Game of the Year 2025: Frontrunners and Emerging Contenders

The 2025 Game Awards' most coveted prize, Game of the Year, is highly contested this year, particularly with the postponement of Grand Theft Auto 6. This has created an exciting and unpredictable race for the industry's highest honor, often referred to as the 'Oscars of gaming'. The judging criteria, which emphasize high Metacritic scores, engaging narratives, and established genres like RPGs and action-adventures, provide a framework for predicting potential winners. This analysis delves into the leading contenders, considering their critical acclaim, market impact, and unique characteristics, while also identifying potential surprises and future releases that could influence the outcome.

Anticipating the Next Game of the Year: A Detailed Look at 2025's Top Contenders

The gaming world is buzzing with anticipation for the 11th Game Awards, set to take place on December 11th. The absence of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, now slated for a 2026 release, has transformed this year's Game of the Year (GOTY) category into a thrilling and unpredictable competition. Industry pundits, including Polygon, a key member of the voting body, are meticulously analyzing potential nominees, employing criteria such as critical consensus, genre appeal, and narrative depth.

Currently, the front-runner is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a critically lauded role-playing game celebrated for its compelling storyline, impressive performance, and polished production values. Developed by Sandfall Interactive, a relatively new team, its success adds to its allure. Despite its rising popularity, a potential challenge lies in ensuring a broad enough player base, especially among critics, to sustain its momentum throughout the year. Nevertheless, its strong critical reception and early betting odds firmly place it at the top.

A formidable new entry is Hollow Knight: Silksong, the much-awaited sequel from Team Cherry. This indie title has received widespread critical acclaim and has generated significant industry buzz. Its predecessor's overlooked status might prompt the jury to recognize this new installment. However, its notable difficulty has caused some division among critics and could be a point of contention for a wider jury. Despite this, its impactful, surprise release has secured its strong position.

In third place is Nintendo's Donkey Kong Bananza. With high ratings on both Metacritic and OpenCritic, this platformer is a strong contender. Its innovative destruction gameplay and its role as a flagship title for a new console offer a fresh perspective. Yet, family-friendly platformers often face challenges in the GOTY category due to perceptions of thematic simplicity. The recent, less-than-stellar reception of its DLC, DK Island + Emerald Rush, has also slightly dampened its reputation.

Next up is Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Hideo Kojima's sequel. This technically impressive and ambitious game, a follow-up to his 2019 title, has garnered rave reviews. While it possesses all the hallmarks of a major GOTY contender, its establishment status might contrast with Clair Obscur's underdog narrative. The close ties between Kojima and Game Awards host Geoff Keighley could also raise impartiality concerns for some jurors, and its review scores have softened slightly post-launch.

Split Fiction, Hazelight's cooperative adventure, maintains a strong standing, benefiting from exceptional critical ratings. Building on the legacy of its GOTY-winning predecessor, It Takes Two, its story-driven action-adventure format aligns well with past Game Awards preferences. However, some critics suggest its narrative might be less impactful than its design innovations, and the jury might seek to reward a different type of game this year.

Rounding out the top six is Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. This ambitious medieval RPG from Warhorse Studios, celebrated for its strong storytelling, resonates with core gamers seeking immersive solo experiences. Despite its critical success and dedicated fanbase, the developer's controversial past statements and the game's challenging nature might limit its broader appeal among journalists and jurors.

Beyond the frontrunners, several "dark horses" could emerge, including Avowed, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Despelote, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Blue Prince. Additionally, highly anticipated upcoming titles like Hades 2, Keeper, and Ghost of Yōtei are poised to make their mark as the year progresses.

The current landscape of the Game Awards offers a fascinating glimpse into the diverse and innovative world of video games. The emphasis on compelling narratives, strong gameplay, and critical reception continues to shape the competition. While established studios and beloved franchises often dominate, the rise of indie darlings like Clair Obscur and Hollow Knight: Silksong showcases the industry's dynamic evolution. The discussion around game difficulty and the ethical considerations of jury independence further highlight the complexities of this prestigious award. Ultimately, this year promises to be a celebration of gaming's rich creativity and its ever-expanding boundaries.