The Game Awards 2025 are over for another year. The biggest night in gaming, hosted by Geoff Keighly, celebrated the best games of the past 12 months and was packed with new reveals and exciting trailers.
RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dominated the awards. It went into the night with a record-setting 13 nominations, and ultimately took home eight out of a possible 10, including Game of the Year. Other winners included Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades 2 and ARC Raiders.
As for the new trailers, there was plenty to get gamers hyped. From the reveal of Star Wars: Fate of The Old Republic, to that mysterious statue being revealed as a teaser for Larian's next game, Divinity. Other highlights included Control: Resonant and two new Tomb Raider games.
The Game Awards are always the biggest annual event in the gaming calendar, and if you missed any of the show, you can read through our live coverage that includes all the biggest reveals and the full winners.
How to watch The Game Awards 2025
The Game Awards 2025 took place on Thursday, December 12. While the show has now concluded. You can watch it back on demand if you missed the live broadcast or just want to relive your favorite moments.
LIVE — Latest Updates
Welcome to The Game Awards 2025 live
Hello! Welcome to our live coverage of The Game Awards 2025. I’m Rory, a Senior Entertainment Editor at Tom’s Guide, and I’ll be guiding you through the biggest night in gaming, with some help from my fellow gaming-obsessed colleagues. Showtime is still several hours away, but we’ve got plenty of rumors, leaks, and maybe even a prediction or two to dive into to help pass the time until the awards begin live, so let’s get started…
The secret of the desert statue may have been solved
If you've been following along with the pre-show hype surrounding The Game Awards 2025, you'll know the online gaming community has been in a frenzy trying to work out what new game a mysterious statue placed in the Mojave Desert is teasing.
There have been plenty of guesses and theories, from Saros to Lords of the Fallen 2 to Elder Scrolls Online. Then we also had theories about why it had to be for Diablo 4 DLC, or a new FromSoftware title, or even a new God of War game. And those are just the tip of the iceberg. There have been so many predictions.
However, it appears that the internet may have cracked the code, as reported by our friends over at PC Gamer, a European trademark filing might have just spoiled the surprise. Here's your spoiler warning, if you want to keep the mystery alive until it's revealed during the Game Awards 2025...
It appears that the statue is for the latest game from Larian, developer of Baldur's Gate 3. Based on the trademark filing, which includes a logo that matches up with images on the statue, it'll be a new game in the studio's long-running Divinity series. And it might be a new reboot just called Divinity.
These are the 6 games up for GOTY
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Hades 2
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
Like most awards show, there is one prize that every developer wants to win most, and at The Game Awards, that is Game of the Year. The six nominees are listed above. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the bookie's favorite, and it has a record-setting 13 nominations, so the odds of it walking home empty handed are pretty remote. However, Donkey Kong Bananza looks the most likely to put off an upset, but if I was putting my own money on a winner, I'd say Clair Obscur.
Lara Croft will appear at Game Awards 2025
One of gaming's biggest icons is confirmed to make an appearance at The Game Awards 2025: Lara Croft.
The franchise's official social media accounts took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that the show will include "a look at the future" of the Tomb Raider series. Rumors have been flying around about a new Tomb Raider game for a while, so that will likely be the announcement (though it could be an update on the upcoming Prime Video show, which stars Sophie Turner as Lara Croft).
The last mainline Tomb Raider game was Shadow of the Tomb Raider, released in 2018, which capped off the popular "survivor" reboot trilogy. Will the next Tomb Raider game be a continuation, a fresh reboot, or maybe even a remake of one of Croft's classic adventures? We've only got to wait a few hours to find out.
Did Valve finally learn to count to 3?
No bamboozle. We might actually be merely a few hours from the reveal of Half-Life 3. Since the release of Half-Life 2: Episode Two in October 2007, it's become the gaming white whale for millions of players, and part of a long-running joke that Valve can't count to three (the Portal franchise also went dormant after Portal 2).
But this year, the internet noise and unverified insider leaks that point towards Half-Life 3 being real, and maybe even coming soon, have been more prominent than ever. There was much speculation that Valve might confirm the game alongside the announcement of its new Steam Machine. That didn't happen.
However, the hardware is set to launch in 2026, and it stands to reason that Valve would want a flagship game to showcase its new machine. Could that be Half-Life 3? Fans have been burnt before, so I wouldn't place a bet on it appearing tonight, but for now, I'm dreaming of a world where Half-Life 3 is confirmed.
