This year's Game Awards, scheduled on December 11, appears highly unpredictable. Originally, Grand Theft Auto 6 was projected to dominate the event, but pushback into 2026 has significantly shifted the landscape. This change creates a considerably more open race for the prestigious Game of the Year title.
The voting involves a international panel of journalists globally, alongside a small percentage of public voting. Various trends often predict which games perform well in the GOTY race. An elevated Metacritic score—optimally above 90—is virtually mandatory. Role-playing games and narrative action games often receive favorable attention, while smaller and multiplayer games struggle against greater hurdles compared to AAA story-focused games. These tendencies helped accurately forecast 2024's winner, Astro Bot.
Here are educated guesses for the half-dozen most probable candidates for 2025's top honor. Differing from the movie business, where the majority of entries are known months prior to the ceremony, video games typically reveal their appeal only once they're out. Thus, this list includes only games that have been released. We will update as the remainder of 2025 if new releases hit the market. Listed below are several likely future entrants and dark horses.
GOTY Front-Runners
1. Clair Obscur
Why it could win: An highly praised role-playing game, strong on character development and performance, thematically resonant yet entertaining, with slick visuals—it embodies all the traits of a Game of the Year masterpiece. It's an astonishing feat from a relatively small development team, which enhances its charm. Echoing last year's Metaphor was well-received in 2024. This title looks tough to top.
Challenges: Although it's a minor hit, a sufficient number of people should play the game—especially among journalists—to maintain its presence in the conversation for over six months. Subscription services will boost visibility, but does it truly big enough to take the crown?
Momentum (holding steady): Clair Obscur is a polished product, players continue enjoying and praising it, and fan polls are overwhelmingly favoring its success. It remains firmly placed in the top spot.
2. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Strengths: Team Cherry's long awaited sequel to its breakout indie hit might easily dominate at The Game Awards, in part because the predecessor didn't receive much recognition back then and the jury may be keen to retrospectively honor it. Journalists overwhelmingly praise it, it has sold very strong, and its launch was a major occasion that defined the discourse for weeks.
Drawbacks: The game is notoriously difficult, which has split some critics and may further alienate the voters. A lot of players struggle with the game or feel irritated by it, and the accompanying debate has been a bit fractious.
Current trajectory (just arrived): No other 2025 games have made as big a splash as Silksong, and it's doubtful that any others will. The unexpected release was brilliantly orchestrated for greatest attention, but the absence of review copies for media means its perception could change over time.
3. Donkey Kong's latest
Advantages: With a average of 90 or more on both critical sites, the title has the required level of acclaim to contend. That’s not surprising for a first-party family title, which works against it. But, with its chaotic gameplay, revival of Donkey Kong as a main protagonist, and position as a launch title for a hardware release, it has more freshness than your average Mario game, and makes for a more interesting story.
Challenges: All-ages side-scrollers tend to not do as well in Game of the Year competitions, due to perceived lightheartedness and weaker storylines. The 2024 champion defied that trend, but a repeat in a row seems unlikely. Also, their excellence is often taken for granted.
Performance (declining No. 2): Bananza may keep momentum better than some other games as more people pick up the hardware, but criticized DLC has dented its image a little.
4. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Positive aspects: Hideo Kojima's second chapter to his unique 2019 adventure about hiking across a barren landscape is both more expansive and more palatable than the original. A technically astounding, absorbing, daring cinematic title, with critical acclaim, published by an industry giant… it’s got all the hallmarks of a serious GOTY candidate, and it comes from the best-known video game auteur still working.
Issues: Next to Expedition 33's underdog story, this sequel feels like the mainstream choice, despite its many oddities. And the closeness between the director and the show host might make some voters feel uncomfortable about supporting it.
Standing (slipping No. 3): The game's review ratings have cooled a little since launch. And it’s not clear that the game has truly grown beyond its core audience.
5. Hazelight's new game
Why it could win: Critical consensus is still the most consistent indicator of success at The Game Awards, and with a rating exceeding 90 on each of {Metacritic and OpenCritic|aggregate sites
