The Game Awards 2025 unfolded as a monumental night for the gaming industry, celebrating standout titles and unveiling a staggering array of future blockbusters. Hosted by Geoff Keighley, the event captivated millions worldwide, cementing its status as the premier platform for recognizing excellence and generating unprecedented hype. This year, one independent gem, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, unexpectedly dominated the awards, while groundbreaking announcements from beloved franchises like Star Wars, Divinity, and Tomb Raider set the stage for an electrifying gaming future. Prepare to dive into every winner and every thrilling reveal that shaped the gaming landscape for years to come.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Sweeps Game of the Year
The undisputed champion of The Game Awards 2025 was Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This French-developed RPG, acclaimed for its dark, bold, and brilliant narrative, seized a phenomenal eight awards. It not only claimed the coveted Game of the Year title but also secured wins for Best RPG, Best Score and Music, Best Independent Game, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, and Best Debut Indie. Jennifer English further added to its triumph by winning Best Performance for her compelling role as Maelle, bringing the game’s indirect trophy count to nine. This remarkable success story, achieved with a budget under $10 million and a team of around 400 people, highlighted a significant industry trend: smaller, creatively driven titles can achieve monumental acclaim against larger productions.
Other Major Victories Across Diverse Categories
While Clair Obscur commanded the spotlight, many other deserving titles and individuals were recognized for their outstanding contributions. The awards showcased the incredible breadth and innovation within the gaming world:
Best Action Game: Hades 2 continued its predecessor’s legacy of excellence.
Best Action/Adventure Game: Hollow Knight: Silksong finally took home a long-anticipated award.
Best Sports/Racing Game: Mario Kart World raced ahead of strong competition, including EA Sports FC 26 and F1 25.
Best Sim/Strategy Game: Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles proved a strategic masterclass.
Best Mobile Game: The unique horse racing roguelike, Umamusume: Pretty Derby, galloped to victory.
Best Family Game: Donkey Kong Bananza provided wholesome fun for all ages.
Best VR/AR Game: The Midnight Walk immersed players in a captivating virtual reality experience.
Best Fighting Game: Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves delivered knockout combat.
Best Multiplayer Game: ARC Raiders offered thrilling cooperative gameplay.
Best Community Support: Baldur’s Gate 3 continued its winning streak, celebrated for its ongoing player engagement.
Best Audio Design: Battlefield 6 delivered an immersive soundscape.
Best Ongoing Game: No Man’s Sky was recognized for its incredible redemption arc and consistent updates.
Best Performance: Jennifer English for her role as Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Players Voice: Wuthering Waves resonated deeply with the gaming community.
Game Changer: Girls Make Games was honored for their inspiring work empowering young girls in game development.
Games for Impact: South of Midnight offered a powerful and meaningful experience.
Best Adaptation: The Last of Us: Season 2 demonstrated exceptional storytelling outside of gaming.
Innovation & Accessibility: DOOM: The Dark Ages proved that accessibility can enhance any genre.
Most Anticipated Game: Grand Theft Auto 6 maintained its lead, fueling immense player excitement.
Content Creator of the Year: MoistCr1tikal (also known as Charlie White Jr.) captivated audiences with his unique content.
Best ESports Game: Counterstrike 2 continued its reign in competitive gaming.
Best ESports Athlete: Chovy – Jeong Ji-hoon (League of Legends) showcased unparalleled skill.
Best ESports Team: Team Vitality demonstrated dominant competitive performance.
Blockbuster Reveals: New Universes and Anticipated Returns
Beyond the awards, The Game Awards 2025 delivered an astonishing number of world premiere trailers and announcements, offering a glimpse into the future of gaming. The sheer volume of new content was a significant highlight, with many titles also confirming releases for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
Star Wars Expands Its Galactic Reach
The Force was strong with Star Wars fans, as Lucasfilm Games unveiled two highly anticipated titles. _Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic_, a single-player action RPG, emerged as a spiritual successor to the legendary Knights of the Old Republic. Led by Casey Hudson, known for his work on KOTOR and the Mass Effect Trilogy, this new narrative adventure will put players in the role of a Force user hundreds of years before the classic saga. Additionally, fans of high-speed action can look forward to _Star Wars: Galactic Racer_, a pure pod-racing game from Fuse Games, targeting a 2026 release.
Larian Studios Unveils Its Next Epic: Divinity
Fresh off the monumental success of Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios surprised attendees by revealing their next project: Divinity. This new entry continues their beloved saga, with studio head Swen Vincke teasing it as “our biggest, most ambitious RPG yet,” promising an experience “even larger than Baldur’s Gate 3.” While accessible to newcomers, long-time fans of Divinity: Original Sin will find enhanced enjoyment, with more details to follow on this highly anticipated title.
Lara Croft Returns with a Double Dose of Adventure
Tomb Raider fans were treated to a “one-two punch” with two new Lara Croft adventures. _Tomb Raider Catalyst_, a brand-new mainline entry, will send Lara on a perilous journey set in Northern India in 2027. Complementing this, _Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis_ was confirmed as a full remake of Lara Croft’s iconic 1996 original. Slated for a 2026 launch to coincide with its 30th anniversary, this remake aims to unify its story with elements from the Survivor trilogy, offering a fresh yet nostalgic experience.
Capcom’s Powerhouse Lineup: Resident Evil, Mega Man, & Pragmata
Capcom showcased an impressive array of titles, bringing back beloved heroes and updating eagerly awaited projects:
_Resident Evil Requiem_ (RE9): Leon S. Kennedy officially made his debut in the latest trailer for this horror installment, confirmed as one of two playable characters alongside Grace. The game is set for a February 27, 2026 release.