Resident Evil 9's big surprise may have been leaked
We know that Resident Evil Requiem is going to be showcased at The Game Awards 2025, but thanks to a PlayStation Store listing, the big surprise of this new trailer might have just been spoiled (news comes via GamesRadar).
The listing image for Resi 9 was recently updated on the PlayStation Store, and it now includes none other than Leon S. Kennedy himself. His inclusion in the upcoming survival-horror game has been rumored for a while, but this essentially confirms it. But will he be playable or just a mentor to new playable protagonist, Grace Ashcroft?
Leon is a fan-favorite character and star of arguably the most beloved installment in the series, Resident Evil 4, so I've no doubt Resi players will be pleased (after all, I'm a huge Resident Evil fan myself, and I'm certainly happy).
We don't know for sure, but it's a very safe prediction at this point that whatever Capcom has to show Game Awards viewers tonight will include Leon!
This Game Award winner looks like a complete lock
Returning to the awards part of the Game Awards, while several categories will no doubt be fiercely contested (I'm really not sure who will scoop Best Art Direction), there's one that looks very easy to predict: Most Anticipated Game.
This award looks to the future and picks an upcoming title that gamers around the world can't wait to play. The nominees include highly anticipated releases like Marvel's Wolverine and The Witcher IV, but surely, the award is Rockstar's to lose. Grand Theft Auto VI is set to be the biggest entertainment launch in history, and the launch of a new GTA is a special thing because they happen so rarely.
I will be stunned if Geoff Keighley is calling out any name other than GTA 6 when the Most Anticipated Game award is dished out.
I'm desperate to see more of The Duskbloods
Let's dive into my own personal wishlist for The Game Awards 2025. The one game that I'm really hoping is included in the numerous trailers coming us our is a new look at The Duskbloods.
This Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive comes from Dark Souls and Elden Ring developer FromSoftware, and as somebody who's fallen in love with From's work over the past three years (sorry, it took me so long to warm up to Souls), I can't wait to dive into their new PvPvE experience.
With an aesthetic that looks more than a little reminiscent of their 2015 game Bloodborne (the studio's magnum opus to many From fans), I can't wait to see more from The Duskbloods. It's confirmed to launch in 2026, so it feels like the right time to get a fresh peak at the game, maybe even a hard release date?
This Game Awards 'hype trailer' will get you... hyped
At the start of the week, Geoff Keighley posted a "hype trailer" for the Game Awards 2025, running through some of the best moments of the 2025 nominees. And kudos to Mr. Keighley because it certainly does its job, and then some.
I'm of the opinion that 2025 has been a slightly weaker year for gaming compared to the excellent few years we've recently enjoyed (2023 was a real corker), but it's a great reminder that we've been treated to some great gaming experiences over the past 12 months. Give it a watch, and let the hype build.
What time do the Game Awards 2025 start?
- 4:30 p.m. PT - U.S. (Pacific)
- 7:30 p.m. ET - U.S. (Eastern)
- 12:30 a.m. GMT (Dec. 12) - U.K.
- 9:30 a.m. JST (Dec. 12) - Japan
- 11:30 a.m. AEST (Dec. 12) - Australia
Want to make sure you don't miss a moment of The Game Awards 2025? Above I've listed the show's start time. It's well-timed for the folks in the U.S., naturally, as it's an awards show held in North America, but for those in Europe, expect a late night. I'm sure it'll be worth the lost sleep!
Dave tagging in
This is Dave LeClair, Senior News Editor, tagging in for Rory to discuss the Game Awards and bring you the latest details and rumors as we approach the event so Rory can take a breather.
And no, I personally don't see Half-Life 3 ever happening, not at the awards show tonight or in the future. But in the world of video games, you just never know.
The Game Awards temperature check
I'm curious how many of you are excited for the Game Awards and whether you plan to watch the show live, follow along but not watch, or ignore it completely.
If you'd like your voice to be heard, please vote in the poll below, and I'll let you know where everyone stands once the dust settles (or you can make a Tom's Guide account to find out the results right away).
MASSIVE breaking news from Geoff Keighley
There will be new game announcements tonight at The Game Awards.December 11, 2025
I can't believe what I just read on X. There will be game announcements tonight at The Game Awards. I'm so glad he cleared that up; otherwise, we probably wouldn't have known this was happening.
Jokes aside, The Game Awards will most certainly have some big game news coming out of it. There's a lot of speculation regarding what games will be announced, and some big leaks like Lara Croft's presence, but we'll have to wait until the show to get confirmation of what is coming.
No matter how you slice it, it's an exciting evening to be a gamer!
