If you’ve been living under a rock or just swamped with life, here’s your reminder that gaming’s biggest night is almost here. The Game Awards 2025 goes live on December 11 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, and this year’s ceremony is shaping up to be one of the most competitive yet.
Geoff Keighley returns to host the 12th annual show, bringing together the best games, developers, and surprise announcements that have become synonymous with the event. Nominees were revealed just days ago on November 17, and the lineup has already sparked debates across social media about who deserves to take home the top prizes.
Clair Obscur Breaks Records
The biggest story coming out of the nominations is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 absolutely dominating with 12 nominations across multiple categories. That’s the most nominations any single game has ever received in The Game Awards’ entire history. The turn-based RPG from French developer Sandfall Interactive has captured critical acclaim for its stunning art direction, emotional storytelling, and innovative combat mechanics.
Clair Obscur is competing for Game of the Year against some heavy hitters. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades 2, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 round out the GOTY category. Each of these titles has passionate fanbases ready to vote their favorite to victory, making this one of the tightest races in recent memory.
PlayStation Flexes Its Lineup
Sony Interactive Entertainment emerged as the most nominated publisher with 19 nominations spread across its portfolio. Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei both earned seven nominations each, showcasing PlayStation’s continued investment in narrative-driven exclusives. Ghost of Yotei, the sequel to the beloved Ghost of Tsushima, has particularly impressed critics with its expanded world and refined combat systems.
Hades 2 from Supergiant Games picked up six nominations, proving that indie developers can still compete with AAA juggernauts. Hollow Knight: Silksong, one of the most anticipated sequels in gaming, grabbed five nominations despite only launching earlier this year after years of development.
When and Where to Watch
The ceremony kicks off on Thursday, December 11 at 7:30 PM ET or 4:30 PM PT. For viewers in India, that translates to 6:00 AM IST on December 12, which means an early morning wake-up call for fans who want to catch the show live.
Amazon Prime Video has exclusive streaming rights this year, marking a shift from previous years when the show was available across multiple platforms simultaneously. Prime members can tune in at no additional cost beyond their subscription. The broadcast runs approximately three hours, ending around 11:00 PM ET.
Public tickets for the in-person event went on sale November 1 for those lucky enough to attend at the Peacock Theater. As with previous years, expect celebrity appearances, world premiere game announcements, and live musical performances alongside the awards themselves.
Notable Categories and Nominees
Beyond Game of the Year, several categories are generating serious buzz. The Best Performance category features an all-star lineup including Troy Baker for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Ben Starr and Charlie Cox both for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Erika Ishii for Ghost of Yotei. Baker’s pitch-perfect portrayal of Indiana Jones has been singled out as one of the year’s best voice acting performances.
Best Action Game pits Battlefield 6 against Doom: The Dark Ages, Hades 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. That category alone represents vastly different approaches to action gameplay, from tactical shooters to hack-and-slash demon slayers to roguelike dungeon crawlers.
The Best Indie Game category showcases creativity from smaller studios, while Best Mobile Game highlights how smartphone gaming continues evolving with nominees like Destiny: Rising, Persona 5: The Phantom X, and Wuthering Waves bringing console-quality experiences to mobile devices.
Fan Voting Is Open Now
One of the defining features of The Game Awards is that fan votes actually matter. Unlike many industry award shows where only critics and industry insiders get a say, The Game Awards weights fan votes at 10 percent of the final results, with the remaining 90 percent coming from a jury of media outlets and industry experts.
Voting is open now through the official Game Awards website. You’ll need to sign in, but the process is straightforward. Fans can vote across all categories, and the site makes it easy to see trailers and learn more about games you might not be familiar with.
This democratic element adds unpredictability to the results. While critics might favor one game, passionate fanbases can push their favorites over the finish line, especially in tight races where jury votes are split.
World Premieres and Announcements
As much as The Game Awards celebrates the past year in gaming, it’s also become one of the industry’s biggest stages for new game reveals. Previous years have seen major announcements like Elden Ring’s reveal, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 news, and surprise drops of playable demos.
Geoff Keighley has built The Game Awards into must-watch television not just for awards but for what’s coming next. Expect trailers for 2026 releases, potential console announcements, and maybe even a surprise game launch happening the same night. Publishers save their biggest reveals for this show because they know millions of eyes will be watching.
