Overall Game of the Year 2025 - Article
by Evan Norris , posted on 27 January 2026 / 5,586 Views
Some years, it's fairly easy to predict the sort of games that will make the shortlist for Overall Game of the Year. And some years it's surprise after surprise after surprise. 2025 was one of the more unpredictable years, for sure, despite a couple of obvious contenders — Ghost of Yōtei and Split Fiction — being highlighted at The Game Awards 2024. But just look at the remaining finalists. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 came out of nowhere and became an instant classic. Donkey Kong Bananza, the first 3D platformer starring the great ape in 26 years, was first announced in April 2025, just three months before launch. And Hollow Knight: Silksong, which had topped so many fans' wishlists for six-plus years, arrived just two weeks after Team Cherry announced its release date, which sent other indie studios scrambling to delay their titles, for fear of being overshadowed.
The Shortlist:
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Donkey Kong Bananza
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Ghost of Yōtei
Split Fiction
The Runner-Up:
Donkey Kong Bananza
In my review of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD in early 2025, I wrote that Donkey Kong is among the very best Nintendo franchises. Well, it's gotten much better since then, thanks to Donkey Kong Bananza, which brought the burly mascot out of semi-retirement and immediately became the killer app on Switch 2.
Bananza achieves greatness in all areas. The controls are snappy and punchy (literally), the art direction is vivid and full of imagination, the music is rousing and eclectic, the story drives you forward (or downward), and the destructibility of each level allows invigorating navigational and problem-solving freedom. Overall, it's ambitious, fearless, and explosive, which is DK in a nutshell. Hopefully, for his sake, Bananza heralds a new, more prolific era for the Donkey Kong franchise, with many more nominations like this one.
The Winner:
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Over the course of my gaming career, several games have made me tear up, and a special handful have caused me to outright cry. But I don't think any of them have made me shed tears within the first hour. That is, until Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. From the very beginning, thanks to its tortured production design, fiercely human protagonists, and cruel realities, it sinks its hooks in you. And for 45 or so hours it refuses to let go.
Or maybe, more accurately, you refuse to let it go. I mean, everything about the game captures your imagination: its unusual premise and twisted setting; its surreal art direction; its phenomenally talented cast of voice actors, who bring grounded, wounded heroes to life; the way the narrative pulls deftly on emotional and philosophical strings; a synergistic character ability framework that enterprising players can manipulate to confront even the toughest of enemies; and, perhaps most importantly, a dynamic turn-based combat system where dodging, parrying, and countering keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat.
If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and play Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, our pick for Overall Game of the Year 2025.
Previous Winners
Astro Bot
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Elden Ring
Metroid Dread
The Last of Us Part II
Resident Evil 2
God of War
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Rocket League
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Mario 3D World
Journey
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Mass Effect 2
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
LittleBigPlanet
BioShock
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A JRPG finally won GotY, it just had to not be made in Japan.
Then it's not a JRPG. Turn based does not make it a "JRPG" western rpgs invented turn based. Japan invented ARPGs.
You're right being turn-based doesn't make it a JRPG. Baldur's Gate 3 is not a JRPG. But it's a distinct genre with a 40 year history with a lot of reconizable traits. If you want to nitpick genre labels think of how few "Roguelikes" are actually anything like the game Rogue.
Nothing wrong here he is def right straight up ripped off persona
everyone new this was coming and well deserved
We saw it coming but it wasn't well deserved.
Have you played it or is this just a "nothing is valid unless Nintendo wins"?
That's his concern troll issue. His real issue is the Nintendo thing.
What? He's been raving about AI in the game everywhere for what must be at least weeks, and... not being a Nintendo game is the issue? He's also been raving about AI in general, if I recall correctly.
He also claims things like Horizon zero dawn was a clone of breath of the wild and that the PS Portal is a Switch ripoff. He has an endless supply of rubbish opinions that all relate directly or indirectly to Nintendo. In this case a game not made by Nintendo and not on the Switch getting plaudits.
...OK, those sound like nonsense. That said, based on his takes in non-gaming contexts, I'm still not convinced this has anything to do with this not being a Nintendo game. Feel free to disagree of course.
Here before that guy who keeps saying E33 is made with AI and deserves nothing
Slop Obscur: Hype and Aura Moments 33
Downvote
Finally someone who makes sense.
Well deserved. It actually made me feel something, something only a handful of games have managed up to this point.
Expedition 33 was a great experience. Hopefuly it will shows other companies that turn-based RPGs are still a thing. Not all RPG series need to go full action.
Curious to see where Sandfall will go next.
Well earned runner-up and winner. Congrats to all involved in Clair and DK!
We saw this coming a mile away, but I'm glad Split Fiction was able to squeak in.
Bananza over Silksong is bizarre if you ask me, but well, it's VGC.
I don't care about the AI side. I just don't think it was THAT great. I mean it was a good game but nothing I will probably ever replay and nothing I haven't seen before in other RPGs. It was neat that a smaller studio made it and I love RPGs so I am glad one finally won but I have seen better RPGs not win for years..... Just not sure why everyone pretends this is so special.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is my gem of the year. Can't believe how good it feels to play this game. I'm always happy to discover a new area or to fight a powerful foe.
But the real GOTY for me is Death Stranding 2. I could not put the controller down for months. The game stayed with me long after I finished it. Truly an oustanding game that offered me everything I needed : great music, great gameplay, stunning visuals, poignant story and endearing characters.
I feel Blue Prince not even getting an honorable mention is borderline criminal.
Then you have bad taste.
I don’t see how. Rather repetitive game where once you’ve played the first level you’ve seen most of what it has to offer.
Wow ghost of Yotei actually part of the list
Cool games.
Have you actually looked up how AI was involved in this game? Because it feels like you are blowing it’s involvement in Clair Obscur way out of proportion.
Ignore him. He already knows how insignificant the use of AI in this game was, and still, he keeps derailing E33 topics with the same talk.