Assassin's Creed at The Game Awards
I've been an Assassin's Creed fan since the first game, and I really peaked during the AC2 era with Ezio. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag was also among my favorite games in the series, as it introduced some of the best ship combat in gaming history.
Now, there's a rumor floating around that Ubisoft may rerelease Black Flag under the title "Black Flag Resynced," as shown on the PEGI ratings board. The information was deleted quickly, but once the internet got hold of it, the rumors started flying.
The board didn't specifically mention The Game Awards, but it would make sense for Ubisoft to announce the remake there, as it'll have the attention of a large portion of the gaming world.
007 did an oops?
A trailer for the upcoming 007 First Light game from Hitman developer IO hit the internet today, but was quickly deleted (the trailer above isn't the leaked one).
Clearly, someone pulled the trigger on that one before they were supposed to. But as is always the case on the internet, people noticed immediately, and word spread fast.
With the accidental trailer hitting the internet, we can assume it'll show up at The Game Awards tonight, especially because the 007 game is scheduled to hit the market in just a few months on March 27, 2026.
Spotify and The Game Awards
Spotify teamed up with The Game Awards to spotlight the composers and songs that define the gaming experience.
"To get in the game, we’ve commissioned three brand-new Spotify Singles from artists who are also avid gamers," said Spotify in a blog post. It's an interesting mix with Labrinth reimagining a Sonic song, Bilmuri playing a song from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and Evanescence and GUNSHIP teaming up to play a track from Devil May Cry.
If you want to check it out,
Wait, a trailer costs how much?!
According to a Kotaku report, having a trailer on The Game Awards is expensive. Really expensive.
According to two of Kotaku's sources familiar with this year’s show, a one-minute trailer can cost up to $450,000 and a three-minute trailer costs over $1 million. For small developers, that three-minute trailer is probably out of reach. Even $450,000 is a lot for a developer who spends only a couple of hundred thousand on their entire development cost.
But that extra cost comes with extra eyeballs. The Game Awards continue to grow each year and have become a primary promotional platform for upcoming video games. You could even argue that the trailers are a bigger part of The Game Awards than the awards themselves.
I'm not suggesting that it should be cheaper — the video game world converging on one event is expensive. But it is unfortunate that smaller developers are left out of the event unless they can scrape together some serious money.
Wholesome excitement
We’re deeply honored that HADES II is in the running for Game of the Year and more at #TheGameAwards tonight, especially since we’re in the company of such an amazing group of wildly different and beautiful games.Congratulations to all our fellow nominees — we salute you!! 🙏👏
— @supergiantgames.bsky.social (@supergiantgames.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2025-12-11T21:00:28.841Z
Supergiant Games, developer of Hades 2, has shared a heartfelt message on Bluesky ahead of The Game Awards.
The developer even shared a cute image showing the characters from some of the Game of the Year nominees on the red carpet. It's adorable and wholesome, and it makes us even more excited to tune in to tonight's shows.
The company's social media post finishes off with, "Congratulations to all our fellow nominees — we salute you!! 🙏👏"
No Witcher 3 DLC... Sorry fans
The Witcher 3 is one of my favorite games of all time, and getting some new content to bridge the gap before the next game (presumably called The Witcher 4) would be nice.
Recently, a leak from a reliable industry insider, RockAlone2k, said CD Projekt Red would announce new content at The Game Awards, but that appears to be inaccurate.
During an investor call, CD Projekt Red joint CEO Michał Nowakowski said that the studio would not have any new content at this year’s show, ending the speculation.
Or does the company just want to preserve the surprise? We'll find out soon, but it's unlikely that Nowakowski would lie on an investor call about something as significant as that.
Scott swinging through
Hey, this is Scott Younker, West Coast Reporter, subbing in for Dave to talk about the Game Awards and bring you any news or rumors as we get closer to the event.
Speaking of, the livestream kicks off in less than two hours, though the show won't start until 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET/12:30A UK.
A new era of Tmb Raider is supposed to be announced tonight, which I'm personally excited for even if I did burn out on the last trilogy.
Tomb Raider Catalyst leak
As mentioned in my last post, something Tomb Raider is supposed to be announced at the Game Awards.
Now we might know the title thanks to a leak: Tomb Raider Catalyst. According to a Reddit post in the Tomb Raider subreddit, two new titles are coming: a remake and an original game.
The remake titled 'Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis' appears to be a remake of the original Lara Croft game. This one is supposedly going to be a "unified" retelling that combines the original story with characters and plots from the Survivor trilogy.
