Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has emerged as the undisputed frontrunner for this year’s Game Awards, securing an impressive 12 nominations and igniting widespread discussion across the industry. The atmospheric turn-based RPG from French studio Sandfall Interactive now leads the race for Game of the Year, while three of its cast members are competing against one another in the Best Performance category. Its competition spans a diverse field: Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding 2, Nintendo’s lively platformer Donkey Kong Bananza, indie powerhouses Hollow Knight: Silksong and Hades II, and the grounded medieval sequel Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. All eyes now shift to December 11, when the world’s most-watched gaming ceremony returns to Los Angeles. Last year’s broadcast surpassed 150 million livestreams, cementing the event’s global cultural footprint — and raising expectations for what 2025 may deliver.
A Ceremony That Blends Prestige and Promotion
Often likened to the “Oscars of gaming,” The Game Awards occupies an unusual cultural space. Hosted once again by creator Geoff Keighley, the three-hour show mixes orchestral performances, celebrity appearances and — perhaps most notably — a hefty dose of world-premiere trailers. For many viewers, those reveals remain the true main attraction. In 2024 alone, audiences got first looks at major titles like The Witcher 4 and Elden Ring: Nightreign, making the ceremony not just an awards show, but a global marketing stage.
Clair Obscur’s Unexpected Rise
Expedition 33’s dominance this year is a major triumph for Sandfall Interactive, whose core development team consists of only about 30 people. Inspired by classic Japanese RPGs and built around a painterly surrealist world, the project stunned critics with its emotional storytelling, unique combat mechanics, and standout performances. Ben Starr, Charlie Cox and Jennifer English all earned performance nominations — nearly unheard of for a single title. Yet the game’s “independent” label has sparked debate. Although creatively led by a small team, it benefited from international support studios and a well-funded publisher, raising questions about what should qualify as indie in 2025.
Sony Remains a Powerhouse — Without Sweeping the Acting Categories
Sony enters the awards with two major exclusives — Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yōtei — each collecting eight nominations. Kojima’s highly anticipated sequel is in the running for both Game of the Year and Best Narrative, though surprisingly none of its star-studded cast received performance nods. Ghost of Yōtei, meanwhile, is poised for a strong showing thanks to its tight action design and a standout performance by Erika Ishii. These titles will go head-to-head with indie giants. Silksong, long dubbed the “GTA 6 of indie games” for its extended development cycle and fervent fanbase, made a massive splash upon release. Hades II continues Supergiant’s streak of critical acclaim with equal force. Rounding out the category are Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Bananza and Warhorse Studios’ Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, ensuring one of the most eclectic Game of the Year lineups in recent memory.
Snubs, Surprises and Rising Tensions
Hazelight Studios’ Split Fiction, the spiritual successor to It Takes Two, surprisingly missed the top category entirely, while cult-favorite mystery title Blue Prince landed only one nomination despite exceptional reviews. The Game Awards itself also faces renewed scrutiny. Critics argue the show’s pacing still leans too heavily on advertising, sometimes at the expense of developer recognition. Moreover, the quiet discontinuation of its Future Class initiative — a program meant to highlight emerging talent — has drawn backlash from former participants, some of whom accuse the awards of tokenism. With industry layoffs still dominating headlines, developers are calling on the ceremony to serve not merely as entertainment, but as a space to acknowledge the human cost of modern game production.
What Comes Next
As anticipation builds for December’s event, fans and developers alike are bracing for what could be a defining moment for the Game Awards. Will Expedition 33 convert its nominations into a sweeping victory? Will indies continue to stand toe-to-toe with blockbusters? And will the ceremony address the controversies surrounding it? One thing is certain: this year’s show is poised to be one of the most closely watched — and closely judged — in the event’s history.
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