Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Smashes Record with 12 Game Awards Nominations; Full GOTY 2025 List Revealed
The annual video game awards season has officially kicked off with a bang. Today, on November 17, 2025, The Game Awards (TGA) announced the full, highly-anticipated list of nominees for its 2025 ceremony, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most competitive and surprising shows in recent memory. The breaking news has sent ripples through the industry, headlined by a single, stunning upset: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has not only emerged as a major contender but has completely rewritten the TGA history books, leading all titles with an unprecedented 12 nominations.
The Game Awards 2025, hosted by Geoff Keighley, is scheduled to air live on December 11 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. While the show is always a spectacle of world premieres and celebrity appearances, the focus now is squarely on the nominees themselves, particularly the Game of the Year (GOTY) category, which features a remarkable blend of highly-anticipated sequels and surprising breakout hits.
The New TGA King: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s Record-Breaking Run
When the full nomination list dropped this morning, all eyes immediately turned to the unexpected frontrunner. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the stunning fantasy RPG developed by Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive, has secured a massive 12 nominations, making it the single most-nominated game in the history of The Game Awards. This twelve-fold recognition is a monumental achievement, especially for a new IP, and underscores the global jury’s appreciation for its creative and technical prowess.
The game’s nominations span almost every major category, including the coveted Game of the Year (GOTY) award, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, and even multiple nominations in the Best Performance category for its actors, including Jennifer English and Ben Starr. This breadth of nominations signifies not just a technically proficient game, but one that excelled across the board, from its artistic vision to its storytelling and sound design. The sheer number of nods establishes Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as the one to beat come December 11, and its success is a massive win for independent and mid-tier publishing houses, proving that innovation and artistry can truly dominate the awards conversation, even against the biggest franchises.
The Game of the Year 2025 Field: Blockbusters, Sequels, and Long-Awaited Debuts
The most discussed category is, as always, the Game of the Year (GOTY) award. The six nominees represent a fascinating cross-section of the best video games released in 2025, mixing AAA behemoths with indie darlings and long-rumored sequels finally seeing the light of day.
The Game of the Year 2025 Nominees are:
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive / Kepler Interactive)
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
- Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD / Nintendo)
- Hades II (Supergiant Games)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios / Deep Silver)
Following closely behind the record-breaker are two massive PlayStation titles: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yotei, both of which earned eight nominations each. Hideo Kojima’s sequel is a major contender, earning nominations in Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction, reflecting its technical ambition and unique narrative style. Similarly, Ghost of Yotei (presumably the sequel to Ghost of Tsushima) shows its narrative strength with nominations in key creative categories.
Rounding out the GOTY field are some fan-favorite powerhouses. Hades II from Supergiant Games, with its six nominations, proves that its mythological roguelike formula remains a masterpiece of design and music. The long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong finally made it to the eligibility window and secured five total nominations, a huge victory for the Team Cherry faithful. Finally, the inclusion of Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Bananza and the medieval RPG sequel Kingdom Come: Deliverance II ensures a diverse and unpredictable voting race.
The nomination of Hollow Knight: Silksong is particularly notable, given its famously extended development cycle. The game’s inclusion in the Best Art Direction and Best Score and Music categories, in addition to GOTY, is a testament to the immense quality and anticipation surrounding its eventual launch.
Beyond GOTY: Key Categories and Industry Surprises
The nomination announcements were packed with other highlights that showcase the industry’s output this year.
Best Game Direction and Narrative
These categories often indicate the technical and creative favorites. The nominees for Best Game Direction show a clear preference for cinematic and mechanically innovative titles: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Ghost of Yōtei, Hades II, and the cooperative action title Split Fiction.
The Best Narrative category similarly highlights the games with the most compelling stories: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Ghost of Yōtei, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and Konami’s highly anticipated horror title, Silent Hill f.
The Esports and Anticipation Fields
In a nod to the growing importance of competitive gaming, the Esports categories also saw their nominees revealed, with titles like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, League of Legends, and VALORANT vying for Best Esports Game. The event also acknowledged key figures in the competitive scene, with League of Legends personality Marc Robert ‘Caedrel’ Lamont receiving a nomination for Content Creator of the Year.
Meanwhile, the Most Anticipated Game category serves as a peek into the industry’s future, featuring major titles that are yet to be released. This year’s list includes the hotly debated Grand Theft Auto VI, Marvel’s Wolverine, The Witcher IV, 007 First Light, and Resident Evil Requiem.
The Best Adaptation Category
One of the more unique and increasingly relevant categories is Best Adaptation, recognizing the success of video game properties crossing over into other media. The 2025 nominees highlight a strong year for game-to-screen projects, including A Minecraft Movie, Devil May Cry, The Last of Us: Season 2, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, and Until Dawn. The nomination for The Last of Us: Season 2 suggests the jury expects another critical success, following the massive praise for its first season.
New for 2025: Streaming Partnership and Voting Details
Beyond the nominees, The Game Awards 2025 will feature a new broadcast milestone. For the first time ever, the ceremony will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video, alongside its traditional streams on YouTube and Twitch. This new partnership is a significant move that is expected to drastically increase the show’s reach and viewership worldwide.
The public voting process is now live across all categories via the official Game Awards website, allowing fans around the globe to weigh in on their favorites. All votes will be tallied alongside those from the global jury of over 150 media publications and creator outlets. Fans should note that voting will close on December 10, just one day before the live show.
With a record-shattering frontrunner, a deeply competitive GOTY field, and major new broadcast partnerships, The Game Awards 2025 is already shaping up to be an unforgettable event. The countdown to December 11 has begun, and the industry is poised for an intense month of debate, speculation, and anticipation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is the most-nominated game at The Game Awards 2025?
The most-nominated game at The Game Awards 2025 is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which received a record-breaking 12 nominations, including a nod for Game of the Year.
What games are nominated for Game of the Year (GOTY) at TGA 2025?
There are six nominees for Game of the Year: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.
When does public voting for The Game Awards 2025 close?
Public voting is open now and will close on December 10 at 6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET, the day before the live ceremony.
Where can I watch The Game Awards 2025?
The Game Awards 2025 will air live on December 11 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and will be broadcast across major platforms, including YouTube, Twitch, and for the first time, Amazon Prime Video.
How many nominations did Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei receive?
Both Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions) and Ghost of Yotei (Sucker Punch Productions) received eight nominations each, making them strong contenders across the major categories.
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