Tomb Raider: Catalyst looks to be a new game following Croft through Northern India after a "mythical cataclysm."
Color me interested
Indie games strike big at the Games Awards Show
If you're looking for an interesting read before the Awards Show starts might I suggest this article from Bloomberg.
It explores how lower-budget titles are seeing big wins and acclaim from the industry and players alike. Just as major studios have been slashing jobs and closing studios left and right in an attempt to...make more money somehow.
It also features interviews with people across the industry who claim that AAA titles will decline over the next few years. We'll see.
So what awards won't Clair Obscur win
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been nominated for 11 awards at the show tonight, the most ever by one game at the Game Awards. It's expected to handily win several of them, if not all.
There are 20 awards that don't feature the popular RPG. A full list of which you can find here.
A little less than two hours to show time
We're less than two hours until show time. Pre show kicks off in less than 90 minutes.
The livestream will be available on YouTube, Twitch, Steam, Prime Video, X, TikTok, Instagram, Kick, Gamespot and IGN. The full list is here.
Or you can scroll up to the top of this nice little live blog and find the YouTube stream embedded.
Tom's Guide Awards coming soon
Did you know that Tom's Guide puts together our own Game Awards list? We do!
Gamers from across our masthead debated and chose from games that we actually played this year. That list will be launching in the coming days.
In the meantime, you should check out the winners of the best games from 2024. Plus, we also highlighted 13 games that you may have missed last year.
New Wildflower game
Wildflower Interactive is a new studio headed by Bruce Straley, formerly of Naughty Dog and the game director for the Uncharted series and The Last of Us.
The studio teased an announcement on X yesteday.
ICYMI - Just one day left until we announce our first game at #TheGameAwards 👀🕰️Subscribe for updates: https://t.co/1IMqFWYHP1 pic.twitter.com/EFyy5zeWXBDecember 10, 2025
I am a big fan of Uncharted and The Last of Us, so I'm really excited to see what Straley comes up with.
I do wonder if this is a situation where he has the magic touch or if some combination of him, Amy Hennig, and Neil Druckmann helped push those Naughty Dog games to their heights. We shall see.
The Game Awards Pre-Show kicks off soon
The livestream for The Game Awards is supposed to start at 4 pm PT/7 pm PT/12 am UK. That's 10 minutes from now.
I'm not sure if it will just be a 10 minute countdown or if there will be videos or interviews beforehand. Usually, Geoff Keighley shows do feature something like that ahead of the main show so I'm expecting something similar but a schedule has not been released.
What are you interested in?
Outside of the Awards themselves, we expect to see a ton of trailers, previews and fluffy interviews.
Is there anything that you're excited to see or want to know more about? Let us know, we want to hear your opinion as well.
15 minutes until (pre)showtime!!!
Hey all, it's Rory here. I'm back online, refreshed and ready to guide you through The Game Awards 2025 from start to finish. The pre-show starts in just 30 minutes, which will give some winners in a few of the (smaller) categories, and our very first reveals and new trailers. So, if you haven't already, now is the time to get your snacks and drinks ready, as The Game Awards 2025 are about to begin...
There's time for one last prediction
Now that we're just a few minutes away from the pre-show, and the start of The Game Awards 2025, I'm throwing out one last prediction. Although, this one is more of a hopeful wish than something I'm confident will actually happen.
I have a feeling we might see something new from PlayStation Studios tonight. We already know that Saros, the spiritual follow-up to 2021's Returnal, is going to be featured with a new look, and last year Naughty Dog took to the Game Awards stage to announce its new game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
It's clear that Sony likes revealing things at this show, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed the iconic PlayStation logo pops up at the 2025 Game Awards as well.
The countdown to launch has begun
If you haven't already, now is the time to boot up your stream of The Game Awards 2025 (But if you can't watch along, you're in the right place, as I'll bring you all the news as it happens live). The Game Awards 2025 stream is LIVE, and the five minute countdown timer is underway. This year's show is almost here...
The Game Awards 2025 pre-show is LIVE
It's time, The Game Awards 2025 pre-show has just gone live. We've got 30 minutes of this, and then we dive into the main event. So let's see the first winners and the first new games revealed from Peacock Theatre, L.A.
The first announcement of the night is..
The Free Shepherd, a new indie game coming to PS5 in 2027, and it looks like you play as an adorable dog in a mysterious, somewhat spooky, open world
Winner: Donkey Kong Bananza wins Best Family Game
Right after our first new trailer, we get our first winner of the night, and it's a pretty predictable one, Donkey Kong Bananza wins Best Family Game. This one was I had in my Game Awards pool, so I'm pretty pleased to start off strong.
