2025 Golden Joystick Awards: Game of the Year Nominees Feature Top Indie Games

2025 Golden Joysticks Ultimate Game of the Year Nominees Announced

Last month, GamesRadar unveiled the nominees for the highly anticipated 2025 Golden Joysticks Awards, leaving one major category, the Ultimate Game of the Year Award, absent from the initial lineup. Today, however, the shortlist for this prestigious award has been brought to light, featuring a diverse array of titles predominantly from independent developers. Notable nominees include Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Blue Prince, and Peak.

This announcement marks one of the first significant awards events to disclose a Game of the Year shortlist, which comprises twelve games—more than typical for similar accolades. This variety highlights that despite a plethora of high-profile triple-A titles released in 2025, the most resonant experiences tended to emerge from indie studios.

Interestingly, seven of the nominated games stem from independent developers, with five crafted by smaller teams sans major publisher backing. This trend emphasizes the growing influence and success of indie games in an industry often dominated by bigger studios.

Nominees for the Ultimate Game of the Year Award

Blue Prince
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33
Peak
Hades II
Split Fiction
Ghost of Yotei
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Silent Hill f
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Donkey Kong Bananza

While opinions on the nominees may vary, the caliber of these twelve games is undeniable, showcasing some of the year’s finest releases. Notably, although one game debuted late in 2024, it nonetheless captures the spirit of 2025’s gaming landscape.

Titles like Blue Prince, Hades II, Peak, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Hollow Knight: Silksong exemplify the thriving indie scene, achieving remarkable acclaim without reliance on major publishers. In contrast, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Split Fiction were developed by independent teams but released through large studios. This reinforces the notion that indie developers are a driving force in shaping 2025’s gaming achievements.

Notably absent from this shortlist are several major triple-A releases, including DOOM: The Dark Ages, Borderlands 4, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Monster Hunter Wilds, Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and Battlefield 6. While some may debate these omissions, the influence and contribution of indie games this year are significant.

Get Involved in the Voting Process

As with previous Golden Joysticks Awards, the winners are determined through a public voting system, following a jury’s selection of nominees. Voting for the Ultimate Game of the Year is now open, offering fans the opportunity to voice their opinions on which games deserve recognition in 2025.Join the conversation and help celebrate the most impactful titles of the year!

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