erika Ishii’s portrayal of Atsu.
Another potential nominee is Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. In 2019, it was nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards and didn’t win, and it might have the same fate this year. The sequel significantly improved on the mechanics of the original and delivered an incredible story that elevates Death Stranding’s lore in extraordinary ways.
Hollow Knight Silksong Was Worth the Wait
Image via Team Cherry
The release of Hollow Knight Silksong was one of the biggest gaming stories of 2025. When the much-anticipated sequel was finally released, demand was so high that it crashed every storefront at launch. Expectations were sky high, and not only did Team Cherry manage to meet those expectations, but it went above and beyond them. Silksong is already considered to be one of the best Metroidvanias of all time, and the game is equal parts challenging and rewarding.
Adrenaline is a key part of Hollow Knight Silksong, and its boss battles are some of the most brutal in gaming history. While some have complained that Silksong is too hard, many others have found joy in conquering its challenges. That joy, along with the game’s magnificent art and music, makes Hollow Knight Silksong a lock for a Game of the Year nomination, but the difficulty could keep it from a win.
Hades II Is the Best Roguelike of 2025
The Rift of ThessalyImage via Supergiant Games
Hades II was already widely praised when it was in early access, but it reached new levels of critical acclaim with the release of Version 1.0. It’s currently the highest-rated game on OpenCritic (not counting the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Breath of the Wild), and that’s saying something.
The original Hades was already a masterpiece, but developer Supergiant Games managed to elevate it, and that’s a feat worthy of recognition. It helps that Hades II is one of the most addictive 2025 games, with incredible gameplay that serves as a definitive example of the “just one more run” mentality. Not only is it sure to win a nomination, but it has a good chance of winning Game of the Year.
Donkey Kong Bananza Represents Nintendo At Its Best
Kong Bananza in Donkey Kong BananzaImage via Nintendo
Nintendo has been having a massive year with the Switch 2. While Mario Kart World has been very well-received, with an impressive 87 on OpenCritic, Donkey Kong Banaza is currently the console’s crown jewel. In fact, it’s one of the best platformers of the past decade, boasting incredible, destructive gameplay, along with some solid collectible hunting.
It’s likely that the Game Awards will want to honor a Switch 2 game this year, and if they do, Donkey Kong Bananza is the best possible contender. The game is one of the best reasons to buy a Switch 2, which is why a Game of the Year nomination for Donkey Kong Banaza seems inevitable.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Is the Game of the Year Frontrunner
Image via Sandfall Interactive
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a critically acclaimed masterpiece that’s adored by seemingly everyone who’s played it. Even though the RPG was released all the way back in April, people are still talking about it like it’s a new release. People can’t seem to stop thinking about Clair Obscur’s incredible story, and the gameplay made turn-based combat feel fresh again.
Another point in Clair Obscur’s favor is that it has an incredible story. The game was made by a small team at Sandfall Interactive, and with AAA games being plagued by ballooning development costs and layoffs, its success is a feel-good story. There’s no question that Clair Obscur will be nominated for Game of the Year. Right now, the real debate is over whether the title will manage to take it all.