Another Soulslike for the pile
If you're a Souls superfan, here's a new announcement for you, Decrepit. It's a first-person action game made by a huge fan of FromSoftware's work, and that influence clearly shows.
WINNER: Doom The Dark Ages wins Best Accessibility
Accessibility is a increasingly important topic in gaming, and Doom the Dark Ages takes home this award!
Pragmata is getting a demo today
Capcom is getting the stage next as we see the latest from its upcoming sci-fi game Pragmata! It's releasing on April 24, 2026, and it's now been announced for Nintendo Switch 2. So you can save the world on your handheld device!
The first (of likely many) awards for Clair Obscur Expedition 33
It's predicted to be the big winner of the night, and Clair Obscur Expedition 33 has already scooped it's first statue of the evening, Best Independent Game. There was so controversy about it being eligible for this category, but it's not a huge surprise to see it picking up the win. I doubt it'll be it's only of the night.
Bradley the Badger looks like silly fun
Another new game, and it's Bradley the Badger. I'm getting some big Conkers vibe from this colorful looking title, and that's certainly not a bad thing.
Another new game confirmed
Stupid Never Dies! is the last reveal of the pre-show, and it looks well a little stupid, to be honest It's a zombie guy with a colorful style, not sure it's for me, but if you like the undead mixed with over the top humor, you might like it!
WINNER: The Last of Us season 2 wins Best Adaptation
The Last of Us season 2 picks up Best Adaptation, and as somebody who was very unimpressed by the HBO show's take on one of my favorite video games of all time, I'll just say, it certainly wouldn't have been mine pick of the award...
Now it's time for the REAL show
The pre-show is over, and now we're heading into the real deal, it's time for The Game Awards 2025! The show begins with a performance from one of the tracks from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's soundtrack, and it's a pretty magical moment.
Geoff has taken to the stage
The man himself, Geoff Keighley has taken to the Game Awards stage. First up he thanks all the watchers at home, including those in Europe staying up late for the showcase, and I feel seen!
I think we'll be seeing Diablo tonight...
In all the madness of the pre-show and build-up, you might have missed that the official Diablo social account took to X to tease that "death has arrived" in L.A.
I think we're going to be seeing something from Diablo over the next couple of hours!
WINNER: Hades 2 wins Best Action Game
The hellishly good (that's a term right?) Hades 2 just scooped Best Action Game in the first award of the main event. Hades 2 is also up for Game of the Year, and got perfect scores from several outlets, so this one feels very well deserved.
Our first world premiere of The Game Awards 2025
And here we go, it's time for the first reveal of The Game Awards 2025, and I'm getting a HUGE Star Wars vibe from the opening moments of this trailer...
Star Wars Knight of the Old Republic is BACK
Bingo! I was spot on, Star Wars Fate of the Old Republic has just been announced, it appears to be a follow-up to the beloved Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic RPG, and as Geoff said, "it's going to be hard to top that one".
Looks like the mystery of the statue is being revealed next
After a few ads for Capcom games, Battlefield Redsec and John Carpenter's Toxic Commando The Video Game, Geoff confirms it's time to put an end to gaming's most controversial mystery. I think this is the big statue reveal we've been waiting for. Will it be Divinity as I predicted earlier?
Well that was one INTENSE trailer for Divinity
This trailer is brutal. People are being burned at the stake, and I'm a little freaked out. But also, I definitely want to play this game! It looks like the rumors were true, it's the new game from Baldur's Gate 3 dev Larian, and it's called Divinity (as the European trademark filing spoiled, thanks European trademark board)!
WINNER: Jennifer English wins Best Performance for Clair Obscur
The second (And I'll say now, won't be last) award for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Jennifer English wins Best Performance for her incredible work as Maelle, hugely well deserved, her voice brought that compelling character to life masterfully.
4 Loop, a new game from JJ Abrams and PlayStation
I thought we might see something new from PlayStation, and it looks like I was right (pat on the back for me). The game is called 4 Loop, and JJ Abrams is involved. It appears to be an online co-op game (I think?) with a quirky sci-fi tone. I'm not super sold, but with the recent success of ARC Raiders, it too might be able to find a space in the increasingly crowded live service battlegrounds.
Coven of the Chicken Foot announced
We've already seen some quirky game titles today, but Coven of the Chicken Foot has to be the most bizarre yet. It's got a vibrant aesthetic and looks like a puzzle-action game. You can wishlist on Steam now, I might have to just for the name!
