Everything changed when Rockstar Games hit the "delay" button. Twice.
Honestly, we all thought 2025 was going to be the year of Grand Theft Auto VI. It was supposed to be the landslide winner, the cultural event that made every other release look like a side quest. But with the latest confirmation pushing Lucia and Jason’s Florida-inspired crime spree back to November 2026, the game of the year 2025 predictions have suddenly become a lot more interesting. It's wide open.
There's no Goliath in the room. Instead, we have a fascinating scrap between a Belle Époque-inspired RPG, Hideo Kojima’s latest fever dream, and a long-awaited bug sequel that some people thought was a myth.
The Frontrunner Nobody Expected: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you told me two years ago that a debut title from a 30-person studio in France would be leading the GOTY charge, I’d have laughed. But Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has basically become the critical darling of the year. Sandfall Interactive did something risky: they made a high-fidelity, turn-based RPG with real-time defensive mechanics.
It works. It really works.
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Critics are obsessed with the "Paintress" narrative—a story about a woman who wakes up once a year to paint a number on a monolith, instantly erasing everyone of that age. It's grim. It’s beautiful. With Ben Starr and Jennifer English delivering powerhouse performances, it’s currently the highest-rated game on Opencritic. If the momentum holds, this could be the first time an "indie-plus" studio takes the big trophy since It Takes Two did it in 2021.
Kojima vs. The Samurai: The PlayStation Heavyweights
Sony still has two massive horses in this race, and they couldn’t be more different.
First, there’s Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Hideo Kojima is doing what he does best: making a game that is 40% walking simulator, 30% cinematic masterpiece, and 30% things that make absolutely no sense without a wiki. But the visuals? Unmatched. Using the Decima engine to its breaking point, it’s arguably the most technically impressive thing on the PS5 Pro.
Then we have Ghost of Yōtei.
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Sucker Punch had a massive hill to climb following Jin Sakai’s story, but Atsu is winning people over. The 1603 setting around Mount Yōtei is a stark, snowy contrast to the lush forests of Tsushima. It feels less like "Tsushima 1.5" and more like a refined, organic exploration game. People are calling it the "open world fix" we needed while waiting for Rockstar's next project.
The 2025 Contenders at a Glance
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: The narrative powerhouse with a 90+ Metacritic potential.
- Hollow Knight: Silksong: Finally released in September. It’s harder, faster, and just as atmospheric as the original.
- Monster Hunter Wilds: Capcom's biggest bet yet. The seamless world transitions are a technical marvel, even if it feels "niche" to some TGA judges.
- Hades II: Supergiant Games rarely misses. The art direction alone puts it in the top five.
- Donkey Kong Bananza: The Nintendo Switch 2’s big "show-off" title. It’s pure, polished platforming.
The "Silksong" Factor and the Indie Surge
We need to talk about Hollow Knight: Silksong. It’s real. We played it. September 4, 2025, will go down in history as the day the internet finally stopped asking "Where is it?"
Team Cherry didn't just rehash the first game. Hornet’s movement is acrobatic and lethal, making Hallownest feel sluggish by comparison. The only problem? It’s tough. Like, really tough. Some voters might lean toward the more accessible Hades II, which offers a similar loop but with a narrative that’s easier to digest on a first playthrough.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Awards
Most gamers think the "Game of the Year" is just about what sold the most. It’s not. If it were, Call of Duty would win every year.
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The Game Awards jury consists of over 150 global media outlets. These are people who play 50 to 100 games a year. They tend to favor innovation and prestige. That’s why a game like Split Fiction—the new co-op title from Hazelight—is a dark horse. It’s inventive. It forces two players to interact in ways we haven’t seen since A Way Out.
Also, don't sleep on Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Warhorse Studios doubled down on the "hardcore history" aspect. It’s janky in that charming, European RPG way, but the immersion is unparalleled. If you want to feel like a peasant getting beat up in a muddy alleyway, there’s no better simulator.
Making the Final Call
So, who actually takes it?
If the show were tomorrow, my money is on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It has that "perfect storm" energy—new IP, incredible visuals, and a combat system that feels fresh. However, if Ghost of Yōtei lands with the same emotional weight as the first game, Sony’s marketing machine might push it over the edge.
The real loser of 2025 is anyone expecting a "safe" year. Without GTA 6, the industry had to get creative. We're seeing a return to mid-sized studios taking huge swings, and honestly? It’s better for us.
What you should do next
- Check your backlog: If you haven't played the first Hollow Knight or Death Stranding, do it now. The sequels are coming (or are here), and they assume you know the lore.
- Watch the "Expedition 33" gameplay: Seriously. The turn-based combat is fast enough that even action fans are digging it.
- Prepare for the Switch 2: If you're a Nintendo fan, Donkey Kong Bananza is the title to watch for the new hardware's launch window.
Keep an eye on the June "Summer Game Fest" updates. That’s usually when the narrative for the end-of-year awards really starts to solidify. Regardless of what wins, 2025 is proving that there is life after Rockstar delays.