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The upcoming annual gaming ceremony, scheduled on December 11, shapes up as wide open. At first, GTA 6 had been expected to clean up the event, but pushback into 2026 has completely changed the landscape. This development sets the stage for a much more unpredictable contest for the coveted Game of the Year title.

The selection includes a broad body of critics globally, supplemented by a minor share of public voting. A number of indicators help determine which games excel in the GOTY race. An elevated critical score—preferably above 90—is virtually mandatory. Role-playing games and narrative action games usually get favorable attention, while smaller and co-op games encounter steeper hurdles compared to big-budget story-focused experiences. These metrics correctly anticipated last year's winner, Astro Bot.

Below are projections for the select few likely candidates for 2025's top honor. In contrast to the film industry, where most hopefuls are established long before voting, video games often demonstrate their appeal only after release. Accordingly, this ranking covers solely games that have come out. The list will evolve throughout the remainder of 2025 as additional releases hit the market. Additionally featured are some probable upcoming entrants and sleepers.

Top Contenders for Game of the Year

1. Clair Obscur

Strengths: A critically acclaimed role-playing game, strong on storytelling and cinematic presentation, thematically resonant yet engaging, with slick visuals—this is all the ingredients of a GOTY winner. As a impressive accomplishment from a relatively small group, which only adds to its appeal. Echoing Metaphor: ReFantazio was highly regarded in 2024. Expedition 33 looks hard to beat.

Potential drawbacks: Although it's a well-received game, enough people need to play Expedition 33—particularly among reviewers—to stay in the conversation for over six months. Game Pass will assist, but does it genuinely impactful enough to come out on top?

Momentum (remaining strong): Expedition 33 is a polished product, people are still engaging with and discussing it, and fan polls are heavily favoring its victory. It's very firmly placed in the lead.

2. Hollow Knight's sequel

Positive factors: The developers's long anticipated successor to its acclaimed indie hit could well sweep at this year's show, in part because the predecessor didn't make much of impact back then and the jury may be eager to belatedly honor it. Journalists largely adore it, it has sold very strong, and its launch was a significant moment that dominated the discourse for weeks.

Weaknesses: The game is notoriously difficult, which has split some critics and may also polarize the voters. A lot of players struggle with the game or feel frustrated by it, and the surrounding discourse has been fairly fractious.

Standing (just arrived): Few 2025 games have made as big a splash as this title, and it's unlikely that any others will. The surprise drop was perfectly orchestrated for maximum effect, but the absence of early access for reviewers means its critical reputation could decline over time.

3. Donkey Kong's latest

Strengths: With a average of 90 or more on critical sites, Bananza has the necessary level of praise to be in the running. That’s not surprising for a first-party family title, which hurts it. But, with its destruction action, resuscitation of Donkey Kong as a lead hero, and status as a launch title for a hardware release, it has more novelty than a typical platforming game, and makes for a more notable story.

Limitations: Family-oriented platformers tend to not do as well in Game of the Year races, due to assumed lightheartedness and under-developed narratives. Astro Bot went against that trend, but two wins in a row seems improbable. Additionally, their excellence is often taken for granted.

Performance (down from No. 2): This title may hold momentum better than some other games as more people acquire Switch 2, but criticized DLC has damaged its reputation somewhat.

4. Kojima's sequel

Positive aspects: Hideo Kojima's second chapter to his unique 2019 adventure about hiking across a desolate world is both more expansive and more accessible than the original. A technically impressive, engaging, ambitious cinematic title, with critical acclaim, published by Sony… it’s got all the hallmarks of a serious GOTY hopeful, and it comes from the best-known creative visionary still working.

Drawbacks: Next to the underdog's underdog story, this sequel feels like the mainstream choice, despite its many eccentricities. And the familiarity between the director and Geoff Keighley might make some jury members feel hesitant about supporting it.

Momentum (declining No. 3): This title's review ratings have cooled a little since launch. And it’s not clear that the game has truly grown beyond its core fanbase.

5. Split Fiction

Advantages: Uniform praise is still the most consistent signal of success at The Game Awards, and with a rating over 90 on {Metacritic and OpenCritic|aggregate sites