Ontos is our next new game reveal
Ontos is a spiritual successor to cult sci-fi-horror game Soma, which appears to be enough information to have sold by colleague, Ryan Epps, on playing!
WINNER: South of Midnight wins Games for Impact
The underplayed, South of Midnight just won Games for Impact. Our reviewer really enjoyed this one back at launch, so if you skipped now it is the time to circle back. And on stage the developers confirm it's heading to PS5 and Switch 2 (no dates), so you'll soon have no excuse not to check it out.
Resident Evil 9 time!
I hope you enjoy this new trailer for Resident Evil Requiem. As for me, I'm temporarily switching off my stream, because I don't want any more of Resi 9 spoiled. I'm fully sold, and don't need to see a single second more footage.
Leon confirmed as playable in Resi 9
Well, I did catch Geoff's post trailer speech, Resi 9 will have two playable characters: Grace and Leon. The former will offer a traditional survival-horror experience, while Leon's portion of the game will be more action packed.
Puzzle, puzzles and even more puzzles
Do you like puzzles? Well, this new game has over 1,400 of them, it's called Order of the Sinking Star, and promises lots of head-scratchers, and also a story to keep you attention in between having to Google the solutions when you get stuck.
Is that Matthew McConaughey?
Exodus has just been showcased from Wizards of the Coast, and I'm pretty sure I just heard the distinctive voice of a certain Matthew McConaughey. It's set to launch in early 2027 and is an epic sci-fi game, where you seemingly have to save the universe, standard stuff.
These Wizards aren't done!
If the latest look at Exodus wasn't enough, we're now getting a look at another game from Wizards of the Coast: Warlock. It'll be properly showcased in summer 2026, but it's part of the Dungeons & Dragons universe, so will no doubt be popular.
There's a cube on stage, more info when I have it
Well, there's a strange cube on stage! And I have no idea what it's all about!
Could this be Remedy?
Getting a big whiff of Remedy from this CG trailer, perhaps this is the reveal of their next game, Control 2?
Remedy announces Control Resonant
Yup, it's Remedy, and it is a follow-up to Control. Coming in 2026, it looks awesome, and the trailer promises it's "going to get weirder." I'm day one!
Gang of Dragon is the next trailer up
I thought this might be a new Like a Dragon game, but it's close enough: Gang of Dragon. Geoff says it's "deep into development" so expect to see more, maybe.
The new Street Fighter movie takes the spotlight
It might be The Game Awards, but there's still some time to tease some cinema, and in this case, it's very game related. A new Street Fighter movie is on the way, and the cast are being confirmed on stage, Jason Momoa is playing Blanka!!!
WINNER: No Man's Sky wins Best Ongoing Game
Did you forget that this is actually an awards show? After a slew of trailers and reveals, we're turning our focus back to the awards with Best Ongoing Game. And the winner is No Man's Sky, great to see one of the game's greatest redemption stories still going strong with regular free updates!
LEGO Batman interrupts the show!
Just as Geoff was getting on with hosting duties, he's got a phone call from LEGO Batman, and it's leading us into a new trailer for Legacy of the Dark Knight.
LEGO Batman arrives in May 2026
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight looks like another enjoyable Lego adventure, and it's arriving on May 26, 2026. Nice to finally have a release date.
Speeding through the awards now
I guess Geoff wants to get the awards out of the way, as we've just had four of them back-to-back announced by the host. Battlefield 6 won Best Audio, MoistCr1tikal won Best Content Creator, GTA 6 won Most Anticipated Game (duh!) and Fatal Fury: City of Wolves wins Best Fighting Game, and that takes us into another ad break (well, somebody has to foot the bill for the theatre!)
Girls Make Games wins Game Changer award
The Game Awards is taking a moment to recognize the work of organization Girls Makes Games, which is great to see, and these inspiring figures deserve their moment on the stage. More of this type of stuff please, Geoff!
Lara Croft's latest adventure is on the way
We knew we'd see Tomb Raider tonight, and Tomb Raider: Catalyst is coming in 2027. This is reportedly the next mainline entry in the series, but could we see the rumored remake of Tomb Raider 1 as well?
Yes, Tomb Raider Remake is REAL and looking stunning
Wow! Consider me impressed, Tomb Raider fans get a one-two punch of reveals, and the second is a remake of the first Tomb Raider game from 1996, it's called Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a name I much prefer to something like Tomb Raider: Ultra Deluxe Edition. It'll launch in 2026, with Catalyst following in 2027.
