The Game Awards 2025 wrapped up on December 11 after a marathon three-hour show packed with world premieres, surprise announcements, and award presentations. French indie darling Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dominated the night, taking home nine trophies including Game of the Year and setting a new record for most wins in a single year. But while the ceremony itself delivered plenty of excitement, a cascade of leaks in the hours leading up to the show had already spoiled many of the biggest reveals, leading to a bittersweet experience for fans watching live.
The Historic Game of the Year Win
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 entered The Game Awards with an unprecedented 12 nominations, and the turn-based RPG from French studio Sandfall Interactive made the most of them. By night’s end, it had secured nine wins including Game of the Year, Best Independent Game, Best Narrative, Best RPG, Best Art Direction, Best Debut Indie Game, and Best Game Direction. The nine-win haul broke the previous record, establishing Clair Obscur as the most decorated game in The Game Awards’ 12-year history.
The game beat out heavy hitters like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II for the top honor. Actress Jennifer English won Best Performance for her portrayal of Maelle, one of the game’s central characters. The team used their acceptance speeches to thank fans and announce a massive free content update dropping as a thank-you to the community that supported them.
Larian’s New Divinity Game Steals the Show
One of the few announcements that didn’t leak beforehand was Larian Studios revealing their next project. After weeks of speculation about a mysterious statue appearing in the Mojave Desert, Geoff Keighley finally solved the puzzle: Larian is making a new Divinity game, their return to the franchise that predates Baldur’s Gate 3. The cinematic trailer showed a brutal scene of a man being burned alive in front of cheering cultists, before the tide turns violently. The statue from the desert appeared at the end of the trailer, identified as “the hellstone.”
Keighley described it as Larian’s biggest game ever, even bigger than Baldur’s Gate 3. That’s a daunting claim considering BG3’s massive scope, but if any studio has earned the benefit of the doubt, it’s Larian. No release date or platform information was announced, suggesting the game is still early in development. Fans of Divinity: Original Sin and its sequel were ecstatic to see the series return after Larian spent years focused on Dungeons & Dragons.
Star Wars Double Feature
Kurakasis’s predictions came true as two Star Wars games were revealed during the show. Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, directed by original KOTOR creator Casey Hudson at his new studio Arcanaut, promises a spiritual successor to the beloved RPG franchise. The cinematic trailer showed a mysterious female protagonist landing on a desolate planet with companions, encountering something bathed in ominous red light. Hudson said the team’s ambitions match those from when they created KOTOR 25 years ago.
The second Star Wars announcement was Galactic Racer from Fuse Games, a studio founded by former Criterion developers. Set after the fall of the Empire, the high-speed racing game features the underground Galactic League operating in the Outer Rim. The trailer showed speeders tearing through iconic planets and Star Destroyer wreckage, with a glimpse of an older bearded Sebulba. The game targets a 2026 release for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
The Leaks That Wouldn’t Stop
Unfortunately, many major announcements had their thunder stolen by premature leaks. Both Tomb Raider games (Legacy of Atlantis and Catalyst) leaked with full details hours before the show. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight’s May 29, 2026 release date was discovered through a Spanish language Steam page glitch. IO Interactive accidentally posted the 007 First Light trailer revealing Lenny Kravitz early. Arknights Endfield’s release date leaked via Korean advertising. The list goes on.
By the time many trailers actually premiered during the show, Reddit and Twitter had already dissected every frame. The live watchalong thread on Gaming Leaks and Rumours saw users repeatedly commenting “we already knew this” as announcements rolled out. It created a strange atmosphere where viewers were simultaneously excited about the games themselves but disappointed by the lack of genuine surprise.
Other Major Announcements
Despite the leaks, several significant reveals captured attention. Forest 3, the continuation of Endnight Games’ horror series and sequel to Sons of the Forest, showed an astronaut crash-landing on a mysterious world. Ace Combat 8: Wings Above the Sky was announced for 2026 after the series went dormant following 2019’s Ace Combat 7. Exodus from Archetype Entertainment and Wizards of the Coast showed gameplay for the first time, featuring hero Jun and Matthew McConaughey’s mysterious character C.C. Orlev.
