The Game Awards 2025 Winners and Highlights: Clair Obscur Dominates the Night

With the constant focus on reveals and surprise trailers, it is easy to overlook the competitive side of The Game Awards. In 2025, however, the winners themselves became the story. The ceremony crowned Clair Obscur : Expédition 33 as the defining title of the year, awarding it more major categories than any other game at the show. From Game of the Year to Best Narrative and Best Game Direction, the awards confirmed the game’s status as both a critical and creative standout in an increasingly crowded industry.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Sets a New Benchmark

The biggest takeaway from The Game Awards 2025 was the overwhelming success of Clair Obscur : Expédition 33. The game secured Game of the Year and Best Game Direction, while also winning Best Narrative, Best RPG, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game, and Best Performance for Jennifer English. This rare sweep placed the title alongside only a handful of games in award show history that managed to dominate both technical and creative categories. Coverage from IGN described the game as the clear centerpiece of the event, reflecting how strongly it resonated with both the jury and the audience.

Major Winners Across Genres

Beyond Clair Obscur’s dominance, The Game Awards 2025 highlighted a wide range of genres. Hadès II took home Best Action Game, continuing Supergiant Games’ reputation for tightly designed combat experiences. Hollow Knight : Silksong claimed Best Action Adventure Game, marking a major moment for a title that has long carried enormous expectations. Strategy fans saw FINAL FANTASY TACTICS: The Ivalice Chronicles win Best Sim and Strategy Game, while multiplayer recognition went to Arc Raiders, which secured Best Multiplayer for its cooperative design.

Most Anticipated and Ongoing Success Stories

Anticipation also played a major role in this year’s awards. Grand Theft Auto VI won Most Anticipated Game, once again underscoring the enormous expectations surrounding Rockstar’s next release despite limited new information. In ongoing support categories, No Man's Sky won Best Ongoing Game, reinforcing how long-term updates can completely redefine a game’s legacy. Baldur's Gate 3 received Best Community Support, highlighting the continued importance of developer communication and post-launch engagement.

Family, Sports, VR and Esports Recognition

Nintendo’s influence was felt in the family and racing categories, with Donkey Kong Bananza winning Best Family Game and Mario Kart World taking Best Sports and Racing Game. Virtual reality also had a strong showing, as The Midnight Walk earned Best VR and AR Game for its immersive design. On the competitive side, Counter-Strike 2 dominated esports recognition by winning Best Esports Game, while Chovy was named Best Esports Athlete and Team Vitality secured Best Esports Team for its performance in Counter-Strike 2.

What The Results Say About the Industry

The Game Awards 2025 results paint a clear picture of where the industry stands. Narrative-driven experiences, strong art direction, and long-term developer support continue to resonate with both critics and players. The success of Clair Obscur demonstrates that ambitious independent projects can compete directly with large-scale productions, while awards for games like No Man’s Sky and Baldur’s Gate 3 show that sustained commitment after launch matters more than ever. As detailed in broader coverage from GameSpot, the ceremony balanced celebration with a clear message about evolving player expectations.

As the industry looks toward 2026, The Game Awards 2025 will likely be remembered less for surprise reveals and more for the moment when one game defined an entire year. For developers and players alike, the results reinforce the value of creativity, polish, and long-term vision in a rapidly changing gaming landscape.