_Mega Man: Dual Override_: A significant surprise, this new 2D platforming title marks the first new mainline Mega Man game in seven years, expected in 2027 across multiple platforms, including the Nintendo Switch 2.
Pragmata: Capcom provided an update on their mysterious third-person sci-fi puzzle shooter. A demo for the game was released, with its full launch set for April 24, 2026, including a confirmed version for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Remedy Entertainment Continues the Control Universe
Remedy Entertainment officially confirmed _Control: Resonant_, a new entry in the critically acclaimed Control universe. This action-RPG will feature a new protagonist, Dylan Faden (brother to Jesse Faden from the original), as he navigates a distorted, paranormally threatened Manhattan. Slated for release in 2026, Control: Resonant promises mind-bending, reality-warping mechanics and intense melee combat.
Other Highly Anticipated Reveals and Expansions
The stream of announcements continued with numerous other significant titles that sent shockwaves through the gaming community:
_Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred_: The next major expansion for Diablo IV debuted its first trailer, introducing the Paladin class and a new region, set for April 2026.
_Total War: Warhammer 40,000_: Sega’s iconic strategy franchise expands into Games Workshop’s grimdark universe, revealed via a cinematic trailer introduced by actor David Harbour.
_Phantom Blade Zero_: This “kung-fu punk” action game received a September 9, 2026 launch date, showcasing new gameplay, fighting styles, and massive bosses.
Exodus: Archetype Entertainment’s sci-fi RPG, featuring actor Matthew McConaughey, was delayed to early 2027.
Highguard: From former Apex Legends developers, this new fantasy/sci-fi shooter is launching January 26, 2026.
_Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve_: Bandai Namco surprised fans with the return of the high-flying fighter jet franchise in 2026.
_007: First Light_: IO Interactive’s James Bond origin story showed Bond in Mauritania, encountering the villain Bawma, played by Lenny Kravitz.
_Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons_: Wizards of the Coast and Invoke Studios revealed a new D&D game focusing on multiple magic types, starring Tricia Helfer, launching 2027.
_Lords Of The Fallen 2_: A first look at in-game action for the sequel was provided.
Saros: Housemarque’s next shooter, described as a spiritual sequel to Returnal, introduced new characters and gameplay for an April 30, 2026 release.
_No Law_: The Ascent developer Neon Giant unveiled this first-person shooter about vengeance.
_Coven of the Chicken Foot_: Wildflower Games, headed by former The Last Of Us co-director Bruce Straley, presented this dark fantasy tale.
Ontos: Amnesia: The Dark Descent developer Frictional Games revealed a new sci-fi game, described as a spiritual successor to Soma, set for 2026.
4Loop: Lost creator J.J. Abrams and Left 4 Dead creator Mike Booth unveiled this new co-op shooter.
_Order of the Sinking Star_: Braid developer Jonathan Blow’s next puzzle adventure will feature 1,000 unique puzzles.
The Game Awards 2025 showcased the gaming industry’s dynamic evolution, celebrating independent breakthroughs and re-energizing major franchises. From the record-breaking success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to the myriad of thrilling announcements, the event delivered an unforgettable night for gamers worldwide. The reveals for Nintendo Switch 2 titles, including Pragmata and Mega Man Dual Override, also provided early glimpses into the next generation of console gaming, promising an exciting and diverse lineup for the years ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which game won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025, and how many awards did it receive?
The prestigious Game of the Year award at The Game Awards 2025 went to _Clair Obscur: Expedition 33_ by Sandfall Interactive. This breakout independent RPG achieved a remarkable feat, securing a total of eight awards, including Best RPG, Best Narrative, Best Indie Game, and Best Game Direction. Its lead performer, Jennifer English, also won Best Performance for her role as Maelle, indirectly bringing the game’s total recognition to nine accolades, setting a new record for wins at the event.
What were some of the most anticipated new game announcements at The Game Awards 2025?
The Game Awards 2025 delivered an impressive slate of highly anticipated new game announcements. Key reveals included _Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic_, a single-player RPG from Casey Hudson, and _Star Wars: Galactic Racer_. Larian Studios, fresh off Baldur’s Gate 3‘s success, unveiled their next project, Divinity. Remedy Entertainment confirmed _Control: Resonant_, continuing the Control universe. Fans of Lara Croft received a double announcement with _Tomb Raider Catalyst_ and a remake, _Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis_. Other major reveals included _Resident Evil Requiem_, _Mega Man: Dual Override_, and _Total War: Warhammer 40,000_.
When can gamers expect the major titles revealed at The Game Awards 2025 to be released?
The Game Awards 2025 showcased titles with release windows spanning from 2026 into 2027 and beyond, creating a robust pipeline for gamers. Many significant announcements, such as Control: Resonant, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, Resident Evil Requiem, Pragmata, Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred, Phantom Blade Zero, and Highguard, are slated for release throughout 2026. Further out, titles like Tomb Raider Catalyst, Mega Man: Dual Override, Exodus, and Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons are anticipated in 2027. This diverse schedule offers a consistent stream of new experiences in the coming years.
Conclusion
The Game Awards 2025 transcended a simple awards ceremony, becoming a pivotal moment for the entire gaming industry. It celebrated the triumphant rise of indie development, exemplified by the unprecedented success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and painted a vivid picture of innovation across all genres. From the grand return of beloved franchises like Star Wars and Tomb Raider* to the bold new visions from Larian Studios and Remedy Entertainment, the event highlighted the vibrant creativity and technological advancements driving gaming forward. As we look towards 2026 and 2027, the stage is set for an incredible era of new adventures and unforgettable experiences.