The Esports Categories
The Game Awards doesn’t ignore competitive gaming. This year’s Esports categories recognize both individual players and teams across multiple games. Best Esports Player nominees include brawk from Valorant, Chovy from League of Legends, f0rsakeN from Valorant, Kakeru from Street Fighter, MenaRD from Street Fighter, and Zyw0o from Counter-Strike 2.
Best Esports Team features Gen.G for League of Legends, NRG for Valorant, Team Falcons for DOTA 2, Team Liquid PH for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Team Vitality for Counter-Strike 2. These organizations represent the pinnacle of competitive gaming, with championship wins and millions in prize money backing their nominations.
Best Esports Game includes perennial favorites like League of Legends, DOTA 2, Valorant, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, all of which continue dominating viewership numbers and competitive circuits worldwide.
Microsoft and Xbox Representation
While Sony led publisher nominations, Microsoft still has a strong showing with 10 nominations across its Xbox Game Studios portfolio. Avowed, Doom: The Dark Ages, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Ninja Gaiden 4, South of Midnight, and The Outer Worlds 2 all earned recognition in various categories.
A Minecraft Movie, which became one of 2025’s biggest box office hits, scored a nomination for Best Adaptation. That category recognizes how video games are increasingly influencing mainstream entertainment beyond interactive media.
Why This Year Feels Different
There’s something special about the 2025 lineup. We’re seeing long-awaited sequels like Hollow Knight: Silksong and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 finally releasing after years of anticipation. We’re watching indie developers punch above their weight class with games like Clair Obscur competing directly against AAA blockbusters.
The diversity of nominated games also stands out. Turn-based RPGs compete with action shooters. Story-driven adventures face off against competitive multiplayer games. Mobile titles get serious recognition alongside PC and console releases. The Game Awards has evolved into a genuinely inclusive celebration of gaming in all its forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is The Game Awards 2025?
The Game Awards 2025 takes place on Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 7:30 PM ET or 4:30 PM PT. For viewers in India, the show begins at 6:00 AM IST on December 12. The ceremony runs approximately three hours.
How can I watch The Game Awards 2025?
This year, The Game Awards streams exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. You’ll need a Prime membership to watch, but there’s no additional cost beyond the subscription fee. Previous years offered multiple streaming options, but Amazon has exclusive rights for 2025.
Can I still vote for The Game Awards?
Yes, fan voting is open now through the official Game Awards website at thegameawards.com. You’ll need to create an account or sign in, then you can vote across all categories. Fan votes count for 10 percent of the final results, with a jury of media outlets determining the remaining 90 percent.
What game has the most nominations?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads with 12 nominations, the most any game has ever received in The Game Awards history. Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei follow with seven nominations each, while Hades 2 has six and Hollow Knight: Silksong has five.
Will there be new game announcements?
Almost certainly. The Game Awards has become one of gaming’s biggest stages for world premiere announcements and trailers. Geoff Keighley typically teases the number of world premieres ahead of the show. Expect major reveals for 2026 releases and potentially surprise game launches during the broadcast.
Can I attend The Game Awards in person?
Public tickets went on sale November 1 for the ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. If tickets are still available, you can purchase them through the official Game Awards website. In-person attendees get to experience the show live with celebrity appearances and musical performances.
What is the Game of the Year category?
Game of the Year is the night’s biggest award, recognizing overall excellence across all aspects of game design, storytelling, graphics, sound, and innovation. The 2025 nominees are Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades 2, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
How are winners decided?
Winners are determined by a combination of jury votes and fan votes. A panel of media outlets and industry experts makes up 90 percent of the vote, while fan voting through the official website accounts for the remaining 10 percent. This system balances critical assessment with community passion.
Mark Your Calendar
Whether you’re team Clair Obscur, rooting for Death Stranding 2, or hoping your favorite indie gets its moment, The Game Awards 2025 promises to be an unforgettable night. Beyond the awards themselves, the show offers a chance to celebrate what makes gaming special and get hyped for what’s coming next.
Set your alarms, charge your devices, make sure your Prime subscription is active, and get ready for December 11. Gaming’s biggest night is almost here, and if this year’s nominations are any indication, we’re in for one hell of a show.