As 2025 approaches, we now have a solid list of the 10 highest-rated games of the year, and it may come as a surprise to learn that none were nominated for the top prize. game award. The Game Awards have limited space for nominees in each category, with six games typically nominated for GOTY and four to six games nominated in each of the other categories. With that in mind, there was no way that all 10 highest rated games of 2025 could be nominated for GOTY, however, some of the nominees have lower review scores than the games on the list.
The Game Awards are 6 games nominated for Game of the Year in 2025 Hades 2 (94), Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (92), Donkey Kong Banana (91), Hollow Knight: Silksong (91), Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (90), and Kingdom Come: Redemption 2 (89). Five of these are featured in the top 10 highest-rated games of the year on the review aggregate site OpenCritic, though not all have higher scores than the games left out. Kingdom Come: Redemption 2 is the only GOTY-nominated game not to make the top 10.
The 2025 Game of the Year discussion is different from all the others in a big way
Every game of the year sees stiff competition from the most popular titles of the year, but 2025's lineup looks substantially different.
Apart from the games nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025, the rest of the top 10 games consist of View of Blake Manor (92), Split Fiction (91), Blue Prince (90), Monster Hunter Wild (89), and Keep driving (89). View of Blake Manor While the show is not nominated in any category Split Fiction It received nominations for Best Game Direction, Best Action/Adventure Game, Best Family Game, and Best Multiplayer Game. Blue Prince took home noms for Best Independent Game and Best Debut Indie Game, while Monster Hunter Wild Nominated for Best Role Playing Game. Keep driving Despite being in the top 10 highest rated games of 2025, it failed to receive a single nomination at The Game Awards this year.
The following list excludes remakes, remasters and ports, so switch 2 versions. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Not featured despite high overall review scores.
List of highest rated games of 2025
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Patal 2 – 94
- The Sins of Blake Manor – 92
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Clair Obscur: Campaign 33 – 92
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Donkey Kong Bananza – 91
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Hollow Knight: Silksong – 91
- Split Fiction – 91
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Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – 90
- Blue Prince – 90
- Demon Hunter Wild – 89
- Keep Driving – 89
The 2025 Game Awards field is extremely competitive, and with just one game in the 10 highest-rated games of the year, that doesn't mean it will secure itself a GOTY nomination. In fact, in 2024 Black Myth: Wukong Only had an 82 rating, meaning it was nowhere near the top 10, although it did manage to get a GOTY nomination.
We can talk about Game Awards snubs all day, but it's hard to argue that the six games nominated for GOTY aren't deserving. Still, I would have loved to see it in person Blue Prince Nominated for GOTY as this is my personal game. I spent more than 100 hours exploring Blue Princehad exploded revealing its mind-bending halls and its many secrets. My second choice for GOTY is an emotionally charged turn-based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33And I'm hoping to win it. I wouldn't be surprised if the show is one Campaign 33 Sweep, indeed, which means Blue Prince The two categories nominated for the event on December 11 are unlikely to win.