Every year, The Game Awards acts as the cultural barometer of the global gaming industry, a moment when developers, publishers, critics, and players converge to celebrate the artistry, innovation, and technical brilliance of interactive entertainment. For 2025, the nominations came with significant anticipation, especially considering the number of high-profile releases, genre-defining independent successes, and long-awaited sequels that shaped the gaming calendar. Yet an unexpected trend is emerging from data aggregated by Metacritic, one that places Supergiant Games’ Hades 2 at the forefront of potential winners across multiple categories—possibly even Game of the Year, despite another title holding the record number of nominations.
This shift in momentum becomes more compelling when analyzing how The Game Awards has historically aligned with aggregated review scores. Over the last five years, the highest-rated nominee on Metacritic has consistently secured the Game of the Year title, with only a few exceptions in the past decade. In 2025, Hades 2, boasting a critical score of 95, stands tall above even the most heavily nominated productions.
A Year of Exceptional Competition and Historic Nominations
The nomination slate for The Game Awards 2025 was dominated by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an ambitious role-playing title that burst into the global spotlight with unprecedented critical and fan acclaim. Securing an impressive 12 nominations, it broke records and immediately positioned itself as a likely top contender for multiple categories.
Not far behind were Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yotei, two major PlayStation exclusives that secured eight nominations each. Both titles represent the pinnacle of cinematic direction and narrative experimentation—traits commonly recognized and celebrated by the awards committee.
Despite these nomination counts, historical data suggests that the highest-rated game often holds an advantage when final decisions are made. With a 95 score, Hades 2 is not merely a strong contender—it stands as the year’s best-reviewed new release according to Metacritic.
Why Metacritic Trends Matter More Than Ever
The Game Awards operates on a blended voting methodology, with 90% weight assigned to a professional media jury and 10% influenced by community voting. Because this allocation heavily favors critical assessment over fan popularity, aggregated review platforms play a significant role in determining which games resonate most strongly across respected critics.
Metacritic, launched in 1999, has positioned itself as the industry’s most reliable aggregator, curating reviews exclusively from verified and respected critics around the world. The platform’s scoring systems often shape public sentiment and influence media narratives. For awards that serve as global barometers, such trends become even more relevant.
In the last eight years, six Game of the Year winners at The Game Awards followed this Metacritic trend. Exceptions, such as the 2019 win by Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, only strengthen the rule, as industry observers still view such outcomes as anomalies.
Given this historical alignment, the prediction that Hades 2 may walk away with the biggest award of the night appears entirely plausible.
Analyzing the Top Contenders Based on the 2025 Landscape
Hades 2: The Evolution of a Modern Classic
Supergiant Games has long been celebrated for its ability to blend tight gameplay mechanics with vibrant storytelling and striking art direction. In Hades 2, the studio refined everything that made the original title a breakout hit while adding deeper combat systems, expanded lore, and a more emotionally driven narrative framework.
The gaming community and critics alike praised the sequel for its heightened complexity, fluid progression, and bold reinterpretation of the roguelike genre. Its outstanding 95 Metacritic score places it at the pinnacle of this year’s releases.
Should these trends continue, Hades 2 could secure not only Game of the Year but also awards for Best Action Game, Best Art Direction, and possibly even broader categories where it stands shoulder-to-shoulder with major AAA productions.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – The Year’s Most Nominated Title
The real narrative twist of 2025 lies in the extraordinary performance of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game that garnered 12 nominations, surpassing all competitors. The RPG blends dreamlike atmospheres with intense, turn-based combat and an emotionally rich storyline, earning widespread acclaim from critics.
Clair Obscur appears well-positioned to dominate categories such as:
- Best RPG
- Best Debut Indie Game
- Best Independent Game
- Best Narrative
Its 92 Metacritic score affirms its critical prestige, while its nomination count underscores its industry recognition.
Yet, despite its prominence, historical award trends suggest it may take home multiple awards—but not necessarily Game of the Year.
Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei: Cinematic Powerhouses of 2025
PlayStation maintained a commanding presence in the nomination list with two standout titles:
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Hideo Kojima’s unique approach to game design continues in a sequel that deepens the original’s narrative threads while introducing new exploration systems. Its technical excellence and emotional storytelling have captured the industry’s attention.
Ghost of Yotei
A visually stunning action-adventure that expands on samurai-themed cinematic gameplay, Ghost of Yotei earned praise for its choreography, artistic environments, and refined combat systems.
However, neither title surpassed the Metacritic scores of Hades 2 or Clair Obscur, which may play a significant role when determining ultimate winners.
If Metacritic Dictated the Winners: A Data-Driven Projection
Based on score comparisons and past award patterns, the following predictions emerge across major categories:
- Game of the Year – Hades 2
- Best Action Game – Hades 2
- Best Art Direction – Hades 2
- Best RPG – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Independent Game – Blue Prince or Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Debut Indie Game – Blue Prince or Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Fighting Game – Mortal Kombat: Legacy Collection
- Best Sports / Racing Game – Mario Kart World
- Best Mobile Game – Umamusume: Pretty Derby
- Best VR/AR Game – Arken Age
- Best Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Sim / Strategy Game – Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles
- Best Family Game – Split Fiction or Donkey Kong Bananza
- Best Action/Adventure – Split Fiction
- Best Adaptation – The Last of Us: Season 2
Although purely speculative, these predictions align with Metacritic patterns and industry behavior over the past decade.
The Cultural Significance of The Game Awards 2025
The upcoming December 11, 2025 ceremony in Los Angeles promises more than award announcements. It is one of the gaming industry’s most important global showcases, featuring:
- World premiere game reveals
- Live orchestral performances
- Studio spotlights
- Celebrity appearances
- Creative industry collaborations
This year’s event has particular significance due to the unprecedented quality of games released in 2025. It reflects a maturing industry where independent titles can stand toe-to-toe with blockbuster productions, challenging the old hierarchy of game development.
Gamers, Critics, and the Unpredictable Nature of Awards
Despite statistical leanings, The Game Awards retains an element of surprise. Fan voting has occasionally shifted outcomes, and influential jury discussions may favor emotional impact over numerical scores. While Metacritic trends indicate strong potential for Hades 2, award ceremonies often embrace unpredictable moments.
Regardless of the final outcome, the 2025 lineup demonstrates one of the strongest years in recent gaming history—a year defined by artistic experimentation, mechanical innovation, and a renewed emphasis on narrative excellence.