The gaming world is buzzing with anticipation as the Golden Joystick Award 2025 nominees are officially announced. With the voting period now open, gamers worldwide have the chance to decide which titles will earn top honors this year. From the most innovative indie games to major blockbusters and eagerly awaited sequels, the list showcases the best the industry has to offer. This year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads the charge with six nominations, including Studio of the Year, while other frontrunners like Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yōtei, and indie hits such as Hollow Knight: Silksong secure their places among the finalists. If you’re ready to cast your vote for the Golden Joystick Award 2025, check out the official voting link below and be part of gaming history.
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Table of contents
- All Categories & Nominees:
- Best Narrative
- Best Multiplayer
- Best Visual Design
- Best Indie Game
- Best Unpublished Indie
- Still Playing Award
- Still Playing Mobile
- Best Remake/Remaster
- Studio of the Year
- Best Expansion
- Best Audio Design
- Best Music
- Best Leading Performer
- Best Supporting Performer
- Best PC Game
- Best Console Game
- Best Early Access
- Best Gaming Hardware
- Best Adaptation
- Best Trailer
- Most Anticipated Game
- How to Vote & Important Dates
- Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
All Categories & Nominees:
Best Narrative
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- SILENT HILL f
- Blue Prince
- Mafia: The Old Country
- Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
- The Hundred Line – Last Defense Academy
Best Multiplayer
- Battlefield 6
- PEAK
- ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN
- Split Fiction
- Mario Kart World
- REMATCH
Best Visual Design
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- The Midnight Walk
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Sword of the Sea
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows
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Best Indie Game
- Blue Prince
- Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
- Wanderstop
- Skin Deep
- despelote
- Herdling
- Abiotic Factor
- Baby Steps
- Caves of Qud
- Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
Best Unpublished Indie
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Hades II
- Sword of the Sea
- PEAK
- Keep Driving
- Spilled!
- Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders
- DELTARUNE
- Promise Mascot Agency
- Consume Me
Still Playing Award
- Minecraft
- Dead by Daylight
- HELLDIVERS 2
- NARAKA: BLADEPOINT
- Satisfactory
- Call of Duty: Warzone
- Marvel Rivals
- Fortnite
- Apex Legends
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege X
- GTA Online
- Warframe
Still Playing Mobile
- Call of Duty: Mobile
- Pokémon GO
- Subway Surfers
- Clash Royale
- Honkai: Star Rail
- Genshin Impact
- Zenless Zone Zero
- Roblox
- Free Fire
- PUBG MOBILE
Best Remake/Remaster
- METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
- Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
- The Talos Principle: Reawakened
- Gears of War: Reloaded
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4
Studio of the Year
- Team Cherry
- Sandfall Interactive
- Aggro Crab and Landfall
- Bloober Team
- Sloclap
- Rebellion
Best Expansion
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants
- Lies of P: Overture
- No Man’s Sky: Voyagers
- Atomfall Story Expansion Pack: The Red Strain
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows – Claws of Awaji
- Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest
Best Audio Design
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Battlefield 6
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Two Point Museum
- Cronos: The New Dawn
Best Music
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- South of Midnight
- SILENT HILL f
- Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream
- DELTARUNE
- Sword of the Sea
Best Leading Performer
- Jennifer English – Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Troy Baker – Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Tom McKay – Henry in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Alex Jordan – Jan Dolski in The Alters
- Erika Ishii – Atsu in Ghost of Yōtei
- Adriyan Rae – Hazel in South of Midnight
Best Supporting Performer
- Troy Baker – Higgs Monaghan in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Jim High – Erik in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Ben Starr – Verso in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lucy Griffiths – Alva in Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream
- Logan Cunningham – Hades II
- Marios Gavrilis – Emmerich Voss in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Best PC Game
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- The Alters
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- PEAK
- Abiotic Factor
- Dune: Awakening
Best Console Game
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Monster Hunter Wilds
- Ghost of Yōtei
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
- Mario Kart World
Best Early Access
- Grounded 2
- Schedule I
- 9 Kings
- R.E.P.O.
- skate.
- White Knuckle
Best Gaming Hardware
- Nintendo Switch 2
- Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
- WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD
- Elgato Facecam 4K
- Razer Blade 16
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
Best Adaptation
- Devil May Cry (Netflix)
- Arcane Season 2 (Netflix)
- The Last of Us Season 2 (HBO)
- A Minecraft Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
- Secret Level (Prime Video)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Paramount Pictures)
Best Trailer
- Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 2
- Battlefield 6: Official Launch Live Action Trailer
- Rhythm Doctor – Official Release Date Trailer
- The Expanse: Osiris Reborn – Announcement Trailer
- ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN – Announcement Trailer
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Official CGI Trailer – Live a Life Medieval
Most Anticipated Game
- Grand Theft Auto VI
- Resident Evil Requiem
- The Witcher 4
- Black Myth: Zhong Kui
- LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Night
- 007 First Light
- EXODUS
- Subnautica 2
- Light No Fire
- The Expanse: Osiris Reborn
- Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
- SAROS
- The Blood of Dawnwalker
- Crimson Desert
- KINGDOM HEARTS IV
- Marvel’s Wolverine
- Hell Let Loose: Vietnam
- OD – KNOCK
- Onimusha: Way of the Sword
- Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
How to Vote & Important Dates
Fans can cast their votes across 21 diverse categories until October 31, 2025. Afterwards, the spotlight turns to the “Ultimate Game of the Year” ballot, opening on November 3, 2025. Winners will be announced in an official ceremony on November 20, 2025, where critics’ picks will also be revealed.
Official Voting Link
You can participate and select your favorites for the 2025 Golden Joystick Award at the official voting page:
Summary
The Golden Joystick Award 2025 celebrates the year’s top gaming achievements, from epic narratives to outstanding visuals and the hottest multiplayer experiences. With categories covering every corner of gaming, now is your chance to have your say and help crown the best games of 2025.
Related: Top 20 Android Games of 2025 You Can’t Put Down
Frequently Asked Questions
A: It’s an annual celebration honoring the industry’s best games, performers, studios, and innovations, with winners voted by players.
A: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 tops the list with six nominations, including Studio of the Year.
A: General category voting closes on October 31, 2025. Ultimate Game of the Year voting starts November 3, 2025.
A: Visit the official voting link above and pick your favorite nominees in each category.
