The Game Awards 2025 nominees dropped on November 17. Now the gaming scene is totally hyped. Dominating the list is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 with an insane 12 nominations. This locks it in as the big boss for Game of the Year. The real GOTY spot has six top-tier picks. However, looking at all the nominations in other categories like Best Indie Game, Best RPG, Best Art Direction, and others shows tons of awesome stuff.
In this article, Gurugamer picked our top 10 killer games from these nominations. We ranked them on nom numbers, hype from critics, fresh ideas, and players reception. This is not just a guess. It is a shoutout to the best wins of 2025. Let's count down from 10 to 1.
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10. Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage
Best Fighting Game Nominee
Sega brings back this classic brawler with super smooth online battles, upgraded graphics, and a huge character lineup revamp. In a year full of showy fighters, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. shines with its clean tech and deep moves. It shows that skill owns flashy stuff any day. This nom reminds us why esports lives on pure talent.
9. Ball x Pit
Best Independent Game Nominee
This weird indie treasure from one dev flips a basic idea into a mind-blowing physics puzzle fest. The idea is a ball dodging pits that keep changing. It has random levels that spawn forever and chill tunes. It is the ideal break from huge AAA stories. It grabs noms for smart setup and replay hooks that keep you grinding.
8. Absolum
Best Independent Game Nominee
A creepy, vibe-heavy indie quest that mixes scares and scouting in a falling-apart alien world. Absolum's drawn-by-hand art and brain-twisting story turns have reviewers going nuts over its feels hit. Nominated in indie spots, it is the little guy that hits hard. It drops shivers without cheap jump tricks.
7. Blue Prince
Best Independent Game Nominee
Picture a roguelike where you build a mansion and each room is a puzzle ready to pop. Blue Prince nails mixing tactics, secrets, and non-stop finds. Its blueprints that shift all the time lock players in for hours on end. The indie nom points out 2025's boom in brainy, thinky games.
6. Donkey Kong Bananza
Game of the Year Nominee
Nintendo jumps back strong with this wild platform party. Donkey Kong and his squad smash through colorful zones loaded with grabs, team-up mess, and cart rides gone crazy. Nominated for GOTY, it nails fun for the whole fam in a time of dark edgy tales. It is straight-up old-school joy with new shine.
5. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Game of the Year Nominee
Warhorse Studios goes all-in on real history in this knight-era RPG follow-up. Blade fights feel raw and real, the huge world hits with real results, and the peasant-to-hero yarn grabs you tight. Its GOTY shoutout cheers deep RPG vibes that pay off for chill waits and dive-ins over easy guides.
4. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Game of the Year & Best Independent Game Nominee
After ages of waiting, Team Cherry drops the metroidvania sequel that fans craved. You play as Hornet slinging silk in a bug-packed zone. It builds on the first game's spooky looks and tough jumps. Double noms spotlight its art and tough spots. It is 2025's gotta-play for explore addicts.
3. Hades II
Game of the Year & Best Independent Game Nominee
Supergiant Games' roguelike part two outshines the first with goddess Melinoë's magic gear, deeper Greek myths, and top-level scripts. Fights are like a dance of buffs and slashes, as bonds grow over loops. Its bunch of noms set it up for big wins. It shows good stuff can hit again.
2. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Game of the Year Nominee
Hideo Kojima's big hit levels up the "strand" style with tighter links, weird scenes, and a celeb crew like Elle Fanning and Shioli Kutsuna. Crossing end-of-world shores drops deep ideas on teaming up in mess. Nominated in art, story, and sound, it is wild genius at peak form.
1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Game of the Year Leader with 12 Nominations
Sandfall Interactive's first game is a game-changer. It is a turn-based RPG with live-time flips, art like Picasso, and a spooky yarn of a world wrecked by a yearly "Gommage" that wipes folks by their age. Battles are smart plays at boss level, chars stick with you, and its size matches big studio beasts. With noms in almost all spots, from direction to acting, it is the total ruler of 2025.
These 10 are the best of 2025's lineup. They mix huge AAA shows with clever indie tricks. Check out The Game Awards on December 11 to see if our picks win out. What is your fave? The fight is tougher than ever!