Capcom confirmed Leon Kennedy will appear in Resident Evil Requiem through new footage. Diablo IV revealed its Lord of Hatred expansion. Marvel Rivals announced Deadpool as January’s new playable character. Lords of the Fallen 2 showed in-game combat for the first time. Jonathan Blow’s new puzzle game Order of the Sinking Star boasted over 1,000 hand-crafted puzzles. The Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive Orbitals charmed viewers with its retro anime art style.
Other Notable Winners
Beyond Clair Obscur’s dominance, other awards went to deserving recipients. Hollow Knight: Silksong won Best Action/Adventure Game. Hades II took Best Action Game. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves won Best Fighting Game. Donkey Kong Bananza won Best Family Game. South of Midnight won Games for Impact. No Man’s Sky won Best Ongoing Game after years of post-launch support. The Last of Us Season 2 won Best Adaptation despite not having aired yet, beating out competitors like the Minecraft Movie.
In the community categories, MoistCr1TiKaL won Content Creator of the Year, accepting with his signature deadpan humor by saying “Please god anybody but me.” Grand Theft Auto VI unsurprisingly won Most Anticipated Game, though its indefinite delay announcement earlier in 2025 dampened some enthusiasm. The Player’s Voice award went to Wuthering Waves, the free-to-play action RPG that built a dedicated fanbase throughout the year.
FAQs
What won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025, along with eight other awards including Best RPG, Best Narrative, and Best Independent Game. It set a new record with nine total wins.
What was the biggest announcement at The Game Awards 2025?
Larian Studios revealing their next Divinity game was arguably the biggest announcement, as it was one of the few that didn’t leak beforehand. Other major reveals included Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic from KOTOR creator Casey Hudson.
How long was The Game Awards 2025?
The Game Awards 2025 ran approximately three hours including the 30-minute pre-show, starting at 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT on December 11. Host Geoff Keighley presented awards and world premiere trailers throughout.
Did Grand Theft Auto VI win any awards?
Grand Theft Auto VI won Most Anticipated Game at The Game Awards 2025, though the game was delayed indefinitely earlier in the year from its planned May 2026 release window.
What games leaked before The Game Awards 2025?
Multiple games leaked including both Tomb Raider titles (Legacy of Atlantis and Catalyst), LEGO Batman’s release date, 007 First Light’s Lenny Kravitz villain reveal, Arknights Endfield’s January launch date, and various other announcements through different sources.
Where was The Game Awards 2025 held?
The Game Awards 2025 took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on December 11, 2025. It streamed live worldwide on YouTube, Twitch, and various other platforms.
Who hosted The Game Awards 2025?
Geoff Keighley hosted The Game Awards 2025, as he has for all previous editions since creating the show in 2014. He serves as both host and executive producer of the annual event.
Conclusion
The Game Awards 2025 delivered a memorable night despite the leak problems that plagued its biggest announcements. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s historic nine-award sweep proved that independent studios can compete with AAA juggernauts when they nail the fundamentals of storytelling, art direction, and gameplay. Larian’s new Divinity game generated massive excitement for fans of the developer’s pre-Baldur’s Gate work. The dual Star Wars announcements showed that Lucasfilm Games is serious about diversifying the franchise across different genres. While the leaks undeniably dampened some of the surprise factor, the quality of the announcements themselves still resonated. Three hours of trailers, awards, and musical performances reminded everyone why The Game Awards has become gaming’s biggest annual event, even if keeping secrets in the modern internet age seems increasingly impossible. Publishers might want to invest in better security measures for 2026, but until then, fans will keep showing up to watch Geoff Keighley promise “no really, the show is almost over” for the fifth time before finally wrapping up.