Invincible VS is the next trailer up
Invincible VS is the next trailer, and pre-orders are open now. Looks pretty cool, but I'm behind on the show, so guess i'll need to catch up before playing!
Some more awards, remember this is an awards show
Geoff just remembered this is an awards show (again), so we're pausing the trailer to hand out some statues. Hollow Knight: Silksong scoops best Action/Adventure Game, Best Art Direction goes to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Best Sim/Strategy Game goes to Final Fantasy Tactics, and Best Debut Indie Game is won by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Clair Obscur is sweeping as it stands. Game of the Year looks like a lock at this point.
Diablo was promised, and Diablo delivers
Diablo fans, your time has come. The next trailer after the ad break (Which made for the perfect time to take a bathroom trip) is for Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred the latest expansion for the seriously compelling fantasy action-RPG. It's out on April 28, 2026, and will be the perfect excuse to return to the world of Diablo 4!
Deadpool is coming to Marvel Rivals
The Merc with a Mouth is heading to Marvel Rivals. Yup, Deadpool is the next playable character for the popular hero shooter. Didn't love the comedy writing in this trailer, Deadpool is surprisingly tricky character to nail, but hey, it's great to see him coming to the game, and I'm sure dedicated players will be excited.
WINNER: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wins Best Score & Music
The most deserved award of the night as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 collected Best Music & Score. I've had this soundtrack on repeat for months, and I'd have written Geoff a strongly worded email if it didn't win. And for those keeping track, the Clair Obscur sweep continues, surely it has the GOTY in the bag?
Warframe is still going strong
A look at some new content coming to Warframe, I haven't played the game in near enough a decade now, but very cool to see it's still being updated for the dedicated players still logging into its sci-fi world.
Lords of the Fallen 2 is the next trailer, actually the third game
Let it not be forgotten that Lords of the Fallen 2 is actually the third game in the series, as the original launched in 2014, before a reboot arrived in 2023. Still, this Soulslike sequel looks epic enough to have my attention, and I'm always on board for some tough boss battles. Meanwhile, Lords of the Fallen (2023) is getting a new 2.5 update, and yes, that's the second game in the series. It's a bit confusing.
Geoff speeds through a few more awards
Best Sports/Racing Game goes to Mario Kart World, Best Community Support goes to previous GOTY winner Baldur's Gate 3, Best VR/AR Game is Midnight Walk, Best RPG is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Community Choice is Wuthering Waves. Barely a moment for these games to get their chance in the spotlight, which is a shame. But hey, Expedition 33 has to win GOTY now!
I could not be more sold on Saros
I loved Returnal in 2021, so Saros, the spiritual sequel (which are clearly the trend tonight) doesn't need to work hard to grab my interest. It's out April 30, 2026, and I'll be playing on day one. The new trailer is short and sweet!
WINNER: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wins Best Narrative
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wins another award, Best Narrative. Richly deserved. But I'm starting to get panicky as I'm running out of images to use for posts when it wins.
New game from the devs behind The Ascent
Spiritual sequels and sci-fi are the themes of this year's show, and the latest new game is called No Law, which comes from the developer of The Ascent. The trailer keeps the gameplay under wraps, but does a decent job setting a mood.
Musical performance time as Evanescence take the stage
Now we're being treated to a musical performance from Evanescence. Strong vocals, but I'm more partially to CHVRCHES, who have played this slot before.
WINNER: ARC Raiders wins Best Multiplayer
Milla Jovovich takes to the stage, confirms her debut in a video game as the next Elusive Target in Hitman: World of Assassination, and then announces that ARC Raiders has won Best Multiplayer game. Which always felt like the frontrunner.
Warhammer 40,000 is getting the Total War treatment
David Harbour, "Stranger Things" and "Marvel" star, takes the stage to confirm that the next Total War game will be set in the world of Warhammer 40,000. Now we're getting a trailer!
Ace Combat 8 looks pretty ace!
Ace Combat 8 is launching 2026. Looks like it'll offer the intense aerial dogfights the franchise is known for, with cinematic visuals an an emotional story. I reckon dedicated fans will be particularly pleased with the brief trailer shown here.
I reckon these developers played Split Fiction
The next trailer is for a co-op adventure called Out of Words, and it certainly looks like it's been inspired by Split Fiction and It Takes Two. Its biggest selling point might be its stop-motion-style visuals, which I'll admit are pretty darn impressive. It's out in 2026.
