As anticipation for The Game Awards 2025 reaches a fever pitch, the annual celebration of global gaming excellence is preparing to deliver another night of premieres, industry drama and fiercely contested awards. With speculation swirling around categories such as Game of the Year and Most Anticipated Game, this year’s event promises not only big reveals, but also strong competition between some of the industry’s most talked about titles. How can you watch the Game Awards 2025 live? This year’s ceremony will once again be broadcast across multiple international platforms, ensuring fans worldwide can tune in regardless of their device of choice. The pre-show starts at 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET, followed by the main event. You can stream the show on: IGN.com IGN’s YouTube Channel Facebook Twitter / X Twitch IGN Mobile Apps Humble YouTube Eurogamer VG247 Rock Paper Shotgun This multi-platform distribution strategy strengthens accessibility while reflecting the ceremony’s global reach. Which games are nominated for Game of the Year? The prestigious Game of the Year (GOTY) category features an impressive mix of sequels, indies and auteur-driven experiences. This year’s shortlist showcases the breadth of modern game design: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Donkey Kong Bananza Hades II Hollow Knight: Silksong Kingdom Come: Deliverance II With established franchises pushing alongside bold new creative works, the category remains too close to call – although Silksong’s performance dominates a lot: 3:3 discourse. What are the standout categories to watch this year? Best Game Direction Celebrating visionary leadership and creative ambition, nominees include: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Ghost of Yōtei, Hades II, Split Fiction. Best Adaptation With Hollywood increasingly crossing over with games, adaptations like A Minecraft Movie, Devil May Cry and The Last of Us: Season 2 are making for a competitive field. Best narrative games that elevate storytelling—including Silent Hill f and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II—highlight the narrative evolution of the medium. Best Art Direction From the picturesque surrealism of Expedition 33 to the finely honed aesthetic of Hades II, this category remains one of the ceremony’s most visually compelling. Who is leading in music, audio and performance? Best Score and Music Hollow Knight: Silksong and Ghost of Yōtei are among the frontrunners in a category known for creating emotional resonance. Best Audio Design nominees like Battlefield 6 and Silent Hill f illustrate the importance of sonic textures in creating immersive worlds. Best Show This year’s celebrated actors include Ben Starr, Charlie Cox, Erika Ishii, Jennifer English, Konatsu Kato and Troy Baker – an impressive lineup that reflects the medium’s increasing theatrical sophistication. Which games are making waves in accessibility, impact and community? Innovation in Accessibility Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Doom: The Dark Ages and South of Midnight are leading the push towards more inclusive gaming practices. Games for impact Narrative-driven and socially-reflective titles such as Consume Me and Wanderstop make a strong showing. Best Community Support Final Fantasy XIV, Fortnite and Helldivers 2 continue to set industry benchmarks for player engagement. What about Indie recognition? Indie and debut creators get extended spotlight: Best Independent Game Absolum, Blue Prince, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Best Debut Indie Game Blue Prince, Dispatch, Despelote and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The presence of crossover titles such as Hades 33 and p. prestige. How do genre categories form? Best Action Game Doom: The Dark Ages and Ninja Gaiden 4 is a relentless high-octane category. Best Action Adventure With Death Stranding 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong included, this category promises intense debate among fans. Best RPG A stacked lineup with Avowed, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, The Outer Worlds 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds cements RPGs as one of the year’s dominant genres. Other Genre Highlights Best Fighting Game 2XKO, Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. Best Family Game Donkey Kong Bananza, LEGO Voyagers, Mario Kart World. Best Sim/Strategy Civilization VII, FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles, Jurassic World Evolution 3. Best Sports/Racing EA Sports FC 26, F1 25, Rematch. Best Multiplayer Elden Ring Nightreign, Split Fiction, Battlefield 6. Which upcoming titles are most anticipated? The battle for the most anticipated game award centers around some of the industry’s most powerful franchises: 007 First Light Grand Theft Auto VI Marvel’s Wolverine Resident Evil Requiem The Witcher IV The reigning question: Can anything unseat Grand Theft Auto VI as the year’s most hotly anticipated release? Who are the leading contenders in Esports? Esports features prominently once again, with awards for athletes, teams and games: Best Esports Game Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Valorant. Best Esports athlete Chovy, MenaRD, Zyw0o among others. Best Esport Team Gen.G, Team Falcons, NRG, Team Vitality and more. Content Creator of the Year Caedrel, Kai Cenat, MoistCr1TiKaL, Sakura Miko and The Burnt Peanut. The diversity of nominees reflects esports’ rapidly growing cultural footprint. What highlights the players voting category this year? A unique, community-driven category, Players’ Voice gives fans direct influence. This year’s roster includes: Expedition 33, Genshin Impact, Dispatch, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Wuthering Waves, Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yōtei, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Silent Hill f. Fan-favorite debates remain intense, with Silksong and Expedition 33 appearing to dominate early sentiment.