All The Game Awards 2025 Nominees And Categories

In a year defined by massive RPGs and breakout indie hits, The Game Awards has officially unveiled its full list of nominees, setting the stage for a showdown between Sony’s charming platformer and Square Enix’s epic reimagining. The Game Awards nominees for the upcoming ceremony were revealed today via a global livestream hosted by Geoff Keighley, with Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth securing a leading seven nominations each. The announcement also cemented a historic moment for the industry: for the first time, a DLC expansion has secured a spot in the coveted Game of the Year category.

Quick Take: Key Stats & Surprises

• Top Contenders: Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are tied for the most nods (7 each), followed closely by Metaphor: ReFantazio (6).

• Indie Powerhouse: The poker-roguelike Balatro stunned analysts with 5 nominations, including Game of the Year, proving gameplay loops can rival cinematic budgets.

• Historic Shift: Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is the first expansion pack ever nominated for Game of the Year, following a controversial rule clarification earlier this week.

• Publisher Dominance: Sony Interactive Entertainment leads the publisher count, largely driven by Astro Bot and Helldivers 2.

• The Date: The winners will be revealed live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on December 12, 2024.

The Battle for Game of the Year

The most prestigious category, Game of the Year (GOTY), features an eclectic mix of genres this year, moving away from the pure “prestige drama” trend of previous years. The six nominees represent a diverse range of gaming experiences, from card mechanics to open-world exploration.

The Official GOTY Nominees:

1. Astro Bot (Team Asobi/Sony)

2. Balatro (LocalThunk/Playstack)

3. Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)

4. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco)

5. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)

6. Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus)

This list confirms a significant shift in the voting body’s priorities, valuing pure mechanical fun (Balatro, Astro Bot) just as highly as narrative-heavy RPGs (Metaphor, FF7 Rebirth).

The “Expansion Pack” Controversy

The biggest talking point of the announcement is undoubtedly the inclusion of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. While universally acclaimed with a Metacritic score of 95, its status as a Downloadable Content (DLC) expansion rather than a standalone game has sparked debate.

Just days prior to the announcement, The Game Awards FAQ was updated to explicitly state that expansions are eligible “if the jury finds the new creative and technical work to be worthy of a nomination.”

Critics argue this takes a spot away from full standalone titles like Silent Hill 2 (which received nominations elsewhere but missed GOTY) or Dragon’s Dogma 2. However, supporters point to the sheer scale of Shadow of the Erdtree, which is larger than many full-priced games.

The Rise of Balatro

If Elden Ring represents the establishment, Balatro represents the disruptor. Developed by a solo developer known as LocalThunk, the game is a “poker roguelike” that has consumed millions of player hours since its February release.

Securing 5 nominations—including Best Game Direction and Game of the Year—places Balatro in the same league as Hades and Celeste, previous indie darlings that broke into the mainstream awards circuit.

Nomination Breakdown by Game (Top 5)

Official Responses & Industry Reaction

Geoff Keighley, the show’s creator and host, emphasized the global nature of this year’s voting jury, which consists of over 100 media outlets.

Meanwhile, the team behind Black Myth: Wukong, the Chinese action RPG that broke Steam concurrent player records in August, celebrated their nomination as a milestone for the Chinese game development scene. Despite some mixed critical reviews in the West regarding level design, its technical achievement secured it a spot in the top category.

What to Watch Next

As the voting opens to the public today on the official website and Discord, the race is considered too close to call.

• The Split Vote: Will RPG fans split their votes between Metaphor, FF7 Rebirth, and Elden Ring, allowing Astro Bot to sweep?

• The Indie Vote: Can Balatro pull a massive upset?

• Looking Ahead: While the focus is on 2024, the ceremony on December 12 will also feature “World Premieres” that effectively serve as the first batch of The Game Awards 2025 nominees for the “Most Anticipated” category. Rumors are already swirling about new trailers for Grand Theft Auto VI and Death Stranding 2.

Conclusion

The 2024 slate is a victory for variety. Whether you prefer the nostalgic joy of a 3D platformer, the cerebral addiction of a card game, or the punishing difficulty of a soulslike, this year’s nominees argue that there is no “one way” to make a Game of the Year.