The Muppets are doing a musical number
We're into the odd part of the night where the Muppets are doing a musical number about all the games that have been shown already tonight. It's 3:30 a.m. my time, and I'm watching a singing pig puppet. Got to love The Game Awards!
A lengthy new look at Phantom Blade Zero
After back-to-back musical interludes, it's time for a new Phantom Blade Zero trailer. I've been on the fence about this one before, but this trailer has certainly increased my interest. And we have a release date at last, September 9, 2026.
WINNER: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wins Best Game Direction
Todd Howards confirms that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the winner of Best Game Direction. We knew with 13 nominations, it was going to take home several awards tonight, but it's sweeping the field at this point. And I love it!
Mega Man makes a grand entrance
Geoff teased a big reveal next, and it's the return of Mega Man, starring in a brand new 2D platforming title (of course). It's Mega Man Dual Override, and it's set to launch in 2027. It looked like, well, it looked like a Mega Man game!
'Super Mario Galaxy Movie' gets a super brief sneak peek
Back to the world of cinema, and it's a quick look at "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie", and when I say "quick", I really do mean it, we got maybe a few seconds of new footage.
Another brief trailer, this time for Nioh 3
Nioh 3 drops in February 2026, and our latest look didn't really offer any fresh details, but I'm looking forward to playing this one early next year, so happy for a few seconds of extra action-RPG gameplay footage. I'm going to die, a lot.
Here we go, it's the final world premiere of the night
Geoff promises that this is the last world premiere of the night, and this one isn't "years and years away"...
The final new game is Highguard
From some of the developers behind Apex Legends, comes Highguard a new free-to-play fantasy crossed with sci-fi shooter. It drops on January 26, 2026, so less than seven weeks until we can play it for ourselves.
Time for the BIG award of the show
It's time for Game of the Year to be crowned, I think we all know where this one is going...
Game Awards Orchestra are delivering a fantastic performance
To celebrate the six games nominated for Game of the Year, a live orchestra are playing select musical highlights from each title as per tradition, it's making for great listening this year, and is the perfect way to give each game its flowers. But it seems all but certain that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will be the big winner!
Time for the winner to be crowned
An excellent performance, and now the winner....
HUGE SHOCK... not, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wins GOTY
It was the favorite before, and after cleaning up winning 8 out of its 10 categories across the show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been crowned Game of the Year. This one looked likely before the Game Awards started, and a complete locked before the show was even a third of the way done. A worthy winner.
And that's all folks!
Geoff gets in the last word and brings The Game Awards 2025 to a close. But not before reminding us that Summer Game Fest will return on Friday, June 5, 2026.
A solid showcase with a very worthy winner
So, that's The Game Awards over for another year. It was a pretty great show overall. I was pleased with the reveals (Star Wars: FOTOR, Divinity and Control: Resonant stand out as my top announcements), and as somebody who ranks Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as their personal GOTY, I was thrilled it won the night.
Ryan Epps here, tagging in for Rory so he can get some rest!
How was it? Did the Game Awards 2025 meet your expectations? Did you get the reveal you were waiting for, or still desperately clinging to hope for a Half Life 3 tease?
Maybe next year....
The show's biggest reveals...
I've had a few minutes to digest TGA 2025, and I've got to say, while Clair Obscur did sweep, it was still a phenomenal rollercoaster of reveals! Although some of those really hot ticket items didn't make an appearance, like GTA 6, BioShock 4, or Gabe Newell's Revenge, there were still a plethora of amazing items that got teased. Here are a few that come to mind:
- Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic
- Ontos
- Phantom Blade Zero
- Divinity
- Control Resonant
- Gang of Dragon
- Lords of the Fallen 2
- Highguard
- 007 First Light
- Street Fighter movie
"Perfection is not attainable or affordable. Excellence is."
This line, quoted by David Keighley (Geoff Keighley's late father), rings true most of all in the aftermath of this year's Game Awards. Despite the odds stacked against it, Clair Obscur took home not only the prized GOTY but also eight additional awards on top of it. It's a Game Awards first, highlighting the brilliance in this medium, and the underlying truth to Mr. Keighley's message.
Excellence is everything. And Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 clearly stands the test of gaming excellence. Developed on a budget of under $10M by a team consisting of around 400 people, Sandfall Interactive's groundbreaking achievement is something game developers should always strive for, especially as we head into 2026 (and beyond).
Here's what excellence looks like:
- Game of the Year
- Best Narrative
- Best Game Direction
- Best Art Direction
- Best Score and Music
- Best Independent Game
- Best Debut Indie Game
- Best Performance (Jennifer English)
